Rishworthians in confident mood ahead of trip to Leeds
RISHWORTHIANS VISIT West Leeds in Yorkshire One keen to build on last Saturday’s 21-15 victory over Bradford Salem.
A goal-kicking masterclass from fly-half Josh Kelly gave Rishworthians their first league victory of the season.
He kicked seven out of eight penalty attempts, only missing with his last effort. Six of his kicks, including one from just inside his own half, came in the first 40 minutes of the game.
Rishies’ next opponents are undefeated, but were not convincing winners over Roundhegians, who came up with Rishworthians from Yorkshire Two.
“We deserved our victory over Salem and it’s given us plenty of confidence to show we can be competitive this season,” said head coach Richard Brown.
“We won with a lot of penalties. We got into the right areas to gain them but it affected our continuity,” he said.
Simanu Tusiga, who was outstanding off the bench in the win over Salem, will start the game in the back row, with the returning Ethan Pollard and Callum Bell.
Dillon Hilton comes in to start on the wing after finishing well off the bench last time.
■ In Yorkshire Three, Halifax Vandals produced an impressive display as they registered a 31-19 bonus point victory away at West Park Leeds.
Aaron Carrington scored twice, while Chris Robinson, Jimmy Crowther and Danny Richardson also crossed as the Vandals put the hosts to the sword.
The Vandals crossed three times in the first half and twice more after the break to quell any home hopes of a West Park revival.
Club stalwart Ralph Pollard will be guest of honour at Vandals on Saturday when club members, friends and family come together for a celebration lunch to mark his incredible 63 years of service to the club, as he steps down from official duties.
A gritty and uncompromising hooker in his playing days, Ralph joined the Vandals in 1958 aged 17, following in the footsteps of his older brothers.
Over the following 38 seasons Ralph played for and captained sides at every level before hanging up his boots in 1996 aged 55.
Ralph has also worked tirelessly for the club as a committee member for many years. In that time, he has taken on the roles of groundsman, treasurer, kit man, social secretary and club president.
Ralph will be joined on the day by a number of his team mates from those early days including Alan Ingham and Stuart Andrews. Together, they have amassed over 200 seasons of involvement with the club.
The celebration lunch will start at 1pm and Ralph would like to extend an invite to club members and their partners who he has not been able to contact personally.
The Vandals first team will be in action, playing their first home league game of the season against Sheffield Medics.