CORAL CHALLENGE CUP SECOND ROUND SATURDAY 25th JANUARY KICK OFF 1:30pm.THORNHILL TROJANS V NORMANTON KNIGHTS.
You could trawl the entire United kingdom this weekend & not find a more salivating sporting contest than this !Overthorpe Park will be the setting for this battle between two clubs from red hot Rugby League locations.
Both have supplied many players to the professional game & both run junior teams through all the age levels. On a personal note please allow me to briefly indulge myself !
Whilst most Dewsbury kids of my generation first saw the light of day in Moorlands maternity hospital I was actually born in Mountain crescent – a born & bred Thornhiller as I went on to live the first 29 years of my life in that glorious hilltop location!
Then as life moved on I spent 22 years living in Normanton – a town that is much bigger than most people probably realise. Half of Normanton is almost in Castleford whilst the other half is nearly in Wakefield.
The Knights will bring plenty of support with them for a game where the prize is huge – progress to the third round & potentially a tie with a Betfred League One club.
The RFL have appointed one of their best young officials in Michael Mannifield to referee a game that will not be for the faint hearted!
20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Still on the Challenge Cup theme & still on the Thornhill Trojans theme – Rugby League may have changed drastically over the years but one thing that has remained constant through the eras is the fact that Cup victories for amateur clubs over professional outfits are a rare occurrence.
Thornhill sit as proud members of that unique club & on Saturday 1st February they will stage a reunion celebration to mark the 20th anniversary of their sensational win against Sheffield Eagles. The party will be staged at their Overthorpe Park base with a 7:30pm start – All are welcome & if you need further details contact Andrew Byram on 07860 939238.
PENNINE LEAGUE
Yorkshire Cup winners Mirfield Stags emerged victorious by 38 points to 14 in last Saturday’s Division One derby encounter with Hanging Heaton. In Division Two there was frustration for Shaw Cross as a last gasp drop goal from Fryston Warriors saw them lose 11 – 10.
A couple of intriguing fixtures in Division One this Saturday as Mirfield make the journey to that well renowned daunting venue of Sharlston whilst Hanging Heaton host a Drighlington outfit coached by Rams very own Martin Reilly. In Division two Shaw Cross are away to Seacroft whilst Thornhill Trojans take on the feisty Fryston Warriors – important to note that despite the Challenge Cup tie being played on the main pitch in Overthorpe Park the Trojans winter team will play this fixture on the adjoining top pitch with a 2pm kick off.
BARLA NATIONAL CUP
Having received byes in the preliminary round our two local representatives have received tasty first round assignments – Hanging Heaton will host Wigan St Cuthberts whilst Mirfield Stags will need to get the maps out as they are away to Kells in deepest Cumbria. Theses ties will take place on Saturday 15th February.
Article by Rams fan David Hyomes
