Leigh Centurions stand-off Martyn Ridyard and South Wales Scorpions stand-off Paul Emanuelli have been voted Kingstone Press Players of the Week.
Ridyard was a central figure in Leigh’s 72-22 victory over Rochdale Hornets, while Emanuelli landed the decisive drop goal to seal only South Wales’s second win of the season – a 19-18 triumph over London Skolars.
Every week each coach in both Kingstone Press Championship competitions is contacted to help produce the awards.
Kingstone Press Championship Player of the Week – Martyn Ridyard (Leigh Centurions)
Leigh Centurions stand-off Martyn Ridyard just edged out his half-back partner Ryan Brierley with a guiding role and 12 goals from as many attempts in the 72-22 win at Rochdale Hornets.
Leigh coach Paul Rowley said: “Both of our pivots were outstanding.
“We often hear about Ryan’s try scoring prowess, but he offers the team so much more as well and we saw that.
“But he was just about shaded by Martyn Ridyard on Sunday, who contributed every bit as much as Ryan and probably a little bit more with his faultless kicking display.
“Between the two of them they made us quite unstoppable. And when you see pivots get the Player of the Week award, it’s a signal that they’ve been well supported by the other 11 players on the field at any one time too.”
Kingstone Press Championship One Player of the Week – Paul Emanuelli (South Wales Scorpions)
South Wales Scorpions stand-off Paul Emanuelli kicked the match-winning drop goal in a 19-18 triumph over London Skolars.
Scorpions coach Mike Grady said: “Paul was fantastic all afternoon. He controlled the game throughout.
“He goes to the line well, he’s got a great kicking game, he’s constantly talking and organising, and his composure is brilliant too.
“The drop goal was a good 30 yards out, wide of the posts and against the wind, but Paul knew exactly what he was doing.
“He’s been playing well for the last three or four weeks now, and I’m looking forward to seeing him next year when he’s had a full pre-season behind him.”
Kingstone Press Performance of the Week – South Wales Scorpions
South Wales Scorpions made the most of their visit to Cardiff Arms Park by recording only their second league win of the season, beating London Skolars 19-18 to complete the double over Joe Mbu’s side.
Scorpions coach Mike Grady said: “It was a great team effort. We showed great character, stayed in the arm-wrestle, and then got the drop goal at the end.
“Cardiff Arms Park and the big crowd that turned up provided a brilliant atmosphere, and thankfully we made the most of it by getting a result as well.
“We’ve said all year that we’re not that far off. If we do compete for 80 minutes, we can stick in games and get wins like this. Hopefully we can get one or two more before the year is out.”
Kingstone Press Championship Try of the Week – Matt Sarsfield (Leigh Centurions)
Leigh Centurions coach Paul Rowley felt that Matt Sarsfield’s first half effort in the win at Rochdale represented a perfect team try.
Rowley said: “It was possibly the best set of six I’ve ever seen – we started the set on our try line and finished it over theirs.
“If you wanted to manufacture a perfect set of six that would have been it.
“We played with our eyes up and took every opportunity on offer, whether it was short-side or not.
“Every little bit of skill was executed to perfection, and it culminated, fittingly, with Martyn Ridyard putting Matt Sarsfield through a hole with a perfectly timed pass.”
Kingstone Press Championship Team of the Week
1 Miles Greenwood (Batley Bulldogs)
2 Rob Massam (North Wales Crusaders)
3 Ian Hardman (Featherstone Rovers)
4 James Haley (Keighley Cougars)
5 Tommy Saxton (Halifax)
6 Martyn Ridyard (Leigh Centurions)
7 Ryan Brierley (Leigh Centurions)
8 Mike Morrison (Swinton Lions)
9 Sean Penkywicz (Leigh Centurions)
10 Andy Shickell (Keighley Cougars)
11 Rob Spicer (Dewsbury Rams)
12 Sam Scott (Batley Bulldogs)
13 Liam McAvoy (Workington Town)
Kingstone Press Championship One Team of the Week
1 Jimmy Watson (Hunslet Hawks)
2 Michael Crabtree (Oxford)
3 Jack Pring (South Wales Scorpions)
4 Phil Carleton (South Wales Scorpions)
5 Adam Clay (Oldham)
6 Paul Emanuelli (South Wales Scorpions)
7 Lewis Palfrey (Oldham)
8 Phil Joy (Oldham)
9 Paul Stamp (Gateshead Thunder)
10 Ryan MacDonald (London Skolars)
11 Jason Payne (Gateshead Thunder)
12 Danny Langtree (Oldham)
13 Dave Williams (London Skolars)
