FOURTH-PLACED Saints face a searching examination of their Super League play-off credentials when they make the daunting trip to Warrington in a round 16 clash on Sunday, kick-off 6.35pm.

With 11 points from 15 games the Wolves have not given up hope of a top-five spot, and will also be anxious to avenge a 36-14 defeat inflicted on them by Saints at Anfield in April.

Local products Lee Briers and Jason Roach are expected to be included in a Warrington line-up likely to be: Penny; Fawcett, Rudd, Eager, Roach; Doyle, Briers; Hilton, Farrar, Nutley, McCurrie, Tuuta, Wainwright. Substitutes Chambers, Stevens, Duffy, Pechey.

Referee is Russell Smith. The Academy teams will meet in a curtain raiser, kick-off 4pm.

Supporters' Club members packed the cabaret room on Monday night when chairman Tom Ellard and football manager Eric Hughes answered questions on the current situation at Knowsley Road ('crisis' is to overstate the case, I was informed).

Pressure on space means in-a-word reference to matters arising and they ranged from Howes, McRae, Hughes, Prescott, Hunte, Briers, take-overs, overdraft, development, coaches, sponsorship, discipline, Goulding, press et al.

On the latter point I was assured by Mr. Ellard that the St. Helens Star was absolved from blame when he said that, in his opinion, there was an orchestrated media campaign to discredit the Saints' board. Given the success of a meeting when several fans joined the Supporters Club, I suggested a public debate in order that all might be heard. This will be considered.

The Academy team defeated Featherstone Rovers 30-18 at Knowsley Road on Sunday. Tries were scored by Burgess, Holdstock, Hitchmough, Cunliffe, man-of-the-match Stankevitch and Peet, who also kicked three goals.

Saints have appointed Leigh-based Alan Rowley as marketing manager. Mr. Rowley formerly played for Leigh and Saints and is the father of Halifax hooker Paul.

Members of Saints' Past Players Association are asked to note that the proposed visit by their Bradford counterparts on Sunday, August 16, has been cancelled. The PPA's next trip is to the Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday, October 24, and coach seats may be reserved by telephoning secretary Geoff Pimblett on St. Helens 24611.

Saints' commercial department have a vacancy for a lottery collector in the Haresfinch district. Anyone interested should telephone John Gavaghan on St. Helens 617303. Saints' recent trip to Swansea to play Wigan may have been a disaster result-wise - but for one rising young star it was a weekend to remember! For, with Julian O'Neill and Tony Stewart injured, 17-year-old forward Tim Jonkers enjoyed his first taste of senior action in being drafted into the squad as18th man. A pupil at Cowley, Tim was born in Amsterdam and lives with his Dutch father Bart and locally-born mother Christine in Boundary Road.

The Alliance side lost a valuable two points when they went down at Huddersfield 30-16. Saints' points came from tries by Hamilton, Hall and Cross, while Paul Wellens kicked two goals.

Forward Vila Matautia, who was returning after a long absence due to injury, was sent off and faces a disciplinary hearing next Thursday.

Saints have signed 18-year-old forward Ifan Howell, from Hendy Rugby Union Club, Swansea.

He has been playing trials in the Academy team and was brought to Knowsley Road by fellow Welshman Gareth Price.

Local man John Evans, a former resident of Billinge, is now coach to South Norfolk Saints, who will contest the first-ever Conference League Final against Crawley Jets at Cheltenham on Saturday.

He can be contacted on 0385-926591.

Saints' winger of the mid-1940s Aubrey Gregory has died. His funeral took place on Tuesday.

Supporter Mike McLoughlin is searching for memorabilia of his grandfather Teddy, who played for Saints in the early part of the century.

He can be contacted at 4 Gillars Green Drive, Eccleston.

Answer to correspondent Arthur Atkinson of Moss Bank: Paul Loughlin holds Saints' goals and points in a match record with 16 and 40 against Carlisle at Knowsley Road in 1986. The seasonal goalkicking record is held by Kel Coslett with 214 in 1971/72.

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