Bill H

If I remember correctly it was the part of Lancashire that you had to leave Lancashire to reach. But yes, lads from Barrow would certainly have considered themselves to be Lancastrians. I would guess that the Cumberland teams that played and sometimes beat Australia would have contained a number of Barrow players but they would have been Cumberland born and learnt the game playing for Cumbrian amateur clubs. You have a better memory for these things than I have BSJ, but I seem to recall that Cumbria also had a spell post war when they were considered the best county side. Cumberland certainly had a reputation in the late 1960s for producing the best forwards; whilst as recently as 2010 Cumbria drew with England in a warm up match. Sorry folks, way off thread!

I should just add that I have no strong feelings on the thread topic; just that the suggestion that Cumbria is not part of the Rugby League heartland seemed somewhat contentious.

Before Mr Angry of Cumbria replies; and possibly splitting hairs BSJ, I should point out that Cumbria/Cumberland had a strong enough RL base for the county team to beat Australia in every decade except one in the first half of the 20th Century as well as beating New Zealand in 1908. It depends on one's definition of heartland I guess.

A pragmatic result, no doubt, but possibly short sighted in the long run?

We are all busy with our new lock down hobbies Roger; knitting, macrame, writing lyric poetry, studying astrology or whatever.

I can choose to believe what I like........until it's proved wrong. Donald Trump is a great human being, Joe Biden is nobbut a spring chicken and the moon is made of green cheese, with just a rocky surface layer. (Sorry to drift onto astronomy Roger).

I had read that he was struggling to get into the Hunslet team in 2019. Thanks for cheering me up Graham.

It sounds as if the Chancellor is not looking at extending furlough but at other possible help for chosen sectors. Why do you say that clubs that own their own grounds are in a more difficult situation BSJ? I don't doubt you, just curious as to the reason. Something to do with local taxes? I believe that Batley pay a peppercorn rent but presumably own the fixtures and fittings.

Thanks for an interesting insight into a possible reason that Dewsbury did not become a founder member. And yes, as mentioned they did pack in a long time ago (better bait needed BSJ?) Sorry to be off thread again. I always understood that either name for your old ground was acceptable; and so I looked it up in "The Grounds of Rugby League" by Trevor Delaney. It says..... present ground Mount Pleasant! I do try. It does though confirm previous ground as, quote, "Crown Flatt, or Flatts as it was originally known". Thus I don't know if they played at Crown Flatt or Flatts in 1895. Back on thread anyone?

It is possible that there was a local derby in 1895. Both Dewsbury and Batley were in the Yorkshire Senior Competition during the 1894/95 season, playing home games I believe at Crown Flatt (or Flatts?) and Mount Pleasant respectively. Dewsbury did attend the famous meeting at the George Hotel in August 1895 but decided against joining the Northern Union. Incidentally, apparently Dewsbury were so poor that they seldom got out of the bottom three which is perhaps why they packed up and played soccer instead. (The new Dewsbury club was formed in April 1898 according to the "Official History of Dewsbury RLFC"). I await PM's take on all this with interest. Back on track, I like Phil's idea of playing in the original strip, it would be good publicity.

Well, if we must digress, 'ere's to me and mi wifes 'usband, not forgetting missen!

2018 crop BSJ? I thought that I had got it from you.

Well summat, anyway.

I would have preferred that Scotty stayed but PMs summation seems fair to me. His willingness to acknowledge the fans whatever the result says something about the bloke. At his best as good an all round full back as you could wish to have in the side. Linners, perhaps, will be looking for someone that he can mould into his style of play.

Surprised no one has mentioned Yorkshire capped Naylor and under 23? International Brian Taylor . Wasn't there a pretty useful fair haired prop called Coates?