Fixtures and Results 2015 - 16 Club President Wolves Vikings Developmentals N1W Standish Media Services 1 Raging Bull 3S NIGEL DAY September 5 L WARRINGTON W U OF LIVERPOOL VETS HWO 12 Eccles W BURNAGE W 2 L Welcomes 19 KERSAL W W LYMM W 26 BROUGHTON PARK W Broughton Park W Widnes 2 L PENRITH October 3 W LIVERPOOL COLLEGIATE W BROUGHTON PARK W 10 LEIGH W Leigh AWO Glossop W 17 Vale of Lune W CREWE & N’TWICH (Cup) W University of Liverpool (Cup) L Today’s visitors to the Memorial Ground are Penrith. They have made the trip down the M6 looking to 24 ROCHDALE W Wirral L WIRRAL 31 close the gap on in the league. Their form has been good with four wins in their last four matches and which included the second leg of the double over local rivals, Carlisle. November 7 Widnes W BOLTON W Dukinfield 2 L 14 CARLISLE W ALTRINCHAM KERSAL W 21 Penrith W BLACKBURN W Burnage W Penrith maybe be fourth in the league to Wilmslow’s third, 20 points behind with a game in hand but that 28 CREWE & NANTWICH W FIRWOOD WATERLOO W doesn’t make the result a foregone conclusion, I daresay the result of the game earlier in the season will December 5 KENDAL L Preston Grasshoppers 3 P BROUGHTON PARK 4 P 12 L MACCLESFIELD 3 P Marple 2 W definitely raise their desire to put the record right from their point of view. 19 ECCLES L Burnage W MANCHESTER 2 L 26 On the Thursday night before Easter, the Wolves (entertained a seemingly low-spirited Widnes side, who January 2 MACCLESFIELD 3 W battled away but could not overcome a stronger Wolves side. This was definitely not the result Widnes was 9 Altrincham Kersal P ALTRINCHAM KERSAL W Lymm P looking for, as it seems to bring to an end their 5 year run in North One West. It would be remiss of me not 16 Broughton Park W BROUGHTON PARK P WIDNES 2 P 23 BLACKBURN W Liverpool Collegiate W Broughton Park 3 W to mention the hat-trick of tries scored by the galloping prop, Taher, he is, I understand, very happy to 30 Leigh W LEIGH W GLOSSOP provide full details of the yards covered, dummies and sidesteps made! This was, and I stand corrected, the February 6 Altrincham Kersal W first league game the Wolves had played under the new Memorial Ground floodlights and they certainly 13 VALE OF LUNE L Crewe & Nantwich W Firwood Waterloo C 20 Rochdale W WIRRAL W Wirral L seemed to adapt quite easily. 27 Rossendale D OLD BEDIANS 1 L

March 5 WIDNES P Bolton P DUKINFIELD 2 Today, for the Vikings it will be a question of ‘head down, forget about last week’, as they take on 12 Blackburn L BURNAGE Broughton Park for the second time in two weeks, last weekend in the league, this weekend in the cup. Last 19 Carlisle W ROSSENDALE W Old Bedians 1 L 24 WIDNES W weekend didn’t quite go according to plan so today it is not about the league, it’s first past the post goes 26 BROUGHTON PARK L GLOSSOP W through! Silverware coming, boys? April 2 PENRITH 9 Kendal PRESTON GRASSHOP- Broughton Park 4 For the Hawks, it was like the old days, a game on Easter Saturday and another on Easter Monday, both 16 KIRKBY LONSDALE PERS MARPLE 2 23 Warrington Macclesfield 3 U of Liverpool Vets profitable. Saturday saw the Hawks entertain Glossop and rack up a 51-0 win, Monday saw a much closer Warrington fought contest, finally coming out on top 29-28. An outstanding performance on fronts, guys! Today, there is no let-up for Macca & Jims’ boys as they take on Dukinfield, currently two league places above. Raging Bull Senior Colts League D It is not often we hear, at least in rugby, about things said in the ‘heat of battle’ making the news headlines, September 6 Bolton L January 3 Oldham 13 LIVERPOOL ST H L 10 ALDWINIANS we are all aware of the ‘sledging’ that apparently goes on in cricket, so I guess sooner or later the battery of 20 Fleetwood L 17 cameras and microphones surrounding the sporting arena, designed to give the full sense of being there 27 24 Rossendale whilst watching, would reveal comments that could be seen as defamatory or insulting either by someone October 4 Sedgley Park L February 7 County Cup Rd there or watching. It is a difficult one, as I’m sure we have all, at some time or another, particularly in the 11 OLDHAM W 14 BOLTON AWO 18 Aldwinians W 21 ‘heat of battle’, said something that was an immediate reaction to something that had happened and we 25 ROSSENDALE 28 hadn’t necessarily had time to think it through before opening our mouth. I hope the powers that be can bring a swift and correct solution, whatever that might be, to incident that occurred in the / Wales November 8 New Brighton W March 6 League Cup Rd 15 Liverpool St H L 13 League Cup Rd game. 22 FLEETWOOD W 20 League Cup Rd 29 County Cup Rd 27 nd 29 Tomorrow, Sunday 2 April, Wilmslow host the Waters Half Marathon when close on 5000 runners will circumnavigate the countryside as quickly as they can. The course records currently stand at a December 6 April 3 County Cup Rd 13 SEDGLEY PARK 10 League Cup ridiculously fast, in my opinion, for the men; 61:52 minutes (Isaac Macharia (Kenya)) and for the women 20 17 71:24 minutes (Perendis Lekapana (Run Fast)). We thank Waters for their continued support of the Half 27 24 League Cup Finals Marathon, and the rugby club. If you have a spare couple of hours, in the morning, and you’d like some May 1 County Cup Finals fresh air, it is not too late to help out! Good luck to all the organisers, volunteers and, of course, the runners. Saturday 13th. February 2016 North 1 West Wilmslow 12 – 17 Vale of Lune When the great day of reckoning comes at the end of the season, then surely this match against Vale of Lune will go down in the annals as a squandered opportunity. Wilmslow had more than enough good possession and field position to have won comfortably, even against a defiant and determined Vale defence.

Back in October, Vale had conceded seven tries to Wilmslow and their side, now improving and growing in confidence, had arrived at The Memorial Ground with a plan to ensure that that particular humiliation would not be repeated. They knew what the Wolves’ backs were capable of if given the time and space on the ball so they must have been practising coming up quickly and flat in training to close them down before any damage was done. That certain Wilmslow supporters on the touch line vocally thought that Vale were offside the whole game is irrelevant as the only opinion that mattered was that of referee Daniel Taylor who took a different view.

It had been a difficult week for Wilmslow coach Rick Jones to prepare his side. Bob MacCallum’s forthcoming stag weekend on the ski slopes was a distraction, he could have done without and entailed selecting a new half back combination in Nick Barker at No. 9 and Andy Walker at No. 10. for the first time. Both of them are decent enough players but it was a big ask in the face of Vale’s onrushing defence. A number of the players were travelling after the game to join MacCallum on the slopes so one couldn’t help wondering if they were all fully focussed on the job at hand. Wilmslow is not the first rugby club to have clashes with stag weekends and marriages and most certainly won’t be the last.

Wolves’ Plan A is always to run and move the ball wide from the outset and if that isn’t working then move on to Plan A+, which is the same thing but done faster and normally leads to a growing number of missed or misdirected or dropped passes. With a new half back hinge, doing OK but not great, play became frantic. Even at 12 – 12, the Wolves seemed to be chasing the game with Plan A+ when what was needed was some Plan B to mix things up a bit, to regain control, and to have the patience to take things on in the forwards and to build a position.

The opening Wolves score came after eight minutes when five metres from the Vale line, No. 8 Alex Taylor broke from the scrum and fed Nick Barker outside him for the simplest of scores, converted by Barker himself.

Less than ten minutes later, Vale were 7 -12 ahead, having scored two tries. Both had their origins in the failure of the Wolves to deal with the restart. On the first occasion, Wilmslow caught the ball but lost control at the breakdown, Vale were awarded a scrum, kicked to the right hand corner, won the lineout and set their backs off to the left where right winger Michael Forrest joined the line and made a long diagonal scoring run to the left hand corner. The Wolves restart then didn’t go ten yards, Vale made ground from the scrum, Wilmslow got penalised for another breakdown offence and from the ensuing catch and drive, Vale hooker Dan Baines touched down.

The Wolves created some opportunities in the second quarter without finishing anything off. Sam Cutts had to go off with a blood injury to be replaced by Max Harvey on the left wing and he distinguished himself soon after by getting across to save the Wolves from conceding an interception try.

The second half got underway with Vale conceding four penalties in quick succession as they came under increasing pressure but the Wolves lineout now went awol and each time they had to go away empty handed. Ed Stobart, Harry Patch and Hone Karaka all had their moments with the Kiwi centre tying things up after 60 minutes. It was all Wolves now but play became frantic, passes went to ground, impatience all round and with ten minutes left a match winning penalty was missed.

There had always been the chance because of the Wolves loose play that Vale could pick something up on the counter and they did with five minutes left when scrum half Ben Dorrington intercepted a high looping pass and with no-one at home ran from his twenty two for the match winning score. It may have been against the run of play but the Vale had defended stoutly all afternoon, they’d kept their shape and discipline and who’s to say they didn’t deserve the bit of luck that eventually came their way.

2015 - 2016 SEASON Hon. President Wolves Captain Flooring and Carpeting : Furniture Wilmslow RUFC Nigel Day Mike Black Kings Road Immediate Past President and Vice Captains Student Accommodation : Refurbishment Wilmslow Hon. Club Chairman Ben Day and Bob MacCallum SK9 5PZ Jon Hitch Wolves Team Manager Hon. Secretary Mike Blackett Tel : 01625 522274 Rob Milner Vikings Captain Hon. Treasurer Matt Pearson pitchero.com/clubs/wilmslow Tony Kersh Vikings Team Manager Bryn Lewis Hawks Captain Chris Mc Hawks Team Manager James Senior Head Coach Magazine Editor and Club Press Officer : David Pike Rick Jones Andy Vassell wishes the Wolves and all Wilmslow Tel : 01625 525616 : 07886 588524 : Coaches [email protected] Richard Hughes RUFC teams a successful 2015/16 season.

NORTH 1 WEST : RAGING BULL NORTH WEST Wilmslow RUFC is an http://www.rfu.com LEAGUES http://www.rfunorth.com http://www.rfu.com Proud to open community http://www.nowirul.org.uk sponsor based club, offering a game to anyone SPONSORS AND ADVERTISERS 2015-16 Adam Taher coming through the in the front gates from the age of Alan Lang : Albert Road Opticians six upwards - with no Alderley Edge Golf Club Artisan Meat Co : Barker Brothers : Barrington Sports row. upper age limit. Barry Fisher : Beauchamp Charles : Bengal Tiger Lily Blacc Consulting : BOC : Byrom plc Concept FF & E Ltd., Unit 2, Adelaide St Nevertheless, Calder Peel FGP : Concept Group subscriptions and bar Co-op Funeral Care Salford : Connections Private Travel Macclesfield, SK10 2QS Country Home Furnishing : Creative.co : CVSL : easyfish Tel : 01625 432608, M : 07710 574449 receipts are just not Drew Donaldson : First Leasing Corp sufficient to maintain Gascoigne Halman : gas-elec : Robin Gregory www.conceptgroupuk.com the wonderful sports Gusto Alderley Edge : Hallams Property Consultants field we have here. Harvey Finance and Vehicles : Norman Herring Ian Stewart : Jimmy Toole & The Farmers Arms Jon Hitch : John and Tim Holloway We, therefore, Hubron Speciality : JW Financial Planning : Kinsella Tax acknowledge and KNH Plumbing Services : Lee Floorstok thank all those Lymm Truckwash : M2Recruit Maxwells of Wilmslow : Iain Milne : Morris Homes individuals and Modac Global : Motrax : On Point Developments organisations, who Paddy Mulchrone : P J Design : Printerland have supported the RHS Property Services : Run Creative club, the teams and Running Bear : S C & P Jones: Slater Heelis: Stig Terra Nova School : The Vets’ Place : the players this The Wilmslow Half Marathon season either by Wilmslow Preparatory School : TSG Properties sponsorship, TWP Wealth : Vision Express Wilmslow advertising or Waters Corporation : Wheatsheaf Press Wilmslow IT : Wilmslow Electrical donation. Without World of Business Change them we just would not be here. NOT JUST SCIENTISTS In the last edition I focused on one of our employees, Leigh Steers, who is a Systems Test Engineer here at Waters Corporation but also a coach and athlete for Rising Stars Cheer & Dance outside of work; her day’s activities couldn’t be more different.

This time, I would like to tell you about another one of our employees, Paul Slater, who is a Principle Product Assurance Engineer for Waters Corporation by day and a longbow archer in his free time.

Paul’s day job requires him to provide technical support for the development and manufacturing of our scientific instruments but his love of longbow Archery, which dates back to medieval times, was used by the English and Welsh for hunting and as a weapon in medieval warfare, is now an Jacuzzi® Hydromassage can form an essential part of Sports and activity for enthusiasts and experiences which he loves Fitness programs, helping to relax the body after exercise and instructing. repair itself to prepare for the following day. Only Jacuzzi® Hydromassage offers your body the total all over body massage Paul says ‘what I really enjoy doing is helping others experience archery for the first time’. He re-calls that will treat your joints and muscles with the care that they some of his past experiences in the sport from stag-do adventurers in full Robin Hood costume, to very need to ensure you are feeling great after exercise. Train harder, recover faster with Jacuzzi young children; ‘we make sure everyone is safe, and hits the target by the end of their experience. That Hydromassage available from Jones Bathrooms wow expression when they hit a target for the first time is very special’. Even though Paul works around lab coats and safety specs all day, he is another example of the fact that we are not just scientists. Bathroom Showroom Wilmslow 01625 445742 91 Chapel Lane Wilmslow SK9 5JH

BEST WISHES FOR 2015-16 LEAGUE RESTRUCTURING PLANNED FOR 2017/18 ABANDONED AGAIN Last season’s plans to restructure the leagues were eventually put into abeyance for twelve months after objections from principally the Northern clubs but others as well. They found their way again into the RFU Council’s agenda on 11th. March and were passed with a small majority against the wishes of the clubs, who would be most affected. Those voting for the plans included representatives from the Armed Forces, Universities and other institutions, that weren’t directly affected.

The idea was that from the 2017/18 season, National One (Level 3), would consist of 15 teams, and what is currently National Two (Level 4)South and North would be turned into three 15-team leagues – North, Central- South West and Central South-East. Currently there are 48 teams in national 1 and National 2N & S so to accommodate the new structure, twelve teams from the current four Level 5 leagues (ie. National 3 North, Midlands, South, South West) would move up a level. Waters Wilmslow Half Marathon Below that, there would be eight divisions of 12 at level five and 16 leagues of 12 at level six with compulsory cup competitions for levels five and below. It meant that if Wilmslow were still playing at level 6 the season after next, Sunday 3rd. April 2016 the club would find itself in a very local league, comprised mainly of clubs from the current SLC 1 with two less Start: 10.30am. matches. To get into the new Level 5, Wilmslow would have to be one of fifty two clubs from the current eight Level 6 leagues to go up. In other words to finish no lower than sixth next season. As expected, entries for this year’s event were closed long before The number of teams would change from 16 at levels three and four to 15, and from 14 to 12 at level five. tomorrow’s race, which means that around 4500 runners, plus or minus depending on the weather, will start the thirteen mile course which will The proposals were originally put forward as part of an Adult Competitions Review for a number of reasons, including concerns over play welfare, lessening the demands on players week in week out with a 15-man league take them up Kings Road on to Altrincham Road, left at the second turning enabling one side each week to get a weekend off, as well as reducing travelling distances, and allowing the to Morley Green and down to Mobberley, where they do a loop before implementation of a national cup competition, among other things. Once again, the plans were vehemently returning along Burlehurst Lane to the finish in Morley Green. opposed by Northern Clubs and others, who argued that league restructuring was totally uncalled for, that it would devalue rugby below the Championship and that revenue would be lost because of fewer fixtures. This year’s official charity partner is the Christie. Brian Smith, Vice Fortunately, it was then recognised that the vote was unrepresentative of the clubs that would be affected and the President Mass Spectrometry Business Operations at Waters, the event's proposals were sussequently withdrawn. I bet though it won’t be the last we’ve heard of them! corporate partner, added: "Waters Wilmslow has supported The Christie in various ways for a number of years now and so we are delighted that for WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE 2016, the Wilmslow Half Marathon organisers have chosen The Christie as I never knew that it was racist to call someone a ‘gypsy ’ or a ‘gypsy boy’. Even less did I know that their partner charity for the race. The Christie is a fantastic charity that calling an opponent a ‘gypsy’ on the field of play could lead to receiving a ban on playing. Seeing does amazing work and our own team of Waters' runners will be doing pictures of Jo Marler and Samson Lee squaring up to each other with the virtuous Dylan Hartley their best to raise as much money as possible for them." closely looking on struck me as just the kind of pleasantries that rugby players have been exchanging from the year dot and still do every weekend throughout the land and was hardly likely to lead to the Once again, it will be a team effort with the rugby club, the running club, subsequent furore. Samson Lee, of course, has always been called ’Gypsy Boy’ by his mates. Alright Phoenix hockey and lacrosse players and scouts all turning out in numbers for them to do so, it would seem, but not for any posh English p♦♦. to set up and marshall the route and then to tidy up afterwards.

Verbal abuse includes anything to do with religion, race, colour, ethnic origin and sexual orientation Last year’s winner was Ben Siwa of Uganda in 64.57 minutes. He was and carries a minimum tariff of four weeks. Effectively, it bans a player from saying most things followed by Tadele Geremew of Elswick Harriers in 65.23. Damian about his opponent. Comments though on an opponent’s perceived mental state and proclivity to Nicholls was the first Wilmslow runner in 72.28, finishing 32nd. cheat appear to be excluded from the list. This was confirmed recently by overhearing an opposition captain recently describe his Wilmslow opponents as all f♦♦♦♦♦♦ idiots. Nobody seemed to mind. Perenda Lepakana broke the ladies record to win in 71.24 from the previous record holder taking Michelle Ross-Cope of Stoke, who was the Just think about it for a moment though. Use of words such as ‘Paddy and Irish’,’ Taffy and Welsh’,’ second lady to finish. Jock and Scottish’,’ Frog and French’, ’Dago and Spanish’ could all be considered racist, even if used in jest or banter just to wind up your opponent. Words such as tinker, eejit and gobshite being uniquely Irish can also be added to the list. Any of the foregoing used in conjunction with commonly and widely used nouns such as a♦♦♦♦♦♦♦, b♦♦♦♦♦ , b♦♦♦♦♦♦, c♦♦♦, s♦♦ and many others too, all risk falling foul of sanitising officials and attracting a lengthy ban. In Scotland, to be called a daft b♦♦♦♦♦ is almost a term of endearment, even though it does suggest deviant sexual habits

So watch what you say, lads. To call one of your team mates in the confines of the changing room a dirty scotch s♦♦ can be construed as a term of affection but the same words directed at an opponent during a game could easily elicit a ban. B♦♦♦♦♦ daft if you ask me!

And to sing a chorus from ‘The Raggle Taggle Gypsies Oh’, just don’t even think about it! Saturday 19th. March 2016 North 1 West Carlisle 12 – 43 Wilmslow ‘That’s the way to play rugby’, roared Rick Jones from the touchline when Hone Karaka ran in the fifth Wolves try of the afternoon in the second half at Carlisle. It wasn’t so much the try that had delighted the Wilmslow coach as the manner in which it had been conceived and executed, with bold, fast and fluid running and passing with most of the team handling at some stage. In fact, it was the hallmark of all their seven tries in a game, which after a slow start, turned into a very good showing. It even seemed during their purple period in the third quarter, that they would score every time they had possession. There were debuts for Louis Staples in the second row and the Kiwi Tom Williams, now happily restored after breaking his hand in training, and a second appearance for the Cardiff student Louis Davis. All acquitted themselves well, emphasising the depth in talent currently at the club.

For Carlisle, it just added to the nightmare that this season has become for them. Their City Road ground, adjacent to Carlisle Football Club, was flooded out for the second time in ten years as the Eden broke its banks during the winter’s storms, causing thousands of pounds of damage, whch is estimated will take at least two seasons to put right. For the meantime, they have been able to play their home matches on the Creighton RUFC ground to the south of the city, well away from the flood zones. However well appointed Creighton’s ground and clubhouse is, and it is, it’s still not home for the Carlisle club and players.

On the field, they had been hovering just above the relegation zone for much of the season but following this reverse, there’s now clear water between them and fellow strugglers Leigh and Blackburn as they drop into the relegation zone.

For much of this game, they had their equal share of possession in decent order from the set piece and an overall penalty count of fourteen to six in their favour is testament to the pressure they were exerting on the Wolves defence when they had the ball. In fact, they dominated territory in the early stages as the Wolves got the journey and three weeks without a game out of their system but only twice were they able to break across the gain line in the first half with ball in hand in face of the Wolves well mustered defence. Arguably, they had at least 75% of possession and field position during the first half but still found themselves trailing 14-7 at half time.

The Wolves are never more dangerous than when you kick the ball away for them to counter attack and when they got into their stride in the third quarter, they just started to run riot. The Carlisle heads went down and very soon the game was beyond them.

Nevertheless, Carlisle opened the scoring after twenty five minutes with a Standing Figures’ Northern School catch and drive from the lineout. pair of bronzes by Austin Wright, William Turner oil painting of The riposte was just sold for a local Capesthorne Hall sold for £2900 immediate when Ben Day took a kick estate for £4,100 ahead and countered with a move that ended with skipper Mike Black taking the final pass to score his only try of the season thus far under the posts. Both sides now had their moments, Wilmslow beginning to put some play together, mainly from Carlisle kicks or turnovers, and the home side breaking the Wilmslow line, when it lost its shape. Wolves prop, Robert Taylor was Yellow Carded for collapsing another attempted Carlisle catch and drive but then on the stroke of half time the Wolves turned the ball over in mid field and crisp passing put Ed Stobart clear.

The home side must have felt that there was no justice whilst it was just the tonic the visitors needed. The second period started with another kick out of defence by Carlisle, which went straight to Sam Cutts, who ran into contact and when the ball was recycled across the field, Karaka was held up but the other Taylor brother, Alex, was on hand to grab the ball and score from the pile up. Moments later, Stobart was held up on the left from a quickly taken short penalty and MacCallum seeing acres of unmanned space on the right put in a cross kick for Karaka to run on to unopposed. Karaka’s second try, the best of the bunch, soon followed with a multi handling display. Five minutes later clean scrum ball enabled Karaka to show again what a pest he can be and when he was eventually hauled down, the Carlisle defence had been shredded and there was acres of space for the debutant lock Louis Staples to gallop away with the recycled ball for his first ever Wolves try. The traffic was still in the direction of the Carlisle line and from an attacking lineout, the ball was moved to Stobart, who burst through some disheartened tacklers for the final score. 2015/16 Wilmslow’s progress was now disrupted by two Yellow Cards in quick succession, one to Adam Hewitt for his part in a feisty skirmish amongst the players and then Alex Donaldson was dismissed for transgressing at the breakdown. Both players wore broad grins as they departed the field, knowing that the match had already been won. The referee seemed determined that the home side should get some kind of consolation as the Wolves were constantly penalised and on the stroke of full time, Carlisle managed just that from a short penalty. Wolves Appearances and Point Thursday 24th. March 2016 North 1 West Spectator Conduct Scorers : 2015 - 16 Wilmslow 40-0 Widnes

The Wolves administered the expected hammer blow to Widnes’ hopes of a sixth successive season at Level 6. From the

Explicitly calling the opposition  Act as a positive role outset, the result was never in doubt with six tries, three in each half, being scored at regular intervals. The Wolves are

team’s touch judge a b model to all players. presently full of confidence and knew they could see off this Widnes side. It wasn’t a particularly accomplished cheat because you disagree

performance, untidy at times, with chances going begging. Without being at their clinical best, they didn’t need to be, they Abide by the RFU’s  with him over where the ball were still able to retain sufficient composure to take enough of them to win decisively.

Child Protection went into touch, whether or not

Tries

Appearance

Drop GoaldDrop

Penalties Points Conversions Guidance in relation it was in touch at all or who the The Wolves set out to play their usual expansive game but it was a wet and slippy evening under the bright new Memorial Jordan Ayrey 15 1 5 to verbal and throw has been awarded too is Ground floodlights and not really the occasion for this type of football. The ball was both hard to hang on to and to pass Nick Barker 16 5 1 27 emotional abuse. forbidden. accurately so there was a lot of chasing around to tidy up attempted moves and loose ball. For once, none of the Wilmslow Mike Black 16 1 5 Remember that backs crossed for a try so they can be grateful to their pack for stepping up to the mark. Prop Adam Taher scored three Mark Brewis 1 children play primarily Abuse of Match Officials tries, according to one wag afterwards without having to run more than three yards for the lot of them. True all his for their own Sam Cutts 21 3 15 touchdowns were from close range but that belies that Taher, big lump that he is, has a surprising turn of pace, plenty of enjoyment not that of Code of Conduct regulations Louis Davis 3 mobility when the mood takes him and no little ball handling skill. He also does what’s required of him in the front row of the spectators. state that a person shall not scrum. His team mates couldn’t ask for much more from him. Blind side flanker Tom Williams scored twice. The big rangy Ben Day 11 2 10  Acknowledge good abuse, threaten or intimidate a New Zealander may not be as conspicuous on the field as his predecessor but the evidence of his two games so far Alex Donaldson 17 referee, touch judge or other play, effort and suggests that he’s just as influential and he showed with a long second half gallop for his second try, looking somehow match official, whether or not Max Harvey 9 3 15 performance reminiscent of a Cheltenham steeplechaser in full flight, that he’s no slouch either. The final try from No. 8 Alex Taylor was on the field of play. Crude or Adam Hewitt 21 3 15 irrespective of team the culmination of a well executed catch and drive at the finish. Taylor is another, who is a grafter, quicker than he looks, abusive language or gestures Legin Hotham 14 8 40 or player. Shout ‘for’ powerful and effective going forward and with the priceless ability to tidy up retreating ball at the base of the scrum. towards officials is not Richard Hughes 17 2 10 players not ‘at’ them. permitted. Never ridicule a Widnes are having a rotten time. Three wins only this season from twenty two games is relegation form. They have to win Lawrence James 1 player. all their remaining games to have any chance of avoiding the drop. Two of their matches are against fellow strugglers Hone Karaka 5 5 25 Abuse is defined as individual Broughton Park and Leigh but their task is a big ask. Many of the side which got them into this league five seasons ago are James Keys 2 1 5  Respect match perception of personal no longer playing and on this evidence a spell back in SLC1 to allow their youngsters to develop may be no bad thing. Jack Masters 7 officials’ decisions degradation, be it mental, or They’re too good a club no to bounce back again after a period of recuperation. even if they appear to physical before, during and Bob MacCallum 18 16 41 130 have made a after a game and includes Ollie McCall 3 1 5 They had their fair share of possession and field position in this game but it was noticeable throughout that they were mistake. Remember verbal or physical assault, always driven backwards in the tackle as the Wolves’ players drove in and if and when the ball did emerge on their side Conor McMurdock 7 1 6 15 they are volunteers intimidatory conduct and/or again, it was slow and on the back foot. They just weren’t able to put any pace on the ball to stretch the Wolves defence. Harry Patch 20 18 90 too. racial and sexual harassment. They weren’t the first side this season to find that crossing the gain line in the face of this Wilmslow defence is an awful lot

Mat Shufflebottom 20  Never verbally abuse more difficult than you would first think. Only twice in the second half did they threaten and on the second occasion there Abusive behaviour affects the Louis Staples 2 1 5 players, coaches, was an air of good fortune from a crooked Wolves lineout throw and an evil bouncing ball from a speculative kick ahead. reputation of the club and will match officials or Overall though. if body positions aren’t right or you’re isolated then these Wolves will just swallow you up, just like in the Ben Stern 13 1 5 not be tolerated. Action will be fellow spectators. wild. Nevertheless, one felt the visitors worked hard enough to get more out of the game than they did. But when your luck Ed Stobart 18 20 100 taken against any member or Such abuse can is out….. Adam Taher 10 3 15 other spectator considered to create a negative be in breach of the IRB Code Gareth Tait 1 environment for The Wolves had to wait about fifteen minutes to open the scoring. They’d been on the attack virtually non stop from the of Conduct. Alex Taylor 21 5 25 players, which their kick off but a combination of hasty passes going to ground and last gasp Widnes defence had kept them out until yet Robert Taylor 17 2 10 behaviour will often another move was halted on the Widnes line for this time Williams to grab the ball as it was recycled and to score. Ten minutes later, under pressure again, the Wids conceded a penalty from which MacCallum planted the ball in the left hand Vili Tuipulotu 13 6 1 7 47 reflect. club house corner. The drive didn’t go exactly as planned as it crabbed inwards and went to ground before Taher touched James Venables 7 down. Ten minutes on, the Wids were driven back in the scrum off their own put in, the Wolves grabbed possession and Andy Walker 18 3 15 from a pile up on the line Taher again emerged with the ball to drive over. MacCallum converted all three tries. Charlie Wilton 1 Josh Whiteley 17 1 5 The second half started with Ollie Wilkinson 7 the Wolves breaking out from their own twenty two and with Tom Williams 2 2 10 the final pass going to Williams for a long run in and his MOTRAX MOTOR ACCESSORIES second try. The game became increasingly scrappy as the 88 CHAPEL LANE T 01625 522551 Wids now enjoyed their best period of the game without any reward. The Wolves got OILS  BATTERIES  PAINTS  NUMBER frustrated and were PLATES  TOWBARS  TOOLS  CYCLE increasingly penalised by referee Callum Sharp as they ACCESSORIES MAINTENANCE, REPAIR infringed trying to get AND VALETING PRODUCTS possession and when they did, they promptly threw it away again. It took a change of ‘BETTER PRODUCTS, LOWER direction from referee Sharp’s whistle to get the Wolves going again. MacCallum stuck the ball into the Wids twenty two for PRICES, BETTER SERVICE’, the first time in nearly half an hour and after a short period a quickly taken penalty went to Taher, who this time had a short run for his third try. Back they came again, another penalty to the other corner, a catch and drive and a final flourish from Says Martin Hill No. 8 Taylor. MacCallum finished proceedings with a fine conversion from the touchline.

Specialist in Domestic Extension Standish Media Services : Division 1 Design Team P W D L For Agst Diff Pts +/- Wilmslow 2 21 16 1 3 546 211 335 73 0

Preston G’hoppers 3 21 16 0 5 626 224 402 69 0 Paul Sheridon

Wirral 2 22 15 0 7 747 364 383 67 0 Tel. 07969 790075 [email protected] Crewe & Nantwich 2 21 15 0 6 528 398 130 66 0 Broughton Park 2 23 11 0 11 513 460 53 59 0 Paul Sheridon wishes Warrington 2 21 11 1 8 398 417 -19 54 0 the Wolves every Rossendale 2 20 9 3 7 474 352 122 53 0 success in 2015-16 Blackburn 2 20 10 0 10 366 347 19 50 0

Burnage 2 23 8 0 15 372 546 -174 47 0

Macclesfield 3 22 7 1 13 493 534 -41 43 0

Liverpool Collegiate 2 22 6 0 16 313 492 -179 43 3

Altrincham Kersal 2 22 7 0 15 307 628 -321 43 0

Bolton 2 21 6 0 15 307 618 -311 39 0

Leigh 2 21 7 0 13 271 670 -399 31 -6 Tony Kersh wishes the Wolves and all Wilmslow teams Raging Bull Leagues : Division 3 South a successful 2015-16.

Team P W D L For Agst Diff Pts +/- PO Box 595, Macclesfield SK10 Old Bedians 1sts 18 15 1 2 594 226 368 64 0 9HF Tel : 01625 500090 Manchester 2 19 11 1 6 436 313 123 56 0

Uni of Liverpool Vets 1 16 11 0 2 491 194 297 54 0 Saturday 13th. February Wirral 3 19 9 0 9 355 444 -89 49 0 Crewe & Nantwich 8 - 15 Vikings

Dukinfield 2 19 10 0 7 312 402 -90 49 -2 Saturday 20th. February Vikings 20 - 6 Wirral Wilmslow 3 18 10 0 7 488 268 220 46 -5 Wirral 7 - 5 Hawks

Broughton Park 3 18 10 0 8 528 341 187 46 0 Saturday 27th. February Rossendale 10—10 Vikings Widnes 2 18 9 0 9 514 318 196 40 -5 Hawks 7—28 Old Bedians Marple 2 16 6 1 9 301 363 -62 35 0 Saturday 12th. March Lymm 3 19 5 1 13 455 699 -244 35 0 Blackburn 13-10 Vikings

Burnage 3 16 1 1 12 195 509 -314 18 0 Saturday 19th. March Vikings 20-17 Rossendale Glossop 3 16 0 1 13 82 674 -592 15 0 Old Bedians 36-8 Hawks

The Vikings stay at the top but only just. After beating Crewe & Nantwich on Saturday 26th. March the 13th.February they had another difficult fixture on the 20th. against Wirral. Vikings 17-32 Broughton Park Three tries from wingers Raynor and Baker and No. 7, Eggleston, augmented Hawks 51-0 Glossop by a McMurdoch penalty and conversion saw them safely home on that occasion. Monday 28th. March Hawks 29-28 Widnes Since then they’ve found it becoming increasingly hard. Away at Rossendale, they were a bit off colour, missing too many regulars and were forced to struggle by a fired up Rossendale team. An early try from Adam Taher and two kicks from Conor McMurdock were cancelled out by two Rossendale tries - but they had no kicker, so the Vikings were extremely fortunate to escape with a draw. It was then disappointing to lose at Blackburn and the return against Rossendale was a hard fought win.

And then last week, they were well beaten by Broughton Park, despite going 17-13 ahead mid way through the second half. Park responded with three tries to win with plenty to spare. The only source of comfort for the Vikings was that second placed Preston GH also lost at Wirral. Nevertheless, two losses, a draw and a solitary three point win in their last four games is not league winning form. easyfish in Chapel Lane WISHING LAWRENCE JAMES AND THE WOLVES A SUCCESSFUL SEASON PENRITH RUFC The Dirty Dozen League When Penrith visited the Memorial Ground last January, it was the first time we had played them League N1W Forecasts since 1997/98. According to Barry Fisher, who still has a match programme from January Sponsored by The Artisan Meat Company 98,they were too strong that season for Wilmslow and completed the double by winning 21-3. The 19th. was a good day for Braveheart, Chicken Sarney, Draichgoch, The Flying Scotsman and Nob, who all got bonus points with a clean Wilmslow won only one game all season and got relegated to NW2. Back then NW1 was level 7 sheet. Not so good for Percy Hotspur, who had been going well in second place and now finds himself back in the pack. and NW2 level 8 in a much taller and slimmer pyramid structure. Subsequently, Penrith had a decent run in National 3 North, before losing their place in 13/14. Everybody predicted a home win against Widnes before Easter so that match hasn’t been included in the scoring.

Not all the forecasts are in yet for 2nd. April but they’ve all been the same so far so a bit of courage will be needed to predict an upset or two, Fortunately none of the Wilmslow players of 2015 knew much about what went on over twenty which could open it up again. How about Eccles to do Kirkby Lonsdale, that’s not out of the question. Could Carlisle upset Blackburn? And years ago, so they just got with dismantling their opponents. Rick Jones had noticed the Penrith longest shot of all, what about AK getting one over Kendal. No chance, I hear you all say but Eccles got close last weekend. Reports have it side going through a protracted pre-match warm up after the normal sort of mid winter lay off that Kendal were mightily relieved to hear the final whistle. and had thought that maybe they weren’t just as prepared for this match as they could have been so he emphasised to his side the importance of a ’fast start’ in his match preamble to the players. Even he though couldn’t have expected his side to run in four tries in the first quarter. Inevitably, Penrith pulled themselves together and clawed their way into the game.

Saturday Park Broughton v Warrington

Altrincham Kersal v Kendal v Kersal Altrincham Darren Lee got the first of his two tries before half time and a consolation at the end. In the meantime Sam Cutts and 19th MARCH 2016 Kersal Altrinchan v Penrith

Eccles v Kirkbyv Lonsdale Eccles Lawrence James added to the Wolves total as they ran out winners by six tries to two. More importantly though it was a Rochdale v Lune of Vale

Blackburn v Carlisle v Blackburn

Widnes v Blackburn v Widnes

Carlisle v Wilmslow v Carlisle

Wilmslow v Penrith v Wilmslow

Kirkby Lonsdale v Lonsdale Kirkby

Broughton Park v Park Broughton

Rochdale v Leigh v Rochdale

Kendal v Eccles v Kendal Weeks This Total precursor for a good three months from Wilmslow. Their distinctly average play before Christmas 2014 became a thing of Widnesv Leigh

2nd APRIL 2nd 2016

Vale of Luneof Vale the past and in many ways it set the scene for this season, their most successful yet at this level. Warrington

Total

The Penrith side clearly felt they had something to prove in the return last spring at their place. The Wolves arrived after

producing a commanding performance against Crewe & Nantwich in the Cheshire Vase the previous week and hopes were high that they could get a rare win in against the side lying fourth in the table, just one place ahead of them. For

around sixty minutes, it was a decent contest, both sides scored three tries and with Penrith just three points ahead at 20-

17, it was still either side’s game. The turning point came when Adam Taher got a Yellow Card and for the second time in

the afternoon, Penrith made their numerical superiority count with a fourth try to take them ten points clear. By that time,

they had got on top in the close contact stuff, regularly driving the Wolves backwards. The wheels began to fall off the Wilmslow chariot, possibly the tank was running on empty after the previous week’s heroics, as the home side seized the moment to run in three more tries in the last quarter of an hour to thoroughly avenge their January defeat at The Memorial Beer Keeper H A H H H H H 22 410 Ground. Braveheart A A H H H H A 33 488 The Wolves were top of the table when they Chicken Sarney A A H H H H A 33 474 A H A H H H H called again last November on an early proper winter’s day. Snow lay on the fells, Draichgoch A A H H H H A 33 483 the pitch had been cleared and it was all Christmas card stuff. They then put in one The Flying Scotsman A A H H H H A 33 452 of their best performances most of us had ever seen. The players wore huge grins Jonty A A H H A H A 25 464 A H A H H H H afterwards, knowing how well they had played. They were helped by a huge Kiwi A A H H H H A 33 512 penalty count in their favour but to score five Millie 29 A A H H H H D 25 455 unanswered tries at Winters Park and to ‘nil’ Penrith on their own turf will go down in the Nob A A H H H H A 33 475 A H A H H H H annals. Percy Hotspur A A H H H A H 22 478 A H A H H H H So once again, Penrith have a point to make and we can be sure that they will be Super Ted H A H H H H A 25 429 A H A H H H H set on making it. The Wolves have Uncle Fester A A H H H A A 25 451 A H A H H H H dropped back to third place since November and Penrith are in their Zoo Keeper H A H H H H A 25 477 A H A H H H H familiar fourth position in the table. Since January, they’ve carried all Results for Week A A H H H H A before them with the two notable 12-22 12-43 25-22 50-8 40-7 29-23 19- exceptions of Kirkby Lonsdale and 24 Kendal. Losing away by 23-17 at KL Cherry Tree looks a creditable enough F a r m performance and so does 8-10 Lees Lane against Kendal at home. On the Mottram St. road, they have wins this year at A n d r e w Carlisle, Eccles and Broughton Park. Tue - Fri On paper, Wilmslow looks like a 8.00am - 5.30pm stiffer test for them but it’s also the Sat start of a difficult run in for the 8.00am - 5.00pm Sun Wolves. It won’t take much for this 10.00am - 4.00pm afternoon’s game to turn into an Pictures from Penrith v Wilmslow 21 Nov 2015 interesting encounter. Matured Cheshire Ribs of Beef on the Bone, Fillets, Sirloins, Rumps : Hand Made Pork & Cracked Pepper Sausages : Herb Cured Pancetta : Cheshire Pork Loin Chops : Legs and Shoulders of Lamb, Free Range Poultry and lots more…………. The business end of the season is now upon us. There are only three sides left in it for the league title and play off place and the odds are firmly stacked against Wilmslow, who would need a clean sweep of their remaining four fixtures, two of them against Kendal, away next week, and then Kirkby Lonsdale at home the week after. Even then they would still rely on one or other of the Big Beasts of the season Kendal and Kirkby Lonsdale to drop points in more than just one game. Kendal and Kirkby were due to meet at Mint Bridge on 21st. February but the weather intervened and this game, which could well be of the ‘winner takes all’ kind is scheduled for 30th. April. The runner up will then go into a play off against Morley, who are 18 points behind Doncaster Phoenix and 18 points ahead of West Hartlepool in the North East league.

Eccles got to within three points of upsetting Kendal last time out a fortnight ago. By all accounts, it was a fractious encounter with Yellow Cards galore. We know from our own experience how Eccles can get stuck in and play to the limit or even beyond the limit if they can get away with it. They found themselves 25-5 adrift shortly after half time but three Vikings v Broughton Park - 26th. March tries in the final quarter clearly got Kendal rattled and they were relieved when Glenn Weightman banged the ball out of play to finish the match. Kendal weren’t at their best and their pack showed a lot of changes. Away at AK this afternoon is a potential banana skin and so is the match against the Wolves, providing the Wolves can find a way of neutralising the Hotels and Training Grounds for June’s U20 Kendal catch and drive and scrum. A firm ground and a balmy spring afternoon would also help the Wolves’ cause. This International Tournament have been allocated as game has the potential to turn into a real thriller. The league though is Kendal’s to lose. shown in the table below.

Eccles meanwhile entertain Kirkby Lonsdale today. Can they rouse themselves a second week in succession? It may be New Zealand Renaissance Hotel & Broughton Park a lot to ask for against a side of KL’s all round ability and current form, 50 points against Warrington, 26 against Broughton Park and 32 away against Rochdale but if any club can cause an upset, it’s Eccles. I can’t see KL slipping up at home England Marriott Manchester Airport & Sale against AK and Blackburn but they might have preferred an easier looking run in of away fixtures than Eccles, Wilmslow South Africa Renaissance Hotel & Burnage and Kendal in that order. If they can win all those they’ll deserve to have won the title. France Copthorne Hotel & Ashton on Mersey At the other end of the table Widnes look down and out. Mathematically it’s still possible for them but it would take more than one miracle. Their press officer reporting on last week’s match against Wilmslow had their survival as a lost cause. Australia Marriott Manchester Airport & Bowden That leaves Broughton Park and Carlisle of the others most likely to join them. Three of Park’s last four games are away at Warrington, Eccles and Widnes, all winnable but the harsh truth is they have to win all four of their remaining games Wales Park Inn & Aldwinians with bonus points and then hope that Blackburn and Leigh get nothing from theirs. Ireland Park Inn & Trafford Blackburn, by winning at Widnes, have given themselves a good chance of survival and a home win against Carlisle today Scotland Village Hotel Bury & Bury would take them up to forty points, which may be enough but their other fixtures are against Penrith, twice, Kendal and KL. Matthew Pye, Tom Crawshaw and Gus Fiennes from You wouldn’t bet on them getting much from those so it’s today or never for them. Argentina Shrigley Hall & RFC Wilmslow’s U15 side represented Cheshire in their 17-10 win against Yorkshire on 14th. February at Stockport. Leigh’s destiny is very much in their own hands. Two wins from their remaining five games, which include Widnes, twice, Japan Village Hotel Warrington & Lymm and Carlisle away should do. Last time out they led Rochdale 22-23 going into the last quarter and despite conceding a 10-0 down at half time, the Cheshire side made a match winning try to the home side, they battled to the very end and were well worth their losing bonus point. Leigh have Italy Shigiley Hall & Wilmslow remarkable come back with outside centre Gus Fiennes taken points from all eight of their last matches. They have now beaten AK, Eccles, Broughton Park, Blackburn and scoring a fine try. Georgia Village Hotel Warrington & Widnes Carlisle in recent outings and run Wilmslow, Rochdale and Warrington to within seven points. Not the form of a side destined for relegation.

Below Leigh are Carlisle. They’ve only won once since January. They have to win at Blackburn to give themselves any sort of a chance and then pick up home wins against Leigh and Rochdale. Given their current form that’s unlikely. It would be a shame to see them go down again, they’re a decent club going through hard times and they serve one of the best lunches on the circuit to their visitors. Currently, it looks like either St. Benedicts or Aspatria taking the two top spots in NLC1. Bolton are not yet quite out of it. Anyway, prepare yourself for the journey to St. Benedicts in darkest West Cumbria. The metropolitan types at Carlisle said they were a decent bunch of lads with a lousy pitch.

In National 3 North, Burnage will be back in North 1 West next season, clearly a plastic pitch not being the answer, with just fourteen points all season from twenty two matches. Park is also in danger of being caught and despatched to Level 6. After witnessing Birkenhead Pk. last season, I find it hard to understand why they haven’t made more of an impact.. Stockport, we understand have brought in a pair of Green Thumb Kiwis to bolster their side but the jury still has to be out on that move. Only one win this year and several heavy defeats suggest that they could still slip THE AREA’S LEADING INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENCY further down the league into the relegation zone, despite having 44 points already in the can. Look at Wirral though, now in second place, a long way ahead of in third place, and heading for a play off to national 2 North. If they can do it…… . Wishing Wilmslow Rugby Club

And on the way up from SLC1, almost certainly and possibly West Park St. Helens from a play off to save us all A Successful 2015 - 16 Season from another long Cumbrian trip. LSH are in third. Maybe, it’ll be their turn next season and Manchester, although in the second half of the league, look to have found their level for the time being. , once a national league side, look destined for Level 8. The good news for them is that it doesn’t get lower than that. 18 Offices throughout North Cheshire and South Manchester 42 Alderley Road, Wilmslow, SK9 1NY t 01625 536434 f 01625 527772 [email protected] As we come to the last Saturday 20th. February North 1 West month of the season, I Rochdale 5 - 12 Wilmslow decided to have a look at Two well taken tries by left winger Max how our near neighbours are doing. Harvey either side of half time, one converted

by Bob MacCallum, were sufficient to take To start at the top, the points at Rochdale. It was a gutsy and Macclesfield will be going Another classic tasty stew to enjoy when you get pragmatic performance from the Wolves on a straight back up to home. day when any thoughts of cavalier, pacey, National 1, as they are running and passing rugby had to be well clear of second- Boeuf Bourgignon consigned to the changing room. There were placed Sedgeley Park. herculean performances from Wilmslow’s two Ryan Parkinson, second row forwards. Adam Hewitt formerly of Wilmslow some years ago, wisely chose to move For four people: 2 lb of chuck or casserole steak, absolutely dominated the lineout throughout back to Macclesfield from Sedgeley Park. Other former diced and cubed, 4 rashers of streaky bacon, one and his partner Matthew Shufflebottom put in Wilmslow players on the Blues include Eliott Brierley, chopped onion, 2 crushed garlic cloves, 12 peeled Matthew King and Harrison Lewis. an unstinting shift in the close quarter stuff baby onions, 4 oz button mushrooms, olive oil, bottle and also took a few lineout balls but when Sale meanwhile are surprisingly struggling in the basement of inexpensive light red wine, 2 tbsp flour, ¼ pint of Shufflebottom drove forward into the tackle area of that league. Those of us who thought that Sale with with ball in hand, crossing the gain line, the beef stock, chopped parsley, sprigs of thyme, bay their abundant riches were poised to take over as the leaf, seasoning whole Wolves pack went forward with him. It standard bearer of local clubs from Macclesfield have been was a day for simple uncomplicated rugby, shown to be plain wrong. the eradication of unnecessary errors and Marinate the beef for at least four hours or even once in possession of the ball to keep it. I don’t know what the story is at Burnage in National 3 North overnight. For the marinade you’ll need sufficient This enabled the Wolves to dominate much but when you’re having the sort of season that they are, you red wine and olive oil to cover all the meat, two of the critical second period and in the end to have to suppose that they’ve lost a lot of the players, for chopped garlic cloves, a peeled and chopped onion, deservedly get the win. Both their tries had their origins, as did Rochdale’s, in the probing kick and it could be argued whatever reasons, that have done so well for them in recent that the Wolves might have used this tactic a bit more against a Rochdale back three who clearly didn’t relish a sodden season. They’re certain to be relegated back to N1W after an bay leaf, salt and black peppercorns. ball swirling around in the rain descending upon them absence of five seasons. Strain the beef from the marinade. Preserve the Rochdale’s Moorgate Avenue ground is open on its northern side from where Saturday’s relentless near freezing rain Neither Stockport nor Birkenhead Park are out of the mire in liquid but dispose of the flavourings. that league. Birkenhead Park steam-rollered their way to was blown in off the Pennines. That the pitch had been able to absorb so much rain and still be playable was promotion last season and thought they would do well enough remarkable, even though the cheery fellow on the gate said ‘if it carries on like this, there won’t be any rugby tomorrow’. this term. It goes to show that a big pack of forwards is not Now fry the streaky bacon until crisp and set aside in Only a handful of Wilmslow’s hardiest had ventured round the M60 to support the Wolves in this N1W league match. enough in National 3 North. The fly-half they took from Caldy the slow cooker. Dip the beef in seasoned flour and There’s a fine clubhouse to welcome you on arrival but no covered stands around the touchlines, the most sheltered last season, returned there; he must have seen the writing on fry until browned. Add to the slow cooker. Cook the spot being at the far end of the ground where a garden boundary fence and a handful of conifers provide some the wall. protection. Otherwise, you’re exposed on the touchline to the full fury of the storm. No wonder, much of the support for chopped onion and garlic in the remaining oil and both sides stayed in the clubhouse or on the balcony. Stockport are on an extended losing run despite bringing in a when soft add to the slow cooker. Fry and brown the pair of Kiwis, who were discovered working for Green Thumb baby onions, add to the slow cooker. Bring the The players emerged from the changing rooms at 2.15pm. precisely and took up their field positions quickly for referee on a Wilmslow member’s lawn. reserved marinade, red wine, beef stock, thyme, bay Mark Hiney to get proceedings underway without delay. Scrum half Andy Walker soon had a kick to put the Wolves leaf and parsley to the boil and then add to the slow Plaudits have to go to Wirral who look as though, they’ll have down on the Rochdale line from where clean lineout ball, taken by Hewitt, of course, produced a couple of drives up the cooker. middle before the ball was recycled along the line for Harvey to touch down. MacCallum hit a magnificent conversion a play off match for National 2 North. It seems they have the from the touchline and only four minutes had been played. same group of players that took them to their current level two years ago and they’ve just got better and better. Set the slow cooker to come on at about 3.00pm and to turn off at about 7.00pm. When you come in, fry Rochdale are a competent mid table side and from the restart they forced Wilmslow into conceding a penalty after a There are likely to be more journeys to Cumbria next season promising breakout and from a lineout, they too produced a telling cross kick which full back Jimmy Flitcroft pounced on as both Aspatria and St. Benedicts are top of the North Lancs/ the button mushrooms and add to the stew. for their score. For the remainder of the half, about 30 minutes, much of the game was conducted in the area between Cumbria. We’ve only ever once played St. Benedicts, several halfway and the Wilmslow twenty two with Rochdale dominating possession but never really threatening much. It was years ago in a play off match for promotion to N1W. It was on To drink, you’ll want a rich red wine, a good good committed defence by the Wolves. Stobart made what looked like a try scoring break but was called back for a a fine spring day at the Memorial Ground with Wilmslow burgundy but that’s expensive so I’d go for a Rhone forward pass and Harry Patch had a couple of moments which might have led to more. coimg out well on top. We’ve never had to go to their place, which is a a three day camel ride away. or Languedoc red, or a South African Pinotage or an The Wolves then lost Walker, who was stretchered off with a badly injured ankle. We all wish him a speedy recovery but Argentinian Malbec. They’ll all be good with this it probably marks the end of his season. His place was taken by Ollie Wilkinson, who had a good fifty five minutes. Finally, I go back to another local team, Knutsford. They are stew. Before half time, they then lost Ben Stern to be replaced by Jack Masters. Strength on the bench can make all the bottom of the bottom league, with minus ten points, having difference. You can see why rugby at level 6 is now considered an eighteen man game as opposed to fifteen men and lost every game and been deducted those ten points for some Burgundy, of course, is home to the Pinot Noir three subs. transgression or other. Who they will play next season, I don’t know. I understand there is still a rump of clubs who do not grape, which is now grown all over the world so if

enter the leagues and just play one another, as in the old you want something a bit lighter to drink, then there Neither side were able to create many clear cut scoring opportunities but such as there were tended to fall to the Wolves days, but not conducive to full-time rugby for the players. It is in the third quarter. The Rochdale line had a couple of fortunate escapes before a weak clearing kick was taken by Nick are any number of Pinot Noir wines to choose from. sad that they have fallen so far, having done so well after their New Zealand Pinot Noir is a good choice. Barker, playing at fullback, and returned with interest. To say that the fielding Rochdale back three player made a formation in 2003. ‘horlicks’ of it would be an under statement as the ball bounced around for the rapidly approaching Harvey to stick his toe on it, to then collect it at his leisure without knocking on and to run round for the score. MacCallum then missed a On another matter, I suspect you will have noticed that the far A Rhone wine would also go well with this dish, gettable but not easy penalty shot and the skipper Mike Black should really have been able to put Harry Patch away if end of the car park is no longer a Mini-rugby pitch (it was especially if it’s got the name of ‘Guigal’, his pass had gone anywhere close to hand. never good enough) and is now nearly back to a proper car ‘Chapoutier’, ‘St. Joseph’ or ‘Jaboulet’ somewhere park, thus stopping the complaints from the neighbours on on the label. The home side then raised the siege in the last ten minutes with some forward based pick and drive stuff but without Kings Road regarding cars blocking their drives on a Sunday morning. It will also have the benefit of an increased income really threatening the Wolves line or creating any real chances. In their eagerness to salvage a match saving score, rd they offended too often and yet another authoritative Hewitt take at the lineout enabled Wilkinson to kick the ball out of from the Half-Marathon day on April 3 . I understand there is play for No Side. another full entry of over 4,500 runners for the race, so; should you live in Pownall Park, stay in until after lunch.

WHAT DO THE TAYLOR BROTHERS AND CALLUM WESTAWAY ALL HAVE IN COMMON. THEY’RE OLD BOYS OF WILMSLOW HIGH SCHOOL, THEY PLAY FOR THE WOLVES AND THEY ALL CHOOSE STIG FOR THEIR GROOMING

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THE RUGBY CLUB’S FAVOURITE STYLISTS & BARBERS FOR GENTLEMEN AND WOLVES OF ALL AGES

Stationery Solutions, Chapel Lane, Wilmslow (excluding print cartridges) Chapel Interiors, Chapel Lane, Wilmslow Gusto, London Road, Alderley Edge Just identify yourself as a Wilmslow Rugby (see their advertisement to apply for a Gusto Club member by producing either your sponsorship card. Prior bookings advised) valid 2015 - 16 membership handbook at the Bengal Tiger Lily Indian Cuisine, Congleton Rd., following retail outlets or the participating Nether Alderley (restaurant menu only) retailer’s card to receive substantial S C & P Jones, 91-102 Chapel Lane, discounts off listed prices. Motrax Motor Accessories, Chapel Lane, RBS SIX NATIONS 2016

If you still have an appetite for International Rugby, then there’s plenty to choose from still. How many of you know, for example, that today Israel play the Czech Republic in that well known hot bed of rugby Netanya and Ukraine play Moldova in Odessa. The FIRA Championship in its various divisions then continues every weekend until 14th. May with matched featuring Cyprus, Hungary, Season 2015/16 Croatia, Switzerland, Austria, Serbia, Latvia, Lithuania and…..the at the A J Bell Stadium list just goes on and on.. 23rd. October The Six Nations B Championship took place from 6th. February to 19th. March and featured Georgia, Romania, Germany, Spain, 1st. November Russia and Portugal. The debate, of course, about whether the 21st. November Pau winner of this competition, this year Georgia again, should join the Six Nations at the expense of Italy will, of course go on. A play off 28th. November between the top and bottom appeals. Georgia look as though they could be competitive but the others less so. 19th. December Castres

England and Wales then play again at Twickenham on 29th. May, 2nd January Wasps as if they hadn’t seen enough of each other. What the rationale for 22nd. January Gwent Dragons this fixture escapes me unless it’s purely about getting bums on seats. 30th. January

The serious summer stuff then kicks off on 11th. June when 13th. February England take on Australia at the Suncorp Stadium, that’s Brisbane 27th. February Saracens if you didn’t know, Wales start their New Zealand tour against the All Blacks in Auckland and Ireland, the Springboks in Capetown. 5th. March Harlequins Scotland make their first appearance of the summer against Japan the following weekend. England, Wales and Ireland are all in 26th. March action on 18th. June and 25th. June. 16th April Bath

30th. April Gloucester

12 21 League North 1 West Country Home Furnishing 2015/16 For over 40 years our family business has been giving the highest level of service, quality, design and P W D L PF PA PD Pts B Pts Adj TODAY’S OTHER MATCHES furnishings. We pride ourselves on our customer Kendal 21 20 0 1 656 222 434 93 13 0 service, having built up a very loyal customer base, Kirkby Lonsdale 21 19 1 1 567 253 314 91 13 0 Altrincham Kersal v nearly all our sales are generated from Kendal Wilmslow 22 17 0 5 664 304 360 86 18 0 recommendations. With competitive prices to suit all

Penrith 21 13 0 8 514 370 144 65 13 0 Blackburn v Carlisle needs, from studio apartments to prestigious Vale of Lune 21 13 0 8 474 357 117 63 11 0 developments we offer solutions for all your home Warrington 22 12 2 8 531 538 -7 62 10 0 Eccles v furnishing needs. Kirkby Lonsdale Rochdale 22 11 0 11 416 414 2 52 8 0

Altrincham Kersal 22 10 2 10 387 397 -10 52 8 0 Leigh v Widnes Our Chapel Lane showroom contains a large collection Eccles 22 8 0 14 314 442 -128 44 12 0 of classic and contemporary home furnishings. Blackburn 21 7 2 12 314 528 -214 36 4 0 Vale of Lune v Leigh 21 6 0 15 336 490 -154 32 8 0 Rochdale

Carlisle 22 3 2 17 315 533 -218 27 11 0 Warrington v 39 Chapel Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5HW Broughton Park 22 4 1 17 319 610 -291 22 4 0 Broughton Park Tel 01625 527949 Widnes 22 3 0 19 202 551 -349 17 5 0 www.countryhomefurnishings.co.uk

League Fixtures & Results—2015/2016 PROUD TO BE SUPPORTING ALL WILMSLOW RUGBY CLUB TEAMS HOME

TEAMS

AltrinchamBlackburn Kersal BroughtonCarlisle Pk Eccles Kendal Penrith Vale of Lune Wilmslow Kirkby LonsdaleLeigh Rochdale Warrington Widnes

Altrincham Kersal 30-3 27-7 24-17 12-7 2/04 17-13 19-27 8-15 29-22 38-24 16/04 24-5 20-37

Blackburn 20-20 20-7 2/04 16-11 16/04 18-41 22-25 P 19-15 21-30 19-19 12-3 11-35

Broughton Park 15-7 32-24 18-18 13-12 18-39 13-25 12-16 24-35 9/04 12-22 19-32 14-16 10-34

Carlisle 5-5 20-22 22-5 20-26 24-31 0-30 9/04 20-27 23/04 13-12 19-21 27-7 12-43 Eccles 23/04 10-6 16/04 27-24 6-14 2/04 19-18 19-22 21-36 11-31 24-20 19-5 6-34 2015-16 Kendal 33-7 73-0 68-0 25-5 25-22 P 23/04 14-13 37-10 34-3 27-12 32-0 9/04

Kirkby Lonsdale 9/04 23/04 26-0 30-10 32-18 24-19 22-19 23-17 22-17 37-21 50-8 34-7 3-0

Leigh 3-41 15-24 7-41 16-3 17-7 18-20 6-21 16/04 10-22 P 22-26 2/04 17-24

Penrith 40-7 9/04 34-17 41-8 12-5 8-10 20-34 19-10 36-10 23/04 60-12 24-0 0-34

Rochdale 13-3 18-5 53-10 36-10 17-15 15-25 15-32 29-23 21-16 0-14 17-23 16/04 5-12

Vale of Lune 27-12 16-0 24-7 16/04 51-0 0-5 13-19 23-10 41-31 2/04 38-0 24-5 22-45

Warrington 38-15 49-13 2/04 26-21 9/04 20-44 12-12 29-22 36-14 10-22 45-23 38-3 23/04

Widnes 5-10 19-24 23/04 15-10 14-22 5-49 3-37 20-27 17-30 10-21 9/04 24-10 19-23

Wilmslow 31-12 40-15 50-25 46-7 3-7 12-32 16/04 47-7 2/04 32-12 12-17 30-47 40-0 ALAN LANG 4 LINDOW PARADE CHAPEL LANE

100% British Produce from Cheshire, Cumbria and the Welsh Borders

PC AND LAPTOP REPAIR SPECIALISTS FINE BENGALI & INDIAN CUISINE Restaurant and Take Away Menus ♦ Faulty Components ♦ Power Supplies or Inlet Problems ♦ Keyboard Failures ♦ Broken Screens ♦ Viruses ♦ Loss of Data Congleton Rd. Nether Alderley Wilmslow IT ♦ 6a Hawthorn Lane ♦ Wilmslow SK9 1AA SK10 4TD Telehone 01625 533550 ♦ [email protected] Tel 01625 890379/890560 Knutsford IT ♦ 31 Tatton St. ♦ Knutsford www.bengaltigerlily.com Telephone 01565 650022 ♦ [email protected] PLAYERS AND THEIR NEXT GAME AT THE SPONSORS MEMORIAL GROUND The players and coaches would like to Saturday 2nd. April 2016 thank those organisations and individuals who have supported the 9th. April cause of Wilmslow rugby by becoming League North One West their personal sponsors. All the funds Standish Media League 1 raised are directed towards funding VIKINGS V PRESTON GH coaching, kit, equipment, physios and team travel. Wilmslow v Penrith

If you would like to support the team by The Wolves next game is away at becoming a personal sponsor, then Kendal on 9th. April please let either Mike Blackett or David Wilmslow XV and their Sponsors Penrith XV Pike in on the secret. KENDAL RUFC, MINT

Jordan Ayrey - BRIDGE, SHAP ROAD, Nick Barker - The Barker Brothers KENDAL, LA9 6DL 15. Ed Stobart Jonty Fallows 15. Ryan Egerton Mike Black - TWP Wealth Mark Brewis - Just head up the M6 to J36. Take Sam Cutts - Tim Holloway 14. Hone Karaka Terra Nova 14. James McNaughton Ben Day - the A590, then A591, then A6 all Alex Donaldson - Drew Donaldson sign posted to Kendal. You follow 13. Harry Patch Jimmy Toole and The Farmers 13. Kris Bratton Max Harvey - Norman Herring the A6 northwards through the 12. Richard Hughes World of Business Change 12. Mike Fearon Adam Hewitt - Robin Gregory and town, heading past the railway Hubron Speciality 11. Louis Davis 11. John Fell Legin Felix-Hotam -Terra Nova station, which you leave on your Rick Hughes - World of Business left. The A6 is now Shap Road and Change Ltd you’ll see the rugby ground on your 10. Bob MacCallum Ian Stewart 10. Matt Allinson Lawrence James - Tom Levings, left in a semi industrial sort of an Easyfish & U9s 9. Ollie Wilkinson Zak George and U8s 9. Paul Newton Hone Karaka - Terra Nova area. Jack Masters - Bob MacCallum - Ian Stewart It’s at least a mile from Kendal 1. Jordan Ayrey 1. Arran Sullivan Conor McMurdock - K N H Plumbing town centre heading North. Services Drew Donaldson Harry Patch - Jimmy Toole and the 2. Alex Donaldson 2. Dan Morgan Farmers Arms 3. Adam Taher Co-op Funeral Care/ Concept Gp 3. Will Morgan Matthew Shufflebottom - RHS Property Services TODAY’S REFEREE 4. Adam Hewitt Hubron Speciality/Robin Gregory 4. Ryan Johnson Loui Staples - Paddy Mulchrone Ben Stern - Blacc Consulting 5. Mike Clifford 5. Harlan Corrie Ed Stobart - Jonty Fallows 6. Tom Williams Terra Nova 6. Scott Lancaster Richard Storrow - Matt Astle Adam Taher - Co-op Funeral Care, 7. Mike Black (capt.) TWP Wealth 7. Mike Stephens Salford and Concept Group Northumberland Gareth Tait - 8. Alex Taylor Iain Milne 8. James Hogg Alex Taylor - Iain Milne RURS Robert Taylor - Harvey Finance & Vehicles Subs Subs Vili Tuipulotu -Terra Nova James Venables - Run Creative Louis Staples Craig Price Andy Walker - Barry Fisher Josh Whiteley - Jon Hitch Conor McMurdock KNH Plumbing Services Tama Toomata Jack Walmsley - Connections Private Angus Crawford Steven Cherry Travel Ollie Wilkinson - Zak George and the Under 8s Tommy Wilkinson -

Wishing the Wolves a Successful Season