Centre stage

man-of-the-match award.

And in taking centre stage as Pennine League Premier Division side Swifts and the Panthers, who impressed last season in Division Two, Ansell follows in the footsteps of his father Dave – who was the man-in-the-middle when Sam picked up the flag when he was a 17-year-old.

“For me it is a big personal achievement,” said Ansell.

“It has been a big part of my life since I was young, what with playing and being a match official, and I know what the Holliday Cup means to Huddersfield rugby league.

“It was great when I got my manof-the-match award, but being the match referee really puts the cap on it for me.

“All I want now is a sunny day, a good game of rugby and not to have to hand out any cards.”

Ansell has been on the Rugby League list and officiated at The Big Bash in Blackpool where the Championship sides enjoy their annual festival.

However, he has returned to playing at the age of 27 after being offered the chance to return as a winger by Richard Knight, the Underbank Rangers head coach.

Ansell is certainly taking the opportunity with both hands and has notched an impressive hat trick of hat tricks scoring three tries in each of Rangers last three outings.

That has helped lift Underbank to the top of the National Conference’s first division having started the season with five wins from five.

“Rangers are going really well and it is great for Huddersfield rugby,” said Ansell.

“I don’t think Huddersfield’s amateur game always gets the credit it deserves, people always tend to talk about teams from Leeds and Hull and so on,.

“But Rangers are doing a lot to change that and we are just hoping that we can carry it on.

“And it just that the lads really do want to play for each other.

“We did a lot of work together in pre-season, probably more than some of the big clubs like Siddal in the top division, and that is working well for us – the place is buzzing.”

And Ansell knows what he is taking on by picking up the whistle again at Laund Hill.

“It’s Lindley against Newsome and I know so many of the players, both from being a referee and I have played alongside some of them,” said Ansell.

“All I want to see is a good game that is credit to Huddersfield amateur rugby league.”