Youngsters warm up for club tour
LITTLEBOROUGH’S young stars warmed up for their annual tour in style with some impressive away day performances.
With the whole mini, junior and pink warriors sections due to embark on North Wales in two weeks time for the largest ever club tour, the aspiring boys and girls set themselves up perfectly with some terrific performances away from the Rakewood turf.
First was the turn of the Under 12s who travelled a short distance across the Pennines to play at the Huddersfield festival. Overall they excelled with 6 wins from 8 matches, 1 defeat to Waterloo coming as a result of a genuine mistake by coach Deacon, playing the whole game with one player down. On the plus side the boys put in great winning displays against Old Rishworthians, Heath, Pontefract, Huddersfield, Bees and finally getting revenge over Old Brodelians, a team who had beaten Boro’s Under 12s earlier in the season.
At the very same festival our little under 10 team played with the same vigour and winning mentality; they pulled everything they had out of the bag. Not that it matters when it comes to the development of the young players, but winning 5 games out of 6 is great testament to what a strong team we have here and continue to build on the momentum they have created in the last few outings. Every single individual played to their strengths and with great togetherness as they smashed it!
Back firmly in the Red Rose county, the Under 8s also played a blinder against a good Bolton team. The team as a whole was all on fire all Sunday with the ball in hand; for such a young team the speed in which they move the ball after being tagged was just spectacular to watch.
While there were a fantastic mix of quality solo tries as well as well worked team moves, there is special mention for Sophie Sutcliffe and Cody Bush for their personal efforts which were rewarded with some tries. Lewis Bracegridle also contributed with plenty of bulldozing runs to spear head the Boro attack and secured man of the match in the process.
A hat-trick for centre Nyall Hensby and a double for Charlie Frost saw Littleborough’s Under 14s secure a comprehensive 43-19 victory over Altrincham Kersal at Stelfox Avenue. In the glorious Manchester sunshine, the Under 14’s were ruthless in their disposing of the home side and ensured they would go into the Easter break full of confidence.
Rangey Thomas Mills showed everyone a clean pair of heels as he breached the Altrincham defence before producing a goose-step that Jason Robinson would be proud of, to coast past the full back and give the travelling support something to behold.
His forward partner Taylor Brady also took some plaudits with a try to this name, a deserving effort for a terrific game.
Then it was left to the backs to weave their magic and so they did as Charlie Frost and Nyall Hensby racked up their own personal tallies.
Hensby in particular made the most of his powerful hand off and electric speed to dart in for yet another hat-trick this season.