1. travel
2. transports
3. sea travel
4. cruises

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Twist Lane for this
Ladbrokes Challenge Cup second round tie against Walney
Central. A week ago we were anticipating putting our feet up this
weekend whilst Walney would have been over on the east coast
facing Hull Dockers, but of course following Tuesday’s RFL
verdict we find ourselves reunited at Twist Lane with a place in
the third round of this famous competition at stake. Having spent
several years as secretary here I can fully sympathise with
Dockers as it must have been a sickening week or so for them
since the situation with their ineligible player was highlighted,
and they deserve credit for the phlegmatic and sporting way they
have accepted the verdict.
We will surely be determined to make the most of our reprieve
and with the revamping of the competition the odds perhaps look
slightly more favourable for the amateur sides as the third round,
th
to be played on the weekend of 7 March, will pit them against
the Championship One clubs rather than the semi-professional
heavyweights and the maulings they have dished out in recent
years. Both Walney and ourselves will be going all out to ensure
we take our place in the hat for that third round draw. The Cents
are familiar names from our relatively recent history of course,
having spent four years in the NCL Premier around the turn of
the millennium before dropping down the league and then out of
the NCL and into the Cumbrian League. However they have
shown their pedigree by winning their league last year in the face
of the traditional West Cumbrian powerhouses, and after beating
Hunslet Parkside in the first round they will be a tough test today.
Of course the short notice for preparation isn’t ideal for either set
of coaches and players but it has also thrown up some
challenges for off-field preparation and one aspect of that is the
match programme! Despite this being a condensed issue I hope
you enjoy the new features we have introduced, and rest
assured there will be more to come in our fuller issues over the
course of the season. If you have any ideas, feedback or
suggestions, or want to contribute a feature to the programme
this season, just contact me to discuss further.
Enjoy the match
Jeff
LEIGH MINERS RANGERS ARLFC
off Kirby Road, Twist Lane, Leigh WN7 4EF
01942 671782
President – Rod Raines Vice-President – Lord Smith of Leigh
Chairman – Roy Walls
Vice Chair / Secretary – Steve Farrell
Head Coaches – Allan Coleman & Paul Whitworth
Conditioner – Phil Marsden
PRO – Jeff Gorse
www.leighminersrangers.net
@leighminersrl
COACHES’ CORNER
Good afternoon everyone and
welcome to today’s Ladbrokes
Challenge Cup second round tie
against Walney Central. Today is
an unexpected bonus for us
following the events of the last
week or so and it is a game
which adds to our pre-season
preparations. Our preparation so
far has been spot on, the atmosphere has been very similar to when we
first came in three years ago, the attitude of the players has been brilliant.
We’ve gone back to what we know best and tried to bring some variety and
enjoyment to the pre-season plans, for example with the Army boot camp
weekend in January.
A big element of the Army weekend was getting to know the new lads and
showing them what the team is about. Haydn Bud Skinkis and Ryan
Ravenscroft both return to the club following spells away whilst Mark
Nicholson, Charlie Tyson and Ben Grimshaw step up from the under-18s.
February also sees the return of the popular Australian Shaun Dowie, back
from spending the winter back at home with his family. New faces at the
club include threequarter Brad Hargreaves, once on the books at Salford
and back after a year’s sabbatical, the promising raw talent of winger Harry
Gagan who has earned England youth honours during his time at Liverpool
Lions, former St Judes prop Connor Ratcliffe and Stanley Rangers’ Alex
White. It’s a big commitment from the lads to play at this level, there is a lot
of travelling and the standard is getting higher each year. We feel we’ve
attracted the right calibre of player, people who want to test themselves
and better themselves by playing at the top level, and our preparation so
far this pre-season is all about getting things ready for the kick-off in March.
We have changed the structure a little this season, it’s a difficult challenge
for the lads but once it clicks it will be hugely beneficial for the team.
Of course we have already tasted the cup with the game at Dockers, we
were really pleased with the guts and determination and the performance
as we looked two or three scores better than them but couldn’t take our
chances and with the practice and preparation that will come. I think
everyone there on the day would accept we were the better team but it’s no
good dominating if you can’t turn it into points and that is something to work
on.
We didn’t have anything to do with the events since then but we can’t deny
that it’s a second chance we want to take advantage of, and every credit to
Dockers for wishing us well once they knew their fate. Certainly ever
secretary will be checking their registrations again this weekend! The
Challenge Cup is a big element of pre-season for us and we don’t take
Walney lightly, they are a good young side with a very experienced coach
in Shaun Morrow. Cumbria is steadily regaining its reputation as one of the
foremost areas for the game and we know it will be tough to get through.
LEIGH MINERS
RANGERS
Amber and Black
Paul Whitworth and
Allan Coleman
Jonny YOUDS
Harry GAGAN
Ellis GRIMES
Adam THOMASON
Scott TRAVIS
Jimmy MUIR
Scott O’BRIEN
Martin GRAY
Tom FARRIMOND
Darryl KAY
Tommy PARKINSON
Connor RATCLIFFE
Danny JACKSON
Mark NICHOLSON
Matt ASTLEY
Alex WHITE
Tony DOYLE
WALNEY CENTRAL
Colours
Coach
Fullback
Right Wing
Right Centre
Left Centre
Left Wing
Stand-Off
Scrum-Half
Open Side Prop
Hooker
Blind Side Prop
Second-Row
Second-Row
Loose-Forward
Substitute
Substitute
Substitute
Substitute
Red and Blue
Shaun Morrow
Mike ELLIOTT
Connor PEARCE
Andy LITHERLAND
Dave NICHOLSON
Jake DEVEREUX
Brad NICHOLLS
Jamie MORROW
Danny McBAIN
Luke BAILEY
Jamie RALPH
Dave McKINLEY
Danny O’NEILL
Liam FINCH
Danny LOCKHART
Harry GEE
Michael McKINLEY
Joe BIDDOFF
Referee – Joe Stearne
Touch Judges – Jason Woodman and Mathew Micklethwaite
Jonny Youds – Sponsored by Paul McCarthy Photography
Shaun Dowie – Sponsored by the Balmer Family
PLAYER SPONSORSHIP £40 FOR THE SEASON – SPEAK
TO ANY OF THE COACHES OR COMMITTEE FOR MORE
INFORMATION
The National Conference Premier squad were pushed to their limits
during a January pre-season training weekend by officers and
soldiers of the Regiment. The squad attended a Team Building and
Leadership Weekend at Weeton Barracks near Blackpool, in
preparation for the season ahead. The players experienced a
‘Combat v Sport’ seminar from Major Pearce and were put through
their paces physically and mentally by the PT Instructors before an
interactive weapons overview. The coaches and squad also
met Lieutenant Colonel Cormack who is keen to progress the
relationship between the Battalion and the Leigh Miners Rangers
Club.
The last evening was completed by dinner and the invitation to
drinks in the Warrant Officers’ & Sergeants’ Mess.
The training was coordinated by Colour Sergeant Ruffley and the
preparation, professionalism and hospitality shown was first class
and the club would like to thank everyone at the Duke of Lancaster
2nd Battalion for this fantastic opportunity. The club has donated a
playing strip that will help in their charity work when the Battalion
goes out to Kenya soon.
Colour Sergeant Ruffley commented “The lads put in an outstanding
effort and it was a pleasure having them here.”
The players can take home an invaluable team bonding experience
and great sense of pride to have been trained by such inspirational
leaders and we look forward to inviting them to Twist Lane soon.
HULL DOCKERS 10 MINERS RANGERS 6
In another new feature for 2015, we look at two memorable matches
against our opponents Walney Central…
A DAY TO REMEMBER…
Today isn’t the first time Walney have visited WN7 on Challenge Cup duty,
as back in December 1997 the two sides met in a second round replay
here just two days after Christmas. Having drawn 12-12 on the Furness
peninsula just seven days earlier, Cents found themselves up against it
inside the first minute, stand-off Mark Clay earning the dubious distinction
of what was considered at the time the fastest sending-off in the history of
the competition, referee Gary Pope reaching for the red card inside the
first forty seconds following a high tackle.
Against opponents thus depleted Miners were in the appetite to continue
their festive season gorging as they went on to rattle up nine tries, Mick
Warburton and Paul Shepherd both grabbing hat-tricks whilst the former
also landed five conversions. The other tries for the home side came from
Matt Irwin, Steve McCulley and substitute Ian Sanderson. Walney’s
solitary consolation came via a try for Glen Turner as Miners booked their
place in the third round 46-4.
In that third round game Miners were drawn at Rochdale Hornets and
gave a valiant account of themselves in a torrid contest at Spotland
Stadium.
This fixture also marked one of the last appearances for the club of
teenage talent Stuart Littler, who was destined to sign for Salford Reds in
February and commence his glittering professional and international
career.
…AND ONE TO FORGET
Dockers – Hardcastle, King, Lamplugh, Milne,
Smith, Stephenson (G), Kay, Lyth, Cook, Brown,
Bell, Todd (T), Skelton (T) – Johnson, Dougal,
Powley, Patrick
Miners – Youds (T, G), Gagen, Grimes,
Thomason, Travis, Muir, O’Brien, Gray, Farrimond,
Kay, Parkinson, Jackson, Ratcliffe – Doyle,
O’Boyle, Astley, Bowers
We could be returning to the 1999-2000 season quite frequently in this
rd
feature, and on 23 October of that season Walney gained ample
revenge. The Cents had in fact won at Twist Lane the previous season
but this was a far more convincing margin as they romped home 24-8.
New Miners’ coach Warren Ayres had experienced two defeats in his
first three games at the helm, sandwiching a fine win over his old
charges Woolston, but this marked a downturn in fortunes which lasted
most of the season.
Miners had tries for Howard Newton and Steve Flannery but Walney
were always in control and had touchdowns for the veteran ex-Barrow
stalwart Pat Trainor, Mark Broadbent and – to atone for his red card
almost two years previously – Mark Clay. Sturdy centre Jan Elliott
boosted the tally with six goals.
Featuring for Miners that day at scrum half was current joint coach Allan
Coleman.
In a difficult campaign Miners were ultimately kept off the bottom of the
Premier Division – and out of the relegation place – by Walney’s local
rivals Askam, and bigger and much better things were to come under
wily Warren’s guidance over the next five years.
LADBROKES CHALLENGE CUP
WALNEY CENTRAL
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
British Army 8 Wath Brow Hornets 20
RAF 0 Siddal 48 (below)
Walney Central 28 Hunslet Parkside 8
Lock Lane 64 Sharlston Rovers 0
East Leeds 12 Kells 20
Egremont Rangers 28 Wigan St Judes 0
Elland 26 Leeds Met University 0
Hull Dockers 10 Miners Rangers 6 *
Royal Navy 32 Saddleworth Rangers 4
Skirlaugh 27 Aberdeen Warriors 20
West Hull 14 Thatto Heath Crusaders 12
British Police 0 Rochdale Mayfield 38 *
Oulton Raiders 60 Scarborough Pirates 6
Normanton Knights 34 Myton Warriors 16
Loughborough University 16 Hunslet Warriors 42
Widnes West Bank 14 South West London 10
Valley Cougars 27 Leicester Storm 22
Featherstone Lions 46 Queens 10
Shaw Cross Sharks 18 York Acorn 16
Nottingham Outlaws 4 Blackbrook 50
* Hull Dockers and Rochdale Mayfield subsequently expelled for fielding
ineligible players, Leigh Miners Rangers and British Police reinstated
SECOND ROUND DRAW
Skirlaugh v Royal Navy
Siddal v Featherstone Lions
Elland v Egremont Rangers
Miners Rangers v Walney Central
Hunslet Warriors v West Hull
Normanton Knights v Shaw Cross Sharks
Oulton Raiders v Valley Cougars
Wath Brow Hornets v Lock Lane
Kells v Blackbrook
Widnes West Bank v British Police
Making their first visit to Twist Lane in over a decade, Cumbrian
League heavyweights Walney Central made a midweek diversion to
their travel plans, swapping the long haul to Humberside for a
shorter trip down from their island base this afternoon. The Cents
were NCL Premier opponents for four years around the turn of the
millennium before dropping down and then out of the league, but
they regrouped to great effect on relocating from the North West
Counties to the Cumbrian League where, under the tutelage of
coach Gary Broadbent (above, bottom right) they have scooped six
trophies in the last two seasons, most recently the Top Four play-off
to decide the league title against Maryport at Barrow’s Craven Park
last October.
With a talented side including the outstanding Matty Holmes, man of
the match in that win over Maryport, and a host of youngsters, many
of whom have represented professional neighbours Barrow Raiders
in the past, Cents enjoyed a fine win in the first round of the
Challenge Cup against NCL newcomers Hunslet Parkside, and after
dominating the Cumbrian League and the traditional West Cumbrian
powerhouses such as Maryport, Seaton, Wath Brow and Egremont
in recent times they are a side very much in the winning habit.
LEIGH MINERS RANGERS 2015
Date
st
31 Jan
th
14 Feb
th
14 Mar
st
21 Mar
th
28 Mar
th
11 Apr
th
18 Apr
th
25 Apr
nd
2 May
th
9 May
th
16 May
rd
23 May
th
13 June
th
20 June
th
27 June
th
11 July
th
18 July
25th July
st
1 Aug
th
15 Aug
th
5 Sep
th
12 Sep
th
19 Sep
th
26 Sep
rd
3 Oct
Opponents
Comp
F–A
Hull Dockers
WALNEY CENTRAL
WIGAN ST PATS
West Hull
MAYFIELD
Oulton Raiders
THATTO HEATH
WATH BROW
UNDERBANK
Egremont Rangers
Lock Lane
SIDDAL
Hull Dockers
EAST LEEDS
Rochdale Mayfield
OULTON RAIDERS
LOCK LANE
Wath Brow Hornets
Siddal
EGREMONT
Wigan St Patricks
WEST HULL
East Leeds
HULL DOCKERS
Thatto Heath
CCR1
CCR2
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCC1
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
NCL
6-10*
*Result overturned after Dockers played ineligible player
Home games in capitals
WALNEY CENTRAL – INTRODUCING THE CENTS
Mike Elliott (fullback)
Versatile custodian or
threequarter and the
regular goalkicker for
the Central Drive club.
Brad Nicholls (standoff)
One of the longest
serving players in the
squad, a key playmaker
Mike Backhouse (wing)
New recruit who has
played at Barrow, Roose,
Workington and Furness
RUFC
Jamie Morrow (scrum half)
Youngster who switched
to the halves last season
to great effect
Matt Holmes
(back row) Man of
the match in the
Cumbrian Play-Off
final and a GB
youth international
tourist to Ukraine
in 2013.
Jordan Staffieri (centre)
Tenacious threequarter
who has a real eye for
the tryline.
Danny Morrow (prop)
GB international who has
toured Australia in the
past, key figure for
Cents.
Danny Lockhart
(back row) Hugely
experienced player in
the side having
played professionally
at Barrow Raiders in
the past. Hard grafter
in the pack.
Chris Larkin (centre)
Ex-Roose and Barrow man
who left the Raiders in
2013 and was key for
Cents last term.
Connor Pearce (wing)
Also shares the fullback
duties with Elliott, a
steady and dependable
customer in the
threequarters
Harry Gee (hooker) One
of the most talented
players at the club, made
his way back from a
broken jaw a year ago.
Dave Warne (prop)
Durable front row who
has a fine burst of pace,
represented Cumbria in
the 2014 County Champs
Liam Finch
(loose forward)
Inspirational
playmaker at
loose or hooker,
has also enjoyed
a fine career in the
pro ranks at
Barrow