This Saturday, we welcome our old friends from Glossop to Rivacre Road. Whilst Anselmians are coping in North Two West, high flying Glossop have only lost one game this season and are second behind Manchester. They have played 16 games, won 14, drew one and just the one defeat.

No-one is surprised by Glossop’s continuing success. They are a well-organised and dedicated outfit who are, in the best sense, a traditional rugby club. The only surprise is the one loss they have sustained was at De La Salle. The Lancaster Road outfit beat Glossop 20-12 before Christmas and, of course, supporters remember our defeat a few weeks ago, 18-20, against the Salford team which conceded our unbeaten home record.

Last October, we lost away 29-21, and the last time we played in the league, in our promotion 2017-2018 season, honours were even. Saints won at Malone Field, 26-24, but lost at Buxton, (Glossop was waterlogged), in some controversy, 16-14. Nevertheless, we gained promotion with Glossop missing out, finishing third.

Games between Saints and Glossop are committed, hard fought affairs and there is no reason that this game will be any different. Saints must take every opportunity and eliminate the slow start and errors evident against De La Salle and Eccles if they are to prevail.