272 replies to this topic

[bowes]

Are they dropping out bowes or going to hang in there,any idea?

Not heard anything for definite yet but looks a bleak situation. Hope they sort it. Warrington Wizards A seem to have picked up players from them as well.

[gillmeister]

You're probably the first person I've ever heard say that. Almost everyone I've ever encountered in the amateur game thinks it's the other way round.

The difference is that the RFL "Propaganda" has been in the form of adverts that I would assume are paid for, whilst BARLA seems to get its propoganda free of charge courtesy of Phil Hodgson. He has his article expresses his oppinion and then adds oppinion to stuff that is supposed to be "news"

[thestatman]

They have withdrawn from the League - we were due to play them last weekend.

[del capo]

A Wizards / Rylands link up might be good for the game in Warrington...

[bowes]

A Wizards / Rylands link up might be good for the game in Warrington...

The thought had crossed my mind though I didn't know if they were the right bit of Warrington. A club with strong juniors and no adults and a club with strong adults and no juniors would be a good combination certainly Conference suitable IMO (assuming facilities are okay)

[Marauder]

A Wizards / Rylands link up might be good for the game in Warrington...

Are the politics between The Wizards and Woolston beyond repair? I often travelled from Doncaster to watch them before their fall from grace.

[jonnyg28]

Are the politics between The Wizards and Woolston beyond repair? I often travelled from Doncaster to watch them before their fall from grace.

What went on between them?

[bowes]

Are the politics between The Wizards and Woolston beyond repair? I often travelled from Doncaster to watch them before their fall from grace.

Woolston are a good enough club in their own right not to merge and don't see themselves as anything to do with the Wizards (they had 2 years together but 8 years separate now)

[mmp]

I think you may end up with 2 divisions in the NW this winter - as I said throughout, the choice of playing winter or summer was what was important as it meant each club could work out what was best for their own development. Inevitably, there are going to be some who will feel that the switch has negatively impacted on them or that they'd have been better in winter...so I imagine a bit of movement. There may be a movementagain come spring as I know of one 'winter' club who would like to play summer but couldn't arrange facilities while the variance in standards this winter could be an issue too (especially if there is just a single division!).

Certainly some players have changed clubs as a result of everything and everything's been thrown up in the air a bit but that transition was to be expected. Div 5 in the NW is a far higher standard than its been in winter as I think a few people have moved down from a higher level to take advantage of a new challenge.

As a club at Bury, we were keen on summer because we saw it as the best route to develop - this time last year we were a one team club and now have a U7 holding group, U9s and U11s in the formal league, U13s and U15s playing a mini-'origin' series against East Lancs as well as an open age side and occasional 2nd team - and all of that alongside having reduced our costs - the switch was absolutely right for us. Every single age group can at least train at rugby league in Bury currently with the intention to play games.

[bowes]

The last thing the game needs is lots of clubs dropping out of summer to go winter or dropping out of winter to go summer every year so hopefully it settles down quickly. If Blackpool Scorpions is the club you're referring to then yeah they seem to be summer in the merit league with a possibility of division 3.

[Marauder]

What went on between them?

Nothing really, Woolston withdrew from the NCL because they failed to reach the full criteria when their clubhouse was burned to the ground and joined the NWC, I suspect The Wizards birth came about from this.

[Marauder]

The last thing the game needs is lots of clubs dropping out of summer to go winter or dropping out of winter to go summer every year so hopefully it settles down quickly. If Blackpool Scorpions is the club you're referring to then yeah they seem to be summer in the merit league with a possibility of division 3.

I'd have thought the teams going winter to summer will have just about finished so I'd now expect the major movements being back to winter from summer.

[mmp]

The last thing the game needs is lots of clubs dropping out of summer to go winter or dropping out of winter to go summer every year so hopefully it settles down quickly. If Blackpool Scorpions is the club you're referring to then yeah they seem to be summer in the merit league with a possibility of division 3.

It's not Blackpool.

I don't think we'll see 'lots' of dropping out but just some clubs working out whats best for them over the initial year or two. If the situation is one where there are 6/7 competitive divisions in summer and just 1 or 2 in winter then I think some of the winter sides may decide to bite the bullet and go to summer even if it wasn't their first choice. all will depend on what the standard is like beacuse as it currently stands - the NW winter comp will be combining teams that were spread across almost all divisions from the NWC and if each was to retain just last years players, there could be serious miss-matches that won't help anyone. alternatively, it might even out as players who want to play winter migrate to those staying winter.

[bowes]

I'd have thought the teams going winter to summer will have just about finished so I'd now expect the major movements being back to winter from summer.

Not necessarily as you can see from mmp's post and juniors will increasingly come through in summer

[Marauder]

Not necessarily as you can see from mmp's post and juniors will increasingly come through in summer

mmp is a verY very pro summer man/woman lets look at Bentley Good Companions in the winter, they have in 12 months started running u17, u15, u14 and u13 it also looks like they will be running two open-age sides this winter from the wheatley Hill RU club so the development is not just in the summer as most winter sides seem to just get on with the job without banging their chests.

I've also noticed that because of the shortage of players due to other distractions during the summer the Yorkshire Combination Youth League will be starting a little later this year to allow clubs to fulfil their summer fixtures before moving back to play in the winter.

[bowes]

mmp is a verY very pro summer man/woman lets look at Bentley Good Companions in the winter, they have in 12 months started running u17, u15, u14 and u13 it also looks like they will be running two open-age sides this winter from the wheatley Hill RU club so the development is not just in the summer as most winter sides seem to just get on with the job without banging their chests.

I've also noticed that because of the shortage of players due to other distractions during the summer the Yorkshire Combination Youth League will be starting a little later this year to allow clubs to fulfil their summer fixtures before moving back to play in the winter.

Nonetheless the movement won't just be to winter

[mmp]

mmp is a verY very pro summer man/woman lets look at Bentley Good Companions in the winter, they have in 12 months started running u17, u15, u14 and u13 it also looks like they will be running two open-age sides this winter from the wheatley Hill RU club so the development is not just in the summer as most winter sides seem to just get on with the job without banging their chests.

I've also noticed that because of the shortage of players due to other distractions during the summer the Yorkshire Combination Youth League will be starting a little later this year to allow clubs to fulfil their summer fixtures before moving back to play in the winter.

I'm pro-summer in the context of my club as it was the right thing to do for us to develop - and therefore very very pro the choice of playing in summer being available.

beyond that, i'm not pro summer/anti-winter as it happens, as I'm equally of the view that if a club thinks it's better for them to play in winter then i think they too should have the choice to do what is in their best interests...

where I've got annoyed is when anyone has dictated that clubs shouldn't be making the decisions for themselves. the idea that the RFL could only talk to clubs via 'Leagues' was just a silly suggestion from the outset especially as it was in the self-interest of the 'leagues' to not offer the choice. i've always credited the NWC on that basis as they openly and fairly shared all the comms from the RFL with all of the clubs in their league and allowed clubs to decide for themselves what they should do.

Edited by mmp, 27 June 2012 - 02:21 PM.

[Marauder]

Nonetheless the movement won't just be to winter

I did say the movement to summer will have slowed down and the drift back will be greater, as mmp says, clubs will play where they will flourish the best.

[bowes]

Wouldn't be surprised if Widnes St Maries go back to winter as they're struggling. For some reason Widnes seems to be the most pro winter part of Lancashire. Though Halton Farnworth Hornets are doing well out of summer. Wonder if Rylands and Higginshaw will end up in winter after dropping out (the latter I think is technically still going)?

The rumours are most teams are happy with summer in NW but enough plan to go back to winter than NWCL will be able to run 2 divisions.

Edited by bowes, 29 June 2012 - 11:19 PM.

[shawy13]

According to local the Oldham Chronical Higginshaw have already reverted back to winter although nothing has been confirmed by the NWML as yet

http://www.oldham-ch...to-winter-rugby