Boro basking
WINNING a trophy is one of the best feelings for sportsmen and women of any age and this season Littleborough RUFC’s U12s and U13s have enjoyed the sweet taste of success.
The transition from under 11 to under 12 is a massive step for any team, with the leap from primary school to high school and with it the highs and lows.
The under 12s took that in their stride and showed weight of character to take in the new laws like experienced professionals.
A season spent playing Lancashire’s, Cheshire’s and Yorkshire’s best saw the side at times end up both winners and losers.
This season has been massive for these boys and coaches Paul Deacon, Gary Keegan and Kevin Deegan.
Coach Deacon said: “We were so unfortunate to be losing semi-finalists at Huddersfield and Preston Grasshoppers and so close to gaining some memorable trophy success.”
The youngsters never gave up and were rewarded for their endeavour and fight by putting together a significant and impressive tour in Wales, beating Ireland’s County Cavan by four tries to one in a final that included a stylish Harrison Buckley hat-trick.
Players’ player was Joe Deegan, Coaches’ player Thomas Hancock, Most improved Harvey Johnson and Clubman Adam Gibson.
The under 13s had another excellent season with 25 locally based players representing the club at this age group.
The squad has developed on the field by learning and continuing to develop their rugby skills and teamwork.
The team capped off a successful season on the pitch with a 45-40 Lancashire Waterfall Cup Final win against a Liverpool St Helens RUFC team, that had gone the season undefeated in this tournament up until the final.
Special mentions must go to Jake Coupe who played in every game across the season, Bradley Chrimes, Ben Crabtree, Oliver Mills, Max Risby and Ruben WarburtonFox who played in all but one of our games and Bradley Chrimes (20), Ben Crabtree (36), Jake Coupe (18), Oliver Mills (17), Thomas Kelly (11) and Ben Williamson (11) who all registered impressive try scoring statistics.
The U13s end of season Awards Winners were: Most improved: Ben Williams. Clubman: Ruben Warburton Fox. Players’ Player. Ben Crabtree. Coaches’ Player. Bradley Chrimes. Final mentions must go to our Captain, Jacob Mitchell, who won the overall Junior Captain Of The Year Award plus Jacob Brady who was our Clubman Of The Tour for standing in for Jacob Mitchell when he was injured on tour in Wales.
Carrying on from the success and development of the youngest minis, the u10 and u11s have again set this year alight.
Over the season every single one of them has developed.Team manager Lisa Johnson, whose eldest son Ellis is a member of the squad, said: “Collectively they are all good at going forward, as well as keeping the ball alive, and they are becoming an impressive defensive unit. They are and will be a formidable team, and great things are defiantly on the cards for them. I’m so proud of them.”
“I can say it’s been a season where it’s going to be remembered for a few good reasons. We participated in the Welsh Rugby Rocks Tour, where we showed our true green army colours of grit and determination up against some really talented sides.”
“One of my personal favourites is the training session with Sale Sharks coach and players, in partnership with the Aviva Premiership, which took place at Carrington in March. Also being able to secure two sponsorships from the likes of Hydro 16 for our waterproof jackets and tracksuit bottoms.”
Lisa, who has been team manager for a number of years, deserves plaudits herself for continuously working behind the scenes to keep the team running smoothly as possible..
Finally, massive credit has to go to coach Sam Dickinson, for keeping the pressure on the players to continually improve through the games he does in our training session.