Halbro Lancashire Youth & Junior Cup Finals

Halbro Lancashire Youth & Junior Cup Finals Sunday 18th March Widnes Recreation Ground The Halbro Lancashire Youth & Junior Cup Finals take place at the Widnes Recreation Ground on Sunday March 18th. There will be four final taking place: U/12 Orrell St James v Pilkington Recs Cougars (Kick Off 10.45am) U/14 Blackbrook Royals v Bold Miners (Kick Off 11.30am) U/16 Blackbrook Royals v Latchford Albion (Kick Off 1.00pm) U/18 Blackbrook v Rylands (Kick Off 2.45pm) In relation to the U12 Final Jean Ball of Orrell St James said, “It’s a big day for our under twelve’s, they’re all excited about it and looking forward to a good game. It’s the teams first final and the club are proud of them reaching the final and we wish them all the best of luck against Pilkington Recs” Dave Roughly coach of the Pilkington Recs Cougars said, “Both teams are playing really good seasons and both have been playing some really good rugby. We played them in the first game of the season and won 10-0 at Orrell and it was a really tough, hard fought and good game for the opening match of the season. We have played them in the quarter final of the North West Counties Cup and beaten them 22-4. I think we are favourites in a lot of other people’s perspective but I would like to think that we are two evenly matched teams and our lads will be up for it.” In the U/14 Final Bold Miners coach Mark Saunders said, “It’s just a fantastic day to look forward to, we have played them this season and we won the first game and they won the second one and they were both very close games. It will be a case of who picks up the bragging rights in this local derby because Blackbrook are the strongest team of this age group. We have suffered with injuries since we won our semi final but we are hoping to have a fully fit squad for the final and are hoping to finish the season on a high. We will go into the final as underdogs as we haven’t been going long and it’s only the second final the whole club have been in. If we win it will be the first ever cup the club have won.” Colin Anderton of Blackbrook Royals said, “We have a good record in Lancashire Cups over the years particularly at under fourteens and sixteen’s and this under fourteens is an exceptional side. We went through at under thirteen’s last season unbeaten and this year we have only lost a couple of games earlier on in the season. We haven’t lost since and we are also through to the National Cup Final as well so I would say that we will start favourites in this game. It should be a cracking final Bold Miners are one of the teams that have beaten us this season. From what I have seen in terms of results of late they have slipped up a little bit since they got to this final but generally local derbies with Bold have been close.” In the U/16 Final Andrew Wood of Latchford Albion said, “I’m sure the boys going into this game are very confident the team have been doing very well over the last couple of seasons. I’m sure the club will give a good performance and the lads are riding high in the league at the moment. They are two excellent teams and lads will be playing on both sides that are already on scholarships with professional clubs and both sides having good players on show. The game should be a good spectacle for the spectators and I am sure they will see an excellent display by both sides.” Colin Anderton of Blackbrook Royals said, “ The under sixteen’s have done particularly well in he last few years in this final and we have won the North West Counties League with five different teams on the trot so that’s followed up with a good record in the Lancashire Cup and National Cup. This current team are a very good side they won the under fourteens Lancashire Cup two years ago and have been there or thereabouts in every major competition since they were youngsters. “ We have played Latchford twice this season winning at Latchford in a very close game and drawing with them at Blackbrook. I think Latchford at the moment are favourites to win the league title and from what I have seen they appear to be the best rugby playing side in our under sixteen division. The final should be an absolute cracker and I am looking forward to watching the game which should be top quality.” In the U18 Final Ken Richardson Secretary of Rylands said, “Rylands and Blackbrook are first and second in the league and still have to play each other in the league twice to decide who will win the championship. They are the two best teams but this a cup final, a one off. It should be a cracking game for all the people who are attending and supporting their respective teams and it will be a high quality game. They met in the under sixteen’s Lancashire Cup Final two years ago and Rylands ran out winners 7-6 with a Chris Forster drop goal in extra time. Most of the lads that day were sixteen and they have now matured and come through together and are playing in their last year of under eighteens competition. So we have some experienced lads who have played together for a very long time and they are looking forward to Sunday. They are always tough games against Blackbrook and this will be no different.” Chris Anderton of Blackbrook said, “We are battling with Rylands for the North West Counties League title and we have only two games to play, both against Rylands. If they win both their games in hand we will be dead level on points before those two matches so that’s how close we are in league terms. We know they are a good side even though we haven’t played them yet. We are absolutely delighted to have got were we have this season as we didn’t think we would be able to get a team together. Last seasons under sixteen’s saw eleven of them signed by professional; clubs and three went playing rugby union which left us with nothing struggling to make up numbers. “But having had to concede our first game of the season to Barrow Island we haven’t lost a game since so we are in pretty good shape going into the final and the players are really looking forward to it.” Steve Manning BARLA Media Manager & PRO