Crosfields V Barrow Island Saturday 27Th April 2019 Crosfields ARLFC - Club Officials
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Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Two Crosfields V Barrow Island Saturday 27th April 2019 Crosfields ARLFC - Club Officials Life President Colin Webb Vice Presidents Pat Gibbons, Annette Parker, Tony Parker, Neil Stephenson Chair Mike Donnison Secretary Tony Parker Committee Dominic Caswell, Chris Hull, Matt Mahoney, Annette Parker, Steve Pickersgill Head Coach Ian Boden Assistants Chris Hull, Matt Wilson Alliance Coach Andrew “Franco” Campbell Assistant Lou Walsh Junior Section Chair Lewis Worthington Secretary Kate Hall Treasurer Jeanette Buller Subs Secretary Jackie Thomason Welfare Officer Tammy Smith Crosfields ARLFC – Chair’s Welcome Good afternoon and a warm welcome to Crosfields ARLFC at the Webb Security Recreation Ground. Today, we welcome the players, supporters and officials from Barrow Island, for today’s Kingstone Press NCL Division Two Round Eight game. Last season, Barrow Island were promoted automatically from Division Three, finishing in a comfortable second position. This season, they have won three and lost three of the six games played so far. Back rower Peter Rimmer leads the try-scoring chart for his club with five, whilst half-back Adam Jackson has kicked 29 goals and picked up two MOM awards. Last time out Barrow Island convincingly beat Shaw Cross Sharks 46-18. Crosfieds had our first away victory of the campaign last time out, with an excellent result at Beverley. Jack Reid again led his team superbly, picking up two tries and five goals in the process. All looks set for a great game! A couple of months ago, one of our players Dan Worrall had a serious accident. Further in today’s programme is information about forth-coming fund-raising events and a GOFUNDME page, as friends and colleagues of Dan look to raise funds for a prosthetic leg. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of Crosfields winning the BNFL BARLA National Cup. Throughout the season, we will take trips down memory lane to celebrate the achievement and will hold a special re-union day, on Saturday 22nd June 2019. Today, Round Four, Crosfields v Walney Central. At last, a report from rugby-league.com in which Steve Ganson finally clamps down on the shenanigans of the play-the-ball. Our Sponsor Focus today is on Webb Security, who have supported the club over a number of years and provide a fantastic service to their customers. I thank Craig and his team and all our sponsors, for their continued support. Finally, there will be a minute’s silence before today’s game, to mark the sad death of Martyn Holland, of Thornhill Trojans. On behalf of Crosfields, I would like to pass on our condolences to Martyn’s family, friends and all at Thornhill Trojans, at such a sad time. Good luck to everyone involved today. Yours in Sport, Crosfields ARLFC – Next at the Webb Security Recreation Ground Sunday 28th April 2019 9:30am - U7s v Cadishead 10:00am - U11s Cobras v Culcheth 10:30am - U14s v Bank Quay 11:00am - U10s Vipers v Hindley 11:45am - U8s Cobras v Haydock Saturday 11th May 2019 Kingston Press NCL Division Two 2:30pm Crosfields v Shaw Cross Sharks Saturday 18th May 2019 NWML Division Three 2:30pm Alliance v Culcheth Eagles Crosfields ARLFC – In My View, by Phil Hodgson I’M not sure whether there will have been any clues in my notes, over the years, as to me being a Hunslet supporter. Ok, there will have been, so I hope readers will have some forbearance regarding this week’s offering, especially as I’m really making a general point. The Parksiders went into the end of March heading the Betfred League 1 table with four victories in many outings and they were good value for that record (I would say that, wouldn’t I, but I stand by the assessment). So, confidence was high for the visit of Betfred Championship side Halifax on the last day of that month in the fourth round of the Coral Challenge Cup. That confidence wasn’t misplaced, but Halifax won the game 28-24, a result that sorely tested the mantra of my old captain at the Middleton Arms, Pete Kitching, which I only came around to understanding after several years, that the best team always wins. Seven days later, Hunslet went to Whitehaven, and lost 16-12. Again, and taking nothing away from the Cumbrians, this was a game that “got away” from Head Coach Gary Thornton and his players, especially as winger Dale Bloomfield had a try ruled out for reasons that, according to reports, had folk perplexed. So Hunslet, after a week’s break, headed to Oldham on Good Friday seeking to avoid a third successive defeat. Another reverse looked very much on the cards when the Roughyeds headed into the closing stages of the contest 26-18 ahead, especially as the Parksiders were down to twelve men. But, somehow, Hunslet had the better of the business end of the match and returned to south Leeds reflecting on a superb 36-28 victory. And my point? Well, it’s a general one really. That last win has certainly ensured that spirits remain high at Hunslet, but I’m not sure that would be the case if Oldham had prevailed. Three successive defeats can all too often lead to the more fragile supporters, at any club in any sport, questioning their coach’s or manager’s future, which to my mind is an unacceptably volatile approach, but that’s how it is. On the other hand Thornton, while obviously happy to avoid a third successive defeat, could quite easily be reflecting right now on all three of those matches having been won – although if Halifax had been beaten, Hunslet would of course have been involved in a fifth round Challenge Cup tie in the middle of that sequence. It all goes to show, for me, what a nervy existence coaching is, at any level, including in the Kingstone Press National Conference League. One incident goes your way, and you win. Another goes against you, and you lose. If three successive games are won through such episodes, you’re the best thing since sliced bread. If they go against you, some people will be calling for your head. This is where people of calm, strong character are needed at board or committee level, I think. Crosfields ARLFC – NCL Sponsors Crosfields ARLFC – Round Six Saturday 6th April 2019 - Crosfields 24 Ince Rose Bridge 33 - A Bridge Too Far In a highly entertaining contest Soap succumbed to the first home defeat of the year against a strong Ince Rose Bridge side from Wigan. The game was a closely fought affair with both teams having periods of superiority, but it was the visitors who demonstrated that extra cutting edge at key moments of the game to take the spoils. In a tough uncompromising opening spell, Soap piled on pressure with repeat sets where Billy Sheen and then Phil Brazendale came close before the excellent Jack Reid dummied over and converted his own try to post a 6 point lead after 8 minutes. Soap were dominating this period of the game and looked set to extend their lead following a great Luke Walker break, but the final pass was misplaced and the score never came. This seemed to inspire the visitors who produced a devastating 8 minute spell of their own with three unanswered tries. First, second row Martin Butler somehow managed to find the line through a mass of poor defence, then the impressive stand off Daniel Cassidy raced clear from 35 metres 2 minutes later, with Butler taking a neat short ball at the line to cross again shortly after to leave the home side shell shocked. Only one of the tries was converted. Captain Jack Reid steadied the ship following a period of much needed decent defence with a carbon copy 'show and go' to walk in for another try that he converted to go in at half time 12-14 down. Ben Mellor Soap came out of the blocks in the second period on the front foot with good possession and territory, but a moment of magic from the Ince stand-off Cassidy saw Ince immediately extend their lead. A half break, followed by a chip through and kind bounce collected by loose forward Matthew Meaden to score a 70 metre try under the sticks to dazzle the home team again and take an 8 point lead with 3 minutes played. This was a fast and free flowing game of rugby by two strong teams. Crosfields were the next on the score sheet after good work from Billy Sheen to feed full back John Whittaker and reduce the deficit to 2 points with half an hour to play. Another purple patch of play though was to end the game as a contest as two tries in another scintillating spell saw the visitors romp home. 1st a chip towards the posts on the last tackle was collected by centre Jamie Malone for another score and 2 minutes later Meaden got his second to stretch the lead to 14 points with 20 minutes to play. Billy Sheen looked to have closed the gap with a piece of opportunism, by intercepting from the scrum only to be pulled back for off-side on 65 minutes. Ince put the game to bed with a drop goal late on before a consolation try with 3 minutes to go from Jordan Williams wrapped up the scoring in a very entertaining match. Ince showed that they are clinical in attack and have a couple of eye catching players, but Crosfields can take heart from this performance as they showed spells of sustained organised pressure that will please the coaching staff.