At the start of our season we had a meeting
with the players to discuss our aims and goals for this season.
On the top of everyone’s list was the National Cup. Having
won the National cup at under 16’s with this team and
losing narrowly 19-12 in last year's final to Wigan St Patrick,
this year, was the last for some of our players in youth rugby
to achieve it. We had a good start to the season beating West
Hull and Dudley Hill in the 1st 2 matches and we then beat Stanningley,
Hunslet Warriors, Knottingley and Drigglington to reach the
BARLA Yorkshire Cup Final against Shaw Cross. It was played
at the Boulevard and by half time we were 28-0 up. The final
score was 42-10 in the game which I think we played some of
our best attacking rugby all season.
We
also progressed to the Yorkshire League Cup Final again against
Shaw Cross, beating West Hull in the semi final. This was
played at Post Office Rd Featherstone and with Shaw Cross
taking an early lead Stanley dug deep and eventually ran out
easy winners 39-6.
We played Normanton, our local rivals, in
the Wakefield Cup Final and this was always going to be a
close affair. Normanton worked hard throughout but Stanley
were just too strong in the end and won 30-16.
The National Cup was soon upon us and we
played Oulton, our Premier Division rivals, in the 1st round.
This was a local derby and Oulton fancied their chances having
played 2 very close matches the previous season. Our defence
was superb in this match and we won 27-2. We then played Redhill
in the next round. This was a much closer match but we won
18-10.
We than had a mid season tour to Carcassonne
in the South of France for a week playing 2 matches against
Carcassonne Academy and the 2nd match against Pole Espoirs,
which was an elite Academy School. We won both matches 16-8
and 32-24 to crown a great week. I believe the week away brought
the team closer together and had a major factor in the players
achieving what they did. We did some quality warm weather
training in preparation for the semi- final of the National
Cup when we got back against Wigan St Pats. I would like to
recommend a trip to Carcassonne to any amateur rugby league
club - it was fantastic.
The match against Wigan St Pats was our
sternest test and after being 18-8 down with 15 mins to go
it showed great character and fighting spirit to come back
and win eventually 20-19.
The Final against West Hull was another
close match but we eventually won 16-8. The jubilation was
there for everyone to see. The handshakes and smiles on the
lads' faces said it all. It seemed a far cry 7 months previous
just talking about winning the Cup.
We had finished top of the league and earned
a top four final with Drighlington. This was to be our final
fixture and everyone wanted to make it 5 cups out of 5. Drighlington
fought hard to spoil our ambition but we were not about to
let something special slip out of our grasp. We eventually
won 22-12 to cap off what had been a magnificent season, winning:
The Yorkshire BARLA Cup
The Yorkshire League Cup
The BARLA National Cup
The Wakefield Cup
The Top 4 Final Cup
and finishing Top of the League
I would like to congratulate all the team
on their achievement this season, and also the following people:
Coach: Charlie Myton and Keith Walker
Physio: Mick Wright
Kitchen staff and fundraiser: Shona
Organisers of French Trip:
- John Kain
- Charlie Myton
- Barbara Rawlinson
- Ron Robins
- Reg Cawthray
- John Holroyd
U18’s Great Britain Squad V’s
Australia school boys:
Mark Applegarth, Craig Cawthray, Jackie Hogan and Kevin King
England U18’s Students:
Paul Hughrs and Danny Millington
Players signed for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats:
Daniel Grice, Craig Robinson and Mark Applegarth
End of Season awards:
player of the year 1st Kevin King
2nd Paul Hughes
3rd Danny Grice
coaches award Mark Applegarth
Most improved David O’Neil
Top tackler Danny Millington
players player Gareth Whitehead
I would like to thank all our supporters
and sponsors this season and wish all the players all the
best in the future.