Tyldesley travelled down the East Lancs Road on Saturday to meet Liverpool St Helens but a poor second half performance put paid to any chances of springing an upset against an LSH outfit who, on this performance, will be challenging for promotion at the end of the season.

After the poor performance last week Tyldesley took on league leaders Lymm at St Georges Park looking for a vast improvement to help kick start their season.

The late withdrawals of Soutar and Dickinson, less than two hours before kick off, meant that Hayes had to make a swift about turn from his trip to Ormskirk with the seconds and a surprise return to action for captain Worsfold after three months out through injury.

Tyldesley suffered defeat on the Wirral in a game which they dominated for long periods as they once again failed to make pressure pay.

The back line currently has an extensive injury list with Wilcock, Worsfold and Paine adding to the coaches problems during the week.

Northwich were the visitors to St Georges Park and went away victorious in a game where Tyldesley did enough to win, but factors beyond their control contrived to make their task far harder than it should have been.