Manchester were quickly into their stride when a catch and drive from an early attacking lineout yielded the first try and then an awkward conversion from Richard McCartney within the first few minutes (7-0).

This effective but workmanlike try contrasted with a great break by Dean Hogg in midfield who had Luke Tyrrell on hand to support his run before accepting the ball back to make it 12-0 with only eight minutes played.

As spectacular, but with more players involved, was Manchester’s third try on the quarter hour. The ball was recycled several times and brought this way then the other before flanker Matt Barker powered up the right wing to make it 17-0 in the corner, expertly converted to 19-0.

LSH continued to be pinned in their own half, frequently in their own 22, and were fortunate to escape with a breakaway run which looked a certain score. Seb Lingwood, deputising once again at scrum half (a position he is in danger of making his own based on current form!) thought otherwise however, and made a try saving tackle on the No 8 who was in sight of the line. The points were saved but there were some anxious moments before Lingwood was fit to continue.

Manchester showed once again that they had the wherewithal up front when a maul from 20 metres out was kept moving in total control against a larger pack. The control included steering the drive towards the posts for an easier conversion for McCartney who made it 26-0 after half an hour.

The visitors were finally on the board five minutes later when they pushed over from a lineout deep in the hosts’ 22 (26-7) but it was Manchester who had the final say of the half. Anthony TiaTia started the move but Hogg soon became involved, drawing the defenders with a diagonal run. Winger Matt Davies kept up along his wing so that Hogg was able to time his pass to him perfectly and close the half out at 31-7.

LSH probably arrived with aspirations of going top of the league by 4.30pm so a stern half time talk was presumably delivered. A much more aggressive team gained the early territory and, rejecting an easy penalty for a scrum, the LSH 9 was able to round Manchester’s defence to give some hope at 31-14.

That hope strengthened when after fifteen minutes a long penalty gave the visitors an attacking line out on the 22m line. It seemed as if their long drive to the line had been stopped in its tracks several times but it did eventually rumble over to close to 31-19. When Manchester found themselves down to 14 men thanks to a yellow card that had seemed likely for a good while, the first half’s festival rugby became a distant memory. With the advantage now in the visitors’ pack, another penalty was scrummed and the ball was worked to the corner to make it 31-24, soon an even more worrying 31-26 thanks to an excellent conversion.

With Manchester still undermanned, LSH smelled blood and the unthinkable happened when a burst down the wing couldn’t be covered and the comeback was complete at 31-all, yet another touchline conversion putting the visitors ahead (31-33) for the first time with ten to go.

Manchester were now back to their full complement but desperately needing to move the scoreboard on for the first time in the half. McCartney’s penalty was far from a gimme but he looked cool as he slotted it to swing the lead back to 34-33.

The last half hour had taken its toll on Manchester with several walking wounded struggling, which resulted in James Brodie unexpectedly (for him?!) having to cover in his ‘rest’ game. His direct approach made an immediate impact and with Tyrell of a like mind, the two combined well at just the right moment when Brodie scooped a loose ball up to Tyrrell who blasted through the LSH defence. Good support play meant that the try was scored, then converted, so that with less than five minutes left, Manchester were with some relief more than a score ahead at 39-33.

After their spirited recovery, Liverpool St Helens looked dispirited. Manchester had rallied the storm and the nerves disappeared as they switched back into attack mode. An enterprising kick through was chased hard by Davies who gathered it well with the defence back pedalling, sealing the victory at 46-33 with two minutes to play.

LSH woke up to the fact that a second (losing) bonus point was still available to them and spent the last throes of the game chasing that, eventually spilling the ball forward over the Manchester try line for the last act of an enthralling contest.