The 2016 Conference Challenge Trophy
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SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2016 THE 2016 CONFERENCE CHALLENGE TROPHY IN MEMORY OF STEVE GARTLAND... ROCHDALE MAYFIELD V HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE MANCHESTER REGIONAL ARENA £1 VECTOR LOGOS NEEDED FOR SUPER LEAGUE AND CHALLENGE CUP kingstonepress.co.uk /kingstonepresscider @KingstoneCider WELCOME TO THE 2016 CONFERENCE CHALLENGE TROPHY If ever you wondered what top quality community Rugby League is like, then get along to any Kingstone Press National Conference League game, and I am sure you won’t be disappointed. Today you have two of the finest of 2016 competing the Conference Challenge Trophy Final , with Premier Division Rochdale Mayfield hoping they will have enough firepower and experience to see off a Hunslet Club Parkside team that has swept all before them this campaign, including last year’s trophy winners, Leigh Miners Rangers. Parkside have a famous past as a prodigious provider of top quality professional and international players, with Gary Schofield OBE being but one. But it is to their future they are looking and with the second division Championship secured weeks ago, they have their sights set firstly on a Challenge Cup and Divisional Championship double, before no doubt looking for a third successive promotion from Division One at the end of the 2017 campaign. For Rochdale Mayfield, this Final is the opportunity to signal their return to the very pinnacle of the game outside of the professional ranks. There was a time when they dominated the Regional Pennine League with over a decade of back to back Championships. But, since joining the NCL, they have challenged but not yet succeeded in lifting a piece of silverware. No doubt they will hope all that changes today, and of course they still have their sights set on an NCL Grand Final appearance on October 30 at Widnes. Both teams are topped out with talent, and both can pile on the points whilst providing steadfast defence. Divisional status will make Mayfield slight favourites, but the form shown by both teams this season gives every indication this Final will go right down to the wire. Enjoy the match, Trevor Hunt WELCOME 1 STEVE GARTLAND On what would have been his 46th birthday, Steve Gartland’s family will present the Man of the Match award named in the late Rugby League star’s honour at today’s Conference Challenge Trophy Final. Prior to the game, between Rochdale Mayfield, where Gartland was a long- standing member, and Hunslet Club Parkside, a minute’s applause will be held at the request of the Gartland family, in celebration of his contribution across Rugby League. Steve Gartland enjoyed a varied playing career, turning out in Super League with Oldham in the 90s, and serving and the NCL with Mayfield, as well as taking in stints with Swinton Lions and Rochdale Hornets. He also proved to be a hugely successful community coach, guiding a number of young players through Mayfield’s junior ranks and into the professional game. Last month, Rochdale Mayfield renamed the road leading up to their grounds, ‘Steve Gartland Way’ as a lasting reminder of his impact on the club. The Gartland family will also present the Conference Challenge Trophy to the eventual winners at the end of today’s game. 2 STEVE GARTLAND ROCHDALE MAYFIELD - THROUGH HISTORY Mayfield ARLFC was formed on June 24, 1958 at the Mayfield Hotel on Albert Royd Street, Rochdale. The club’s first game was played on September 6, 1958 against Underbank of name to Rochdale Mayfield. Huddersfield, in what was then the Halifax In 1997, the junior section, the Mayfield League. Mustangs, was founded, helping provide a A move to the Old Bridge Inn on Oldham solid grounding for life and Rugby League Road, while using Balderstone Park and for many youngsters, many of whom have Springhill as their playing bases, sparked gone on to play professionally. a remarkable period of domination of the The club moved to Mayfield Sports Centre in community game. 2006 and an NCL Division 1 Championship During the 1970’s, Mayfield won all trophies was won the same year, under coaches available outside the professional game, Matt Calland and the late Steve Gartland. including the Pennine League seven years in Promotion back to the Premier Division succession. of the Kingstone Press Cider National In 1986, Mayfield again moved to bigger Conference League was won in season and better facilities at Castleton Moor, 2014 under current coaches Calland and Keswick Street, and we entered the National Sam Butterworth, and they have just secured Conference League in 1988, changing their a second top six play-off berth. ROCHDALE MAYFIELD – WHO’S WHO? Matt Calland – centre/head coach | Former Gavin Reynolds – senior coaching executive England international with extensive professional director/waterboy/cone carrier. | Over ten playing experience. Formerly of Bradford Bulls and a years at Mayfield, expert water bottle filler! two-time Challenge Cup finalist. Former Head Coach Mark Reynolds – manager | Matt Calland’s left at Halifax RLFC and current Head Coach at Hopwood hand man, game reader and the best kit man in the Hall College. world! Sam Butterworth – halfback/coach | A Lewis Ainley – hooker | Mayfield Mustangs junior Mayfield Mustangs product. He has ten years of player, formerly on the books at Bradford Bulls. experience at Mayfield as well as turning out in the professional game for both Leigh Centurions and Matty Ashton – centre/stand off | Over ten years Rochdale Hornets. at the club. Played with Hopwood Hall College and has experience at the Salford Red Devils Academy. Mick Donoghue – physio | Served the club for over a decade ROCHDALE MAYFIELD 3 Zac Baker – stand off/back row | Long-serving Simon Moore – prop/back row | Hopwood Mayfield player, both as a junior and with the Open College junior with vast Mayfield first team and NCL Age side. Formerly of Hopwood Hall College and Eagles tourist experience. Bradford Bulls Academy. Komai Namulatua – wing/full back. | Fijian Mark Biggins – prop | Hard-hitting, has over ten heritage player and ten-year Mayfield first teamer. years of experience in the Rochdale Mayfield first team. Callum Ogden – hooker | Over ten years at Paul Brearley – stand off/back row | Club Mayfield through the age groups, also spent time at Captain. Spent over ten years with the club. Also turned Bradford Bulls. out for Hopwood Hall College and represented the Lee Registe – wing | Mayfield Mustangs junior, a England Lionhearts. convert from rugby union. Rhys Carruth – wing/centre/full back | A Jack Rush – prop | Ten-year servant to Mayfield, junior product of Mullumbimby in New South Wales, formerly of Wigan Warriors’ Academy and England Australia, currently on a two-year tour of Europe. Young Lions representative. Gaz Ellison – prop | Vast Mayfield first team Munya Samanyanga – wing |Mayfield Mustangs experience and Mustangs product. graduate - pacy out wide Aiden Gleeson – prop | Over ten years of service Jack Sampson – utility back | Mayfield Mustangs to Rochdale Mayfield. Also played at Hopwood Hall product. An established first team player with England College and a is BARLA GB Lions representative. Students representative experience. Nick Hargreaves – back row/centre | A Mayfield-trained player who has risen through the James Shaw – prop | Hopwood Hall College junior ranks at the club. Rangy and versatile. with BARLA young Lions tourist experience. Zak Hartley – half back | Spent over ten years at Declan Sheridan - hooker/full back | Mayfield. Represented England Colleges while playing Represented Hopwood Hall College and the England at Hopwood Hall College. Young Lions, over ten years service to the club. Chris Hough – hooker/half back | Veteran with Lewis Sheridan – fullback/half back | Formerly professional experience at both Swinton Lions and of Rochdale Hornets, has served Mayfield for over ten Rochdale Hornets. years. Namalumu Kelemete – wing/centre | Fijian Seta Tala – prop/back row | Of Fijian heritage, heritage player in his first year at Mayfield. has vast Mayfield first team experience. Robert Kershaw - wing | Mayfield Mustangs Nabetelevu Turaganivalu - wing/centre | Fijian product, over ten years of service to the club, and first heritage player in his first year at Mayfield. team player with NCL Eagles and Ireland Students Sean Watkins – back row | Mullumbimby junior representative experience. on a two-year tour of Europe. Callum Marriott – back row | Mayfield Mustangs Liam Whalley – centre/back row | Hopwood junior with Super League experience at Salford Red College junior with vast Mayfield first team experience. Devils and England Lions representative experience. 4 ROCHDALE MAYFIELD WHO’S WHO? HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE – THROUGH HISTORY They were approached by Hunslet Parkside in 2012 about a possible merger to see the club develop a junior section. Long discussions took place and, after months of talks, the merger went ahead with the decision taken to run the younger teams from the club then moving up to Parkside as they get Older. Then, in July 2014, an application was Rugby League in Hunslet has enjoyed made to join the National Conference a proud history. The current Open Age League, and they entered the Third set-up was formed in 1999, but junior Division for the 2015 season. Rugby League has been played in the area since the 1940s. They were renamed Hunslet Club Parkside for 2015 and have won Hundreds of Hunslet products have gone successive promotions during their short on to make their mark in the professional time in the NCL. game, such as Mick Shoebottom, Alfie Barron, Garry Schofield, Jason Recent honours: Robinson, James Lowes, Wayne Heron, - Kingstone Press Division Two Graham King, Dave Creaser, Karl Pratt Champions 2016 and Chev Walker, while current Super - Yorkshire Mens League Division Three League stars Paul McShane and Carl Champions 2016 Ablett came through the club’s ranks. - Kingstone Press NCL Division Three Thanks to the hard work of long-standing Champions 2015 volunteers Kevin Bew and Alwyn - Yorkshire Men’s League Entry League Whittaker, a difficult start to Open Age Champions 2015 - Yorkshire Juniors U16s Division Three life was overcome.