THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE RFL | ISSUE 59 BBBLLLAAACCCKKKPPPOOOOLL BBOOONNAANNZZZAA!! HO ME IS WHER TH E E HEART IS D OING IT THE RIGHT WAY RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN RUGBY LEAGUE June 2009 ROCKS BLACKPOOL! CONTENTS Chairman Congratulates Steel On MBE 4 Giving Something Back 8 Blackpool Bonanza! Pg 7 & 8 Community Links 12 Stevo Draws The Winning Ticket! 14 Magic Volunteering At Murrayfield 15 Home Is Where Warriors Celebrate 19 The Heart Is Pg 10 & 11 Northern Lights 20 Give It A Try 21 Raising The Standards 24 One Hell Of A The Ultimate Test 25 WeekendDeveloping Fast Pg 16Pg &16, 17 17 & 18 Finals Brighten Up The Bank Holiday 28 Published by the Rugby League Services Department of the RFL. The RFL, The Zone, St Andrews Road, Huddersfield, HD1 6PT. CubsDuring To It LionsThe Right Way Tel - 01484 448000 | Fax - 01484 545582, Pg 22 & 23 Email - [email protected] | Internet - www.rfl.uk.com Pg 26 & 27 The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the RFL Board of Directors. Contributors - Tom Hoyle, Ian Lovell, Phil Caplan, Neil Barraclough, swpix.com, Dave Williams, Phil NORTHERN RAIL CUP FINAL. 12TH JULY 2009. BLOOMFIELD ROAD. Hodgson, Nick Boothroyd, David Brett If you are interested in advertising in the Rugby League Bulletin, please contact - TICKETS BOOK NOW: 0871 226 1313 OR [email protected] Main Cover Photograph - Celtic Crusaders (swpix) £12-18 ONLINE WWW.RUGBYLEAGUETICKETS.CO.UK © The Rugby Football League Ltd 2009 Designed by - Tom Hoyle Printed by - Redwood Print Ltd Tel - 01484 711111 THE NORTHERN RAIL 9’S CONTACT YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 11TH & 12TH JULY. FYLDE RUFC. CLUB FOR TICKETS NOW Rugby League Prize Guys News Lee Gudor of Siddal is the National Conference League Player of the Year. The mercurial halfback was a key figure in securing the championship, Minor Premiership and Ace Insurance (Europe) National Cup for the Halifax side, and received the accolade at a glittering awards ceremony at the Cedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top Huddersfield. With Sky TV presenter, Angela Powers presenting the trophies and former RFL Media man, David Howes keeping the whole event running smoothly, the packed audience appeared to thoroughly enjoy their evening. Gudor took the trophy ahead of Skirlaugh’s Lee Waterman and Wigan St.Patricks’ Gary Phillips, and he was obviously delighted to pick up the top individual award for the NCL season. “I owe a great deal to the rest of the team, especially our pack,” offered Lee, “No halfback can do anything without a strong platform and that’s Police Lift Skanska Crown RFL Chairman Congratulates Steel On MBE certainly provided by our forwards. valiant performance by the British Police saw them fend “This award is for the side as a whole, there are no egos in this squad and FL Chairman Richard Lewis has congratulated Hilary Steel, one of Rugby League’s A off holders GB Students to win the Skanska Cup Final in that’s maybe been the secret of our tremendous season. I thought perhaps Eagles Land Back In UK Rlongest serving volunteers, after she was honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours Manchester by 28-22. we’d peaked a little bit too early, but the home defeat against East Hull in list. the Qualifying semi-final was probably the jolt we needed.” Eager To Learn Lessons In their first Skanska Cup final, the Police team held their own Steel who is the Secretary of Warrington Amateur Rugby League (ARL), Chair of the North against a skilled student outfit that came into the fixture on Wath Brow Hornets’ Scott Teare, now in the veteran category at the age he inaugural visit to France by the National West Counties ARL and Secretary of North West Counties Youth ARL has been awarded the back of a string of good wins and as clear favourites. of 30, was recognised as the Division One Player of the Year, while free- TConference League Eagles has been hailed a an MBE for voluntary service to Rugby League. scoring Paul Coates of Milford Marlins picked up the prize in Division Two. success by Ken Sykes, Tour Manager. Two tries from full-back Alexander Clemie and a man-of-the- Teare said; “Maybe I bring a bit of experience and guidance to Wath Brow. I Richard Lewis, the RFL’s Chairman, said, “On behalf of the RFL I would like to congratulate match performance from Adam Newton sealed the victory but work hard and I try to take the team forward. But it’s a team thing and we’ll The squad, selected from Divisions One and Two Hilary on this great achievement. Without volunteers like Hilary the game would not it was sheer grit and determination by the whole British Police have to step up to the plate again next year after returning to the Premier of Rugby League’s elite Community Competition flourish and it is fitting that she has been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list. side that laid the foundations. Division.” played two games , drawing 18 all with France “B” and losing to Morocco 16 – 8 in Beziers. “Hilary lives, eats and breathes Rugby League and has performed almost every off-field The students went ahead early on with a try from Liam Duffy Coates, meanwhile, also paid tribute to his colleagues after amassing role in the Community Game and has loved every minute of it. Under her guidance the and led for much of the game. With pace across the park and 318 points through 35 tries and 88 goals. He insisted, “Without the other Speaking as the squad returned to the UK Sykes North West Counties Youth ARL has gone from strength to strength and was the first scrum half Jemel Coleman leading the attack with panache, the players I’d probably do nothing, so I’ve got to thank everyone at Milford. To said, “We have learned an incredible amount League to achieve the RFL Leaguemark Award. students posed a constant threat. Coleman sidestepped his be fair, scoring tries is just a great honour, I score them for the team and during the preparation for and the duration of way to the line for the students’ second try. not for myself. I think it’s just about being in the right place at the right this short tour. We can do some things much “Hilary was the RFL’s National Volunteer of the Year in 2008 and it is fitting that her time.” better and we also found some things that years of hard work and service to the sport of Rugby League has led to her receiving an A tough-tackling police side were equal to the task though. worked very well. Our primary concern was to MBE.” Their tenacity in defence limited the dominant students to The coveted Secretary of the Year gong went to Ovenden’s Joe Collins, and deliver an enjoyable and competitive tour for the just three scores in the first half. Hooker Richard Spence was the Referee of the Year was Paul Marklove. players and staff. This we achieved and whilst Hilary was understandably delighted. the creative force repeatedly trying to unlock GB Students’ the results did not totally go our way, the effort defence and the big police forwards made good inroads. Centre West Bowling received a £100 cheque for the best programme, with and commitment from the players and staff was “I am deeply honoured and humbled and I have not stopped smiling since I first found out! Darrell Rotherham capitalised with a try under the posts. runners-up Millom collecting £75 and Leigh East picking up the £50 third fantastic” “It’s been an amazing time for me lately, starting with getting the Warrington Service prize. Millom, however, won the Fair Play Award, while Thatto Heath Area Volunteer of the Year, then the RFL National Volunteer of the Year and then the However, the student side hit back with a try from Curtis Crusaders’ Darren Woods was presented with a trophy for his record- The tour was marred at the conclusion by a Torch Trophy Trust Award last November. Cunningham before half time putting them 18-6 ahead at the breaking 37 tries. serious leg injury to Ovenden prop Tom Palmer break. which has resulted in him having to stay in “I love the sport of Rugby League but most of all it is the people. The sport seems to France for treatment. create an atmosphere of its own where everybody is a friend.” It was the Police that opened the scoring in the second half with Clemie crossing for his first. Their dogged defence foiled However, even that unfortunate incident has GB Students’ attacking efforts and Newton capped a great galvanised the game as the RFL Benevolent Fund attacking move with a dummy near the line and a try. Newton sprung to the rescue by immediately assisting Leading The Lions could not convert his own try to bring the Police level. Tom’s girlfriend, Natalie to get out to France to wo exciting voluntary opportunities The Team Manager role requires the be with him rather than have him left on his own. Thave arisen in the Community Game. applicant to have some experience of However, his next significant contribution was to strip the ball managing a representative side, whilst from a Student attacker and dart 30 yards to score and put the NCL Chair, Trevor Hunt said “It is great credit to The Great Britain Community Lions Open experience of managing a squad overseas Police in the lead for the first time.