Sedgley Park...39pts

Liverpool St Helens...7 A DOWNPOUR just before the match made playing conditions tricky, but Sedgley were quick to impress.

Sion O'Hare almost scored, then Chris Radacanu did, following a little dart from scrum-half Chris Kinsey.

It was already looking easy, but Sedgley now lost their way for a while, struggling in the scrums and being let down by poor handling in the backs.

A run from full-back Mike Wilcock set up a promising position, but Sedgley tried an over-complicated move and the chance was blown.

Thus encouraged, LSH were coming more into the game and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 25 minutes.

Their more direct approach paid off with a try for hooker Peter Topping, converted by Michael Jones. Sedgley had recovered the lead by half-time. Stand-off Rob Moon and winger Paul Morris twice came near to scoring before prop John Young got the try for a 10-7 lead.

With conditions now more conducive to the handling game, Sedgley began the second half in style. Simple, orthodox passing at pace stretched the LSH defence first one way, then the other.

Hooker Andy Losty rounded off a wonderful team try which Moon converted from the touch-line.

With the game now safe, Sedgley played out the final 30 minutes of the league season with some pleasant attacking rugby against the leakiest defence in Jewson Two.

Moon kicked a penalty before Wilcock initiated another lovely team try. The Sedgley full-back fielded a poor Liverpool kick, linked with the impressive Andy Kimmins, Kinsey, Hogg and Morris, who scored.

Raducanu scored a try from a tap-penalty, which Moon converted.

LSH mounted a rare attack, which broke down inside the Sedgley 22. Running the ball out of defence, Moon set winger Elijah Sobanjo free on the right. He took play into the LSH half, found Dan Hogg in support, and the Sedgley flanker -- wind assisted and downhill -- had enough pace to run in the try from 40 metres. Moon converted.

So Sedgley could look back on a league season in which they had finished fifth, but had promised rather more than that at one stage.

The Lancashire Cup remains, but not the scheduled home tie with Blackburn, who have disappointingly cried off.

Electric winger Elijah Sobanjo finished as top try scorer with 13 touchdowns, and Sedgley are confident the North London 19-year-old will be with them again next season, despite the fact that Sale still hold his registration. Kiwi kicker Rob Moon topped the goalscoring charts with 47.

No 8 Jon Duncan has damaged knee ligaments playing for Eastern Suburbs in Australia. As a result, the St Helens-based forward is a doubt for next season. Kiwi hooker Steve Byford has a bad back injury, but everyone else is expected to be fighting fit and staying on at Park Lane next season.