NEW PLAYERS WANTED

Leyland Warriors are looking to recruit more players at Open Age level. As some of our results show from earlier this season, we have some quality lads on board but just need more numbers.

Long story short, due to a combination of several players travelling on gap years, emigrating, working weekends, long term injuries and so on, we are struggling for numbers. Very frustrating, especially given as all of our junior teams are flourishing in the change of season.

If you are without a club, or looking for a change of scenery, PM me for more details.

You're not on your own pal! Our juniors are going great but open age is a blooming nightmare! We have a long list of names but trying to get the bodies is another matter!

Our downfall is two things really. Firstly a young team, several of whom are backpacking their way round Aus and a few more spending the whole summer in Napa! Second, no U18s team come through for 2 years. Fast forward 18 months and we'll be fine!

Finally had some players back, others were on their Saturday off work and put in a great performance.

Little Hulton 18 - 27 Bury Broncos

Blew them away in the first half, 20-0 at half time, probably our best performance in a few years. We said at half time we'd need to stay switched because the ref would try and bring them back into it and that's what happened. Their first try was in touch and he piggybacked them down the field several times on loads of petty penalties, inevitably leading to a couple more tries, but credit to our lads we held on and put in a great shift.

Finished with no fit subs and a few running on injuries, proud of the lads today and good to get back to winning ways.

Bury 68 - 18 Bolton



Belting performance! And with 4 first-choice forwards and a few first-choice backs missing. Played a perfect game against a bigger Bolton pack - moved the ball about and hit good lines through the gaps. Credit where it's due, Bolton have been struggling for numbers but they turned up and kept going (mind you, they always get numbers for the big derby

), but we were never in danger of losing. Some great running from a few lads today. Our biggest ever win and margin.

Can't say much more than that! Now to celebrate!

holding 2nd spot in league but whats happened last two weeks?

Culcheth have got first sorted, I'm guessing Portico will push on to take 2nd unless they've any lads who go back to winter clubs or Woolston come good again?

After that, going to be a battle. Lots of clubs in the mix. 2 points separating 5 clubs from 4th to 9th!

Thats a lot of (24 players) players missing mate, was it because of injuries?

we've a lot of lads who've shown an interest in playing from week in week out players to guys who are coaching our juniors to Union lads who want a go to a few lads from winter RL teams who want a game to lads who've played for us in the past and only want the odd run out (such as if their Mrs is away!)...it creates a long list (must be 60ish on the full list!).

what we have found is that every second week we have the same group of regulars who are unavailable because their shift patterns are in sync. Combine that with some regulars being on holiday, some are injured and also the club enforcing rules on being paid up (no pay, no play) and it means we can have lots unavailable. we also tend to only use the occasionals for the 2nd team as it's not fair on those who train if we bring people in when suddenly short.

so, any given week 20 - 30 can be unavailable...and if they happen to be regulars as opposed to the occasionals it causes an issue. for Woolston away we had to pull in people who'd only played the odd game and a player from our last winter season who had retired to become a referee. this weekend will be other way i suspect, 30+ available and pressure from players to get an A Team game arranged!

Part of the 'hard sell' for summer rugby was that fixtures could be rearranged and played mid-week so freeing up the weekend. Well that's another great idea they had that doesn't work! Out of seven attempts I have only had one taker - and that was for us to travel away. Much easier to refuse and claim an easy 2 pts.

Bury 54-22 Wigan Bulldogs

Another superb result, after having never beaten Wigan since we both first entered NWC in 2008, we've finally done the double over them. Went 18-6 up, Wigan pulled it back to 18-18, then we drew clear with a bit of a blitz in the second half, including a few length of the field efforts. After being a close game we won comfortably in the end. Good game played in good spirit. Wigan have clearly lost players from last season, but they kept going.

122 points in 2 games now, granted we've faced weakened teams but you've still got to score 'em!

In other results - Portico 100-12 Bolton, and Hindley & Woolston both conceded.

we still have Hindley to place twice and Woolston at home...