JOLTED by the loss of a point against Castleford, Saints have undergone extra training for Friday's trip to London Broncos, kick-off 7.30pm.

Victory would ensure Saints fourth place in the table, and with Broncos having an outside chance of fifth spot the scene is set for a battle royal, particularly in view of the fact that London have never beaten Saints.

The Broncos' line-up is likely to be: Toshack; Smyth, Timu, Ryan, Goodwin; Tollett, Air; Young, Williams, Dunford, Millard, Retchless, Gill. Substitutes Spencer, Salter, Beazley, Edwards.

Referee is Stuart Cummings, Sky coverage starts at 7pm, and the Academy curtain-raiser kicks off at 5.15pm.

Several fans asked if, with Karle Hammond being sin-binned in the 80th minute on Sunday, would his sentence be served in a subsequent game. The reply from Saints' secretary Geoff Sutcliffe was 'no,' and he added that Vila Matautia and Paul Davidson have no case to answer.

Saints are reported to be interested in Wigan utility back Darryl Cardiss.

Anthony Sullivan and Paul Newlove are Saints' joint leading try-scorers with 14. Sean Long has kicked 64 goals.

Saints' high-flying Alliance team reached the final of the Challenge Cup with a nail-biting 11-8 success over Wigan at Central Park on Thursday night. Try-scorers were Alan Cross and Paul Mathison, while Paul Wellens landed a conversion and man-of-the-match Scott Barrow a drop goal. Team: Johnson; Hayes, Stewart, Cross, Camman; Barrow, Wellens; Leathem, Hamilton, Mathison, Jonkers, Edmondson, Newall. Substitutes Holdstock, Paul Haigh, Price, Loughlin. Saints travel to Batley in the final, which has been provisionally fixed for next Wednesday. The Academy team defeated Castleford 35-28 at Knowsley Road on Sunday. Tries were scored by Proudfoot, Howells, Stankevitch, Barrow and Peet, who also kicked seven conversions and a drop goal. Dale Holdstock was man-of-the-match. Team: Hill; Turner, Butler, Cunliffe, Proudfoot; Peet, Hitchmough; Burgess, McConnell, Howells, Taylor, Crossland, Holdstock. Substitutes Barrow, Stankevitch, Price, Loughlin.

I have more than 100 copies of back issues of Rugby League newspapers which are free to any fan who collects. Anyone interested can telephone me at the Star on 611861 or at home 758152

Supporters are asked to note that Saints Superstore has ceased to trade at the 'What Everyone Wants' outlet in the Hardshaw Centre.

Answer to correspondent Joe Bennett, of Parr: Mal Meninga and Phil Veivers made their first appearances for Saints against Castleford at Knowsley Road on Sunday, October 7, 1984. Saints won 30-16 and their line-up was: Veivers: Ledger, Allen, Meninga, Day; Arkwright, Peters; Burke, Liptrot, Gorley, Platt, Round, Pinner. Substitutes Smith, Haggerty.

Peter Wilson, of Pocket Nook. Jack Grundy was the first St. Helens-born player to win the Lance Todd Trophy in 1955. Formerly of Saints, he was then in the Barrow side against Workington Town.

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