DW Fitness First St Helens

Who is up for the challenge. Can you beat the fitness manager.

Rochdale 0 - 6 St Helens

PROMOTION!!!

We did it, in what was probably the biggest game we’d played since forming 3 years ago we went and put in a performance to match! Arguably the best and most complete 70 minutes we’ve put together at exactly the right time.

Going into the game Rochdale sat behind us in 3rd and knew that a win today would put them in a great position to pip us to that second automatic promotion spot. So for them it was all or nothing, anything but a win would bring about an end to their season. So we went knowing we were on for a tough game against a very good team.

The game started as we expected, both sets of players knew what was at stake and probably sat back waiting to see how the opposition would go about things. We though decided early to go on the front foot and started to create chances, great build up play was just missing the final touch. At the other end defensively we were dealing with whatever Rochdale were trying, working well covering spaces and doubling up when necessary. So the deadlock was broken when following good work from Peter Jones a flick was awarded after the ball was stopped on its way to goal by a foot. Pete stepped forward and calmly scored sending the keeper the wrong way.

That would signal a bit of a strange spell in the game where the Rochdale umpire decides that the grief he was receiving from his own players wasn’t worth him continuing and there was a 10 minute break whilst this was sorted. Eventually he was able to carry on and it was from here really St Helens took a grip on things and forced the play at every opportunity. There wasn’t a single player who wasn’t on top of their game today and it was no surprise when Pete Jones made it two nil, another top finish buried into the top corner....showing lightning does strike twice with it being put away into the same corner as his goal against them earlier in the season. Then on the stroke of halftime following up on a Danny Taylor strike, Ruan Pretorious tapped in from a yard out to give us a 3 nil lead at the half.

In the fixture earlier in the season Rochdale took a 3-1 lead into halftime only for us to score 5 unanswered in the second, so we knew letting our foot off the gas could see us caught out. So we set about putting together another similarly impressive half, and that’s just what we did. There was inevitable pressure from Rochdale at the beginning of the half but we were solid defensively, as good as we were going forward we were every bit as good at the back in keeping them out. Some great defensive efforts from Adam Griffiths expertly dealing with a lobbed effort on goal and John Lloyd clearing his lines over and over really set the tone for the defence. Lucas Delanchy again continued to impress in a defensive role and Neil Howden diligently marked whichever centre forward they tried using, keeping them quiet throughout. After dealing with the pressure we again began to impose ourselves on the game and through Phil Travis, Mick Maloney and a second for Ruan we put a score on Rochdale that left them reeling.

They knew the game was crucial and simply can’t have imagined that we’d turn up and play the way we did. We do tend to play our best hockey when the pressure is on and that’s just what we did today. The win gives us a 2nd spot at worst and with 2 going up a guaranteed promotion place, however that isn’t what we started this season looking out to do. Winning the league has always been our aim and it all comes down to one last game, 1st placed Northern come to play 2nd place St Helens with the winner being crowned champions. A cup final in every respect and we’re going to focus all week on being the best we can be and taking the game to Northern.

Tonight though we can enjoy a top, top performance and a promotion that’s been hard earned. If you read these reports and haven’t ever seen a game then next weeks the time to change that, it’s a home game and we’ll want all the support we can get!

West Derby 3 – 3 St Helens

On Saturday we travelled to West derby to take on their seconds, the game at Selwyn earlier in the season ended 2-1 and was close throughout so we knew that the game would be a challenge. Unfortunately despite this we started the game really slowly and loose passing and some direct running from the Derby forwards saw us go 2 goals down within the first 10 minutes. Their fast start definitely caught us off guard and in fairness we just didn’t start the way a team at the top of the league should be starting games.

Gradually though we got a foothold in the game and slowly the tide began to turn in the first half, we’d picked up their attacking runs better and creating much more going forwards. Derby though defended really well. Whether during free play or defending short corners the stood firm and the goalkeeper also made a number of smart saves. Eventually we grabbed a goal back through Phil Travis and we went into halftime 2-1 down knowing full well that we’d been below what we’d class as our best but the score line still meant we were very much in the game.

The second half started and the pattern of the end of the first half remained, we were pressing well and creating opportunities with Derby looking to spring counter attacks where possible. Despite our possession and territorial advantage West Derby held firm for long spells and despite a large number of short corners in our favour we just couldn’t find a way through. Then the game looked to have been taken out of reach, on a break the Derby forward smashed home from the top of the D and despite all the ball we’d had we found ourselves 3-1 down with around 15 minutes to go. It would have been easy to fold at this point considering how we’d struggled to that point to find the goals we needed but if anything the third goal of theirs saw us step things up and we were creating chances and winning shorts and eventually Lewis Robinson grabbed our second and with 5 minutes to go we pressed for the equaliser. With minutes to spare that 3rd goal came, Danny Taylor struck home from a short corner and we’d drawn ourselves level – there was still time for another chance for us to grab a late winner but the Derby defence held firm and the game ended 3-3.

Derby will perhaps feel they should have taken the 3 points given how well they defended for large spells and they simply took their chances well when they came. For us despite the point it felt like a loss, elsewhere in the league Northern won meaning they jump us and now sit top of the league and Rochdale frustratingly dropped points so we missed out on a chance to put daylight between us and them. In the scheme of things not a great deal for us has changed, we said before the game that we just need to win out and with us playing both Rochdale & Northern over the last two games of the season it’s still very much all to play for

Come along to DW St Helens and kick start your training. We are open until 9pm and we would welcome guests to train for the day for FREE. We have a fabulous functional area, gym, studios and pool area. Call on 01744 616621 to book your tour. We look foward to seeing you.

To all members we wish you all the best for the new year God bless you all have a prosperous year. Good Health to all x

Any queries about Christmas opening times please find them below. The class booking system is up-to-date on our system, so if you can’t find a class it’s not available over the festive period.

Christmas Eve; 6am - 4pm
Christmas Day; Closed
Boxing Day; 8am - 6pm
27th to 30th normal opening hours.
New Years Eve; 6am - 4pm
New Years Day; 8am - 6pm

See you all soon and Merry Christmas 🎄 🎁

Thank you to all the members who have supported the 24 hour bikeathon and embarking on the midnight spin class. Plus thanks to everyone who attempted our challenges x
Really appreciated
Colette and team

Just a few more snaps from today’s spinning warriors!

Off to an amazing start today! Thank you to everyone so far for taking part! 18hrs to go!

We still have spaces available on our midnight Spin class with Karen! Get down and support Prostate Cancer UK!

Incase you’ve not heard we are open for 24hrs as a one off to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK which is close us here. This includes a midnight spin class and a spinathon over the 24hrs. Please get in touch if you can do 30mins on the bike!