the man

Roose Pioneers have arranged a Sportsman's Dinner with guest speaker Brian Noble and MC Michael "Braddy" Bradshaw. Friday October 17th 7pm for 7.30pm Start at the Barrow Golf Club Tickets cost £25 which includes a 3 course meal If anyone wants a place booking or a table for 10 then they can send me a message and I'll get the tickets to you This is a mixed event

Roose Pioneers have arranged a friendly at Redwaters to Leyland Warriors for Saturday 9th February KO 1pm. As part of their recruitment drive anyone who fancies a game would be made most welcome and will definately get a run out. Meet 12 Noon.

The semi Final between Dalton and Askam has been switched from Holebeck to Redwaters due to Pioneers game being called off (Woolston couldn't raise a team). KO 1.45

Is it possible that franchising could actually have hindered Harlequins? Are they forced to budget at a Super League level to try to compete when clearly their income through crowds and sponsorship cannot sustain them. In the absence of a rich backer would they not be better off in the Championship where crowds around the 2000 mark would allow them to be competitive. I don't buy in to the argument that suddenly all the youth development would grind to a halt without a SL presence, surely the infrastructure is stronger than that. My own town of Barrow has not had top flight rugby for over twenty years but we still churn out Super League players. We currently have Gardner (Saints), Harrison (Wire), Lupton (Crusaders), Wilkes (Quins) and over twenty players in the Championship leagues.

Willie Horne at Barrow

Cumbrians at Super League clubs (of the top of my head there may be more?) 1.Dowes Hull 2.Purdham Quins 3.Lunt Giants 4 Olstrum Wakefield 5 Donaldson Bulls 6 Mossop Warriors others include Ade Gardner St.Helens Ben Harrison Warrington Oliver Wilkes Harlequins Peter Lupton Crusaders There's a basis there for a competitive team