Year Summary 2004
Described by President Ray French as "our Annus Horribilis" this was a terrible season for LSH, both on and off the field.
A Powergen cup win at Halifax in September and an opening league victory against Kendal proved to be the highpoint of the campaign together with the battling 19-18 win at Blaydon in March. All too often LSH performed strongly against the likes of Waterloo, Halifax and New Brighton, leading all three sides with less than fifteen minutes to go, but failed to achieve the necessary consistency and application on other occasions.
Long term injuries to Jim Keulemans, Mike Hitchen and Skipper Steve Cook did not help the cause in the season long battle against the drop, with Sean Casey taking over as captain in October.
The forwards, as a unit, performed with credit throughout the season with Mark Handley picking up the LSH young player of the year award. Dave Hale, Mike Nugent and Phil Hewitt were always to the fore together with young Jon Nugent who together with Luke Carter represented Lancs Under 20's.
The Rugby was overshadowed, however, by the untimely and sudden death of Chairman Alan Walker in March, after being diagnosed with Leukaemia in January.
Alan became Chairman of the Club in 1999 after being Chairman of Rugby for the previous ten years following on from his playing career with St Helens RUFC.
His great friend, Ray French, spoke at Alan's packed funeral service of his unrivalled passion and enthusiasm for the game of Rugby Union, saying, " Quite simply, he would do anything for anyone.
He is a massive loss."
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