AllStars The Gazette
Match of the week South Shore Under-11 v v Clifton R Under-11s PAGES 4-5
Your TOP weekly guide to youth sport in Fylde
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2009
INSIDE THIS WEEK ST AIDAN’S SPOTLIGHT: P2
POULTON BATMAN: P2
RUGBY ACTION:P3
FEAST OF FOOTBALL : P4-8
Derby crunch It’s Blackpool Stanley powering towards the line against Blackpool Scorpions in the big rugby league clash ... to find out who came out on top – SEE PAGE THREE
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AllStars Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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School of the week, Table tennis
Pride of Preesall
THE first term of the year was a busy and successful one at St Aidan’s Church of England Technology College in Preesall ... and the second term promises more of the same. Two basketball teams went so close to glory.
The Under-16s reached the final only to fall at the final hurdle against Cardinal Allen. It was a similar story for the Year 8 team, beaten by Baines in the final. St Aidan’s hope to make it third time lucky with their Year 11 football team, who are also through to the final. Meanwhile, two teams have proved unbeatable. Both the Year 8 rugby team and the Year 10 netball team are undefeated.
WE’RE HERE FOR ALL OUR YOUNG STARS
We want AllStars to feature as much junior and school sports action as possible each week – and we need your help to cover all the stories which deserve a place in our unbeatable weekly supplement. We want to hear from as many schools, teams and individuals as possible, so we can share your achievements and match reports with our readers all over the Fylde and worldwide on our website – AllStars has its own special section at www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk Don’t hesitate to contact us at allstars@blackpoolgazette.co.uk or call AllStars administrator Russell Kingston on (01253) 361863. We’re happy to receive submitted pictures but please let us know of any picture opportunities for our photographers. Copies of our AllStars pictures are available via our photosales department on (01253) 361867.
Pictures by: ROB LOCK
ST AIDAN’S ACES ABOVE: The Year 7 rugby union team. TOP RIGHT: The basketball team (from left); Front row, Jordan Schofield, Lewis Jones, Ryan Walmsley, Jack Dugdale; back row, Tom Shepherd, Daniel Faill, Callum Hoey and Jonathan Jones; and in action BELOW LEFT and FAR RIGHT RIGHT: The Year 9 netball team (from left); front row, Sam Cardwell, Vicky Brown and Lyndsey Heyes; back row, Joanna Cummings, Jessica Braithwaite, Beth Stevenson, Eden Leonnard
Our next school of the week will be BEACON HILL
Youngsters bringing top class service to table TALENTED table tennis player CAMERON WOODALL (left) from Poulton, who is spending a week’s work experience on The Gazette sportsdesk, here previews this year’s Blackpool Closed and Handicapped Championships, in which he will defend the title he has won twice. The 16-year-old Baines pupil writes: This year’s tournament should bring surprises, exciting matches and more promising young players proving their skills. It will be held at Palatine Leisure Centre on February 22, when my fellow Baines pupils Emily Ross and William Ross will be bidding for success. Nick Valentine from Collegiate will be another challenger for the junior singles.
In an exciting final last year, I regained the title I won in 2006 by beating Valentine, who was unseeded but defeated former champion Sam Macdonald on his way to the final. I won my first junior title aged 13, setting a new record for the youngest champion when I beat Paul Simpson in the final. In 2007, Sam Macdonald won his first junior title bybeating me in an epic final. William and Emily Ross have represented the Blackpool A team in the National Cadet league and play for Knott End in the Blackpool and District League. Other juniors who that have produced some great table tennis are Ryan Garbett, Adam George and Ryan Harding.
Website: www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk
Rugby
AllStars Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Scorpions triumph in derby Blackpool Stanley U17 4 Blackpool Scorpions 24
SCORPIONS made it two wins in two months against their local rivals but an improving Stanley side took pride in their performance. In a first half played with great ferocity, Scorpions opened the scoring through Brett Whitehead.
Stanley replied with a wellworked try after alert dummyhalf play by hooker Damien Davis, but Scorpions were back in front by half-time as James Cunliffe rounded two defenders to make it 10-4 at the break. The second half was no less intense, though Scorpions again scored early through Josh Evans.
Both sides made handling errors in the heavy conditions and as Stanley began to tire Scorpions added two more tries. Adam Robinson scored the first, after quick-thinking at dummy half by Warren Beggs, and captain Darrel Constantine completed the scoring as he grounded a smart kick by Brett Whitehead. It continues a happy new year for the skipper, who was named Gillette player of the month for December by the North West Counties League – Scorpions’ Gary Parker also took the coach of the month award. Besides Davis, stand-off Dave Parfitt was also outstanding for Stanley, whose coach Mark Holden said: “My side played with full effort and proved we are a good side.”
Grant full value King Edward and Queen Mary’s School 42 St Mary’s 3 KEQMS gave an excellent seven-try display in their first match for five weeks. Full-back Grant Blackshaw followed his first-minute penalty with the opening try, after fine interplay between fly-half Pearse Carson and inside centre Kelham O’Hanlon. St Mary’s showed their mettle and scored a penalty but it was 20-3 by half-time following tries by Carson and Johnson. Winger Ross Collins used his pace for a try created by Harry Ormsby, who scored next after a powerful burst by man of the match Luke Skyrme. Fellow flanker Ben Samuels then got in on the scoring act with two tries, one from a quick tap and the second from a group drive. Blackshaw completed the scoring with his second conversion. ■ KEQMS Under-15 trio Ralph Dowds, Emelio Arciniega and William Sheridan have been selected for the Lancashire squad ahead of matches against Cardiff and Yorkshire. All three are members of the Lancashire School of Rugby and play for Sale Sharks.
OUTNUMBERED: Stanley gang up
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Fleetwood answer an alarm call
Warrington 12 Fleetwood RU U16 12 WARRINGTON started this cup-tie strongly, and took a grip on proceedings with tries after 10 and 25 minutes to take a 12-0 lead. But this sparked Fleetwood into life and they pulled a try back just before half-time, when Joel Cheetham scored in the corner after his team had won a 10-metre line-out against the throw. Fleetwood camped in the Warrington half after the break and had four tries disallowed before their pressure was rewarded. Chris Jones finished a fine pack move and Scott Richardson’s conversion levelled the scoring. Fleetwood survived a late scare when a Warrington penalty struck a post. Fleetwood RU U17 12 Penrith 32 THE Junior Colts were forced to defend for much of the first half as the Cumbrians took advantage of the wind. Tom Hird, James Cameron and Danny Maher led the defensive effort but Penrith eventually took a 10-point lead with a converted try and a penalty. Fleetwood hit back just before halfto stop a Scorpions breakaway time, when fly-half Joel Reynolds kicked over the defence and caught the bouncing ball to sprint between the posts. Tom Evans’ conversion made it 10-7 at the break. Fleetwood started Westhoughton Lions 30 Also impressive for Scorthe second half conBlackpool Scorpions U14 14 pions were Kieran Danson fidently but it was Scorpions could not build on and Clinton Neal. Penrith who scored an early lead given to them within five minutes, with a try from man of the Blackpool Stanley RL Under- soon adding two match Franky Campbell. more tries. 14 4 Rochdale Mayfield 66 Despite fielding only 12 Substitute flanker players, Scorpions applied STANLEY were only able to plenty of early pressure. field 11 players due to illness, Henry Turner made The outstanding George impact and and injury reduced them to an Higgins and Jordan Curtis scrum-half Evans 10 for the second half. went close, and Joe Phelps found a gap to score But despite this, and their Fleetwood’s second was only denied Scorpions’ second try by a last-ditch 48-0 half-time deficit, Stan- try. tackle. ley improved after the break Penrith added a However, Westhoughton and twice went close before final try just before broke away for two quickfire full-back and man of the the final whistle, tries to lead 8-4 at half-time. though Fleetwood In the second half the match Tyler Davies scored a have a chance of rehome side stepped up the superb 60-metre try. venge on Sunday. pace and ran in five tries, Prop James Bancroft was Fleetwood Squad: Bedconverting one. tackled just short, while ford, Birks, Cameron, Cleary, Dawson, J Evans, T Evans, Scorpions did have a late there were excellent dis- Hird, Foden, Kemp, Macdonflurry with two well- worked ald-Hall, Maher, Morgan, plays by Dean Edwards, Ben tries from James Revell and Preston, Railton, Halsall, Alex Caygill and De- Phillips, Jordan Curtis, Joe Phelps Reynolds, Riley, Speed, Turnclan Aylen. converting the latter. er, Webster, White.
Livingstone sparks a revival Parkside Golborne 6 Blackpool Scorpions U16 12 ANTONY Livingstone scored a try and two goals as Scorpions recovered from a half-time deficit. Blackpool were on the back-foot for much of the first half but man of the match Joe Bullock pulled off some vital tackles and Danny Percival drove forward well. John Beattie tackled his heart out and Matthew Egan directed operations. However, the home side broke through two minutes before the interval to lead 60 at half-time. Playing down the slope in the second half, Scorpions went on the attack and Zach Ward was denied a try when he slipped.
Golborne paid for their ill discipline as Omar Frederick scooted over from dummy half for a try and Livingstone’s magnificent conversion levelled the scores. Golborne’s frustration spilled over, and when one of their players was sin-binned Livingstone kicked the penalty to make it 8-6. Stand-off Liam Wilkinson showed his attacking flair and almost scored a lengthof-the-field try before Livingstone scored in the corner. There was still time for Golborne to attack and Scorpions defended 18 tackles on their line before Matthew Egan’s interception secured possession and the game for Scorpions.
Bennett try launches Kirkham on a scoring spree THE rugby derby matches between Arnold and Kirkham GS did not disappoint, with some full-blooded and entertaining encounters. Kirkham first XV completed their season with a comprehensive 55-3 win. Tommy Banks opened the scoring but Arnold were very much in the game until full-back Callum Bennett claimed fly-half Daniel Bibby’s crossfield kick to score. Tom Sanders scored next, after a storming run from Kieran Brookes, and Banks added his second before scoring two more after half-time. Hooker Josh Woods and James Moncrieff scored the other tries and Bennett landed six goals. For Arnold, Josh Beaumont made a welcome return and winger Alex Walkden impressed.
Kirkham won the second XV game 24-7. Matthew Edgar’s breakaway try was the highlight of the first-half for Kirkham and Kelsall scored their second before half-time. Gill and Redshaw scored Kirkham’s second-half tries, while Ashley Jones kicked two goals. Arnold came back strongly and were rewarded with a penalty try, when Freddie Priestley was denied. The Under-15 match was a pulsating affair, won by Kirkham 23-5. A try by captain Jacob Nickson gave Arnold an early lead but Kirkham hit back through full-back Sam Hall. Will Roper’s boot put KGS on top and a try by the dynamic Adam Galley gave them breathing space. Tries by Fraser Burnie and Nathan White followed and Roper added a 35-
metre drop goal. James Aird and James Haythornthwaite were impressive for Arnold. KGS Under-14s gave an outstanding display to win 42-10, with a hat-trick from Ben Rhodes-Powers and tries from Matthew Beatty, Scott Rudd and Charles Redshaw. Beatty (4) and Ryan Wilkinson (2) kicked the goals. Alex Casey and Oliver Hopkins scored fine tries for Arnold. Arnold’s Under-13A came back from 10-0 down to take the plaudits in a thrilling match as tries from Richard Whiteside and Alex Naylor secured a 12-10 victory. Two long-range efforts from Adam Coates, the second after good work by Lewis Leach, had puts KGS in the driving seat in the first half. Arnold enjoyed another narrow win
in the B match 18-12. Aaron Cheung notched a brace of tries. Kirkham won the Under-12 match 24-5 with an excellent pack display. Hadley Price opened the scoring and David King added a hat-trick, with Connor Wilkinson landing two goals. Andrew Perry scored for Arnold and there were good performances by Tom Forster and Matthew Garrod. ■ KIRKHAM Under-15s’ long trip to Market Rasen proved worthwhile as they won through to the last 16 of the Daily Mail Vase with a 53-5 victory over De Aston School. Sam Hall split the defence for the opening try and fly-half Will Roper chipped ahead for winger Precious Nwaokomah to score the second. Prop Micky Papangelis and no.8 Craig Whalley-Hunter were outstand-
ing as Hall, Fraser Burnie and Tom Hurst added further tries. ■ ARNOLD centre Ben Perkins, featured in AllStars last week, returns to Moseley RU this weekend to train with the England Under-16 squad. The Lancashire and Fylde player from Ansdell, who won through trials at the same Birmingham venue, is in a squad of 40 from which the England and England A sides will be selected. Arnold director of spor Robbie Jones said: “Everyone at Arnold School is delighted for Ben. If he can perform as he did in the final North of England match last week he has a very good chance of further honours. He should be very proud with how well he has done over the last three months.”
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AllStars Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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Website: www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk
TEN-GOAL TREAT: There was no shortage of goalmouth action in the Under-13 tie between South Shore (players in hats) and Fleetwood Gym See report left
TEN-GOAL TREAT: There was no shortage of goalmouth action in the Under-13 tie between South Shore (players in hats) and Fleetwood Gym See report left
AllStars Wednesday, January 21, 2009
TEN-GOAL TREAT: There was no shortage of goalmouth action in the Under-13 tie between South Shore (players in hats) and Fleetwood Gym See report left
TEN-GOAL TREAT: There was no shortage of goalmouth action in the Under-13 tie between South Shore (players in hats) and Fleetwood Gym See report left
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AllStars Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Photosales: 01253 361867
BASKETBALL / GIRLS’ FOOTBALL
LIGHTS LINE-UP (from left): Josh Bannister, Fraser Thorpe, Jack Fletcher, Will Shaw, Liam Rigby, Brad Mitchell, Paul Tollady, Callum Ollernshaw, Conagh Bootle, Jason Sellas, Alex Davis, Cameron Thorpe
Lighting up the league BLACKPOOL Lights Under-14s are shining bright in their first season in basketball’s Central Venue League. Their matches to date have produced two victories over Chorley and one against Burnley.
And of the three matches they have lost, the two against Rossendale could hardly have been closer. They first beat Chorley 48-32 as Will Shaw showed great skills to top-score with 14 points, well supported by Cameron Thorpe (12 points) and Conagh Bootle (10). Blackpool defeated the same opponents 45-22 as Alex Davis and Jason Sellas got among the points with eight each. They beat Burnley 55-34 as Fraser Thorpe led the way and Bootle contributed 16 points.
In the first match against Rossendale they were edged out 25-23. Josh Bannister led the way with 11 points and Bootle scored 10. The rematch went to double overtime before Rossendale won 33-32. Blackpool took the lead in the third quarter. Thorpe was strong in attack and defence, bagging 10 points, but Rossendale forced overtime at 26-26. The teams could still not be separated after the first overtime session of three minutes, which produced two points each, before Rossendale edged the win with a free throw. Will Shaw and Bannister scored eight points each. But Preston, the best team in Lancashire, continued to set the standards for Blackpool to aim at by defeating the Lights 42-8. Blackpool are sponsored by Eclipse Developments.
Thornton’s Rosie glow Thornton U11s 5 Myerscough 0 THORNTON brightened a miserable day with a brilliant performance, in which player of the match Rosie Murphy scored four. With the wind in their favour in the first half, Thornton stretched the Myerscough defence from the start and Murphy opened the scoring with a blistering shot into the bottom corner from outside the box. Keeva O’Cleirigh’s excellent football resulted in her making it 2-0 at half-time with a fine goal from a narrow angle. Katie Dobson, Sophie Bishop, Chloe Walford and Olivia Copeland were called upon to stand strong in defence after the break and O’Cleirigh set up Murphy for her second. Chloe Walford sent Murphy clear for her hat-trick goal and another O’Cleirigh cross resulted in the final goal late on. Delighted manager Simon Walford also praised midfield duo Kiana Cooper and Chloe Hodge Bury 0 Blackpool U10s 3 BLACKPOOL kept their unbeaten run intact in their first match since November. Stephanie Haigh opened the scoring on seven minutes, dis-
possessing a Bury defender and chipping over the keeper. Substitute Georgia Timperley doubled the lead on 15 minutes as Blackpool continued to dominate. Bury hit back after half-time but Blackpool’s defence stood firm. Natasha Marshall and Casey Stanton made an impact off the bench and Blackpool made victory safe with a goal by their player of the match Alisha Yarwood with five minutes left. Manchester Utd 4 Blackpool U11 4 BLACKPOOL led 2-0 at halftime but United shared the spoils in this hard-fought clash of the top two. Striker Emma Hickson deputised in goal for Blackpool and earned the player of the match award for some top saves. Georgia Lambe and Georgia Raines scored two goals each, while Charlie Henderson and Rebecca Shaw were also outstandding. Manchester City 2 Blackpool U15 6 THE opening stages were tight but then a Sian Dillon double and Stef Wharton’s goal put Blackpool in control. City fought back only for Blackpool to respond with three
more goals – one by Lauren Oatley and a brace from Rhiannon Davies. Preston 1 Blackpool U15 7 BLACKPOOL won through to the semi-finals after running away with this Lancashire Cup tie in the second half. It was only 1-0 at half-time but Blackpool’s constant pressure was rewarded after the break. Myerscough 0YMCA U11 12 YMCA were on top from the start in this North Valley League Cup first round tie, with Hannah Wright and Georgia Rose both testing the keeper before the latter fired home. Laurel North doubled the lead but YMCA were denied by some excellent goalkeeping until Wright scored shortly before the break. This seemed to break the Myerscough resistance and Rose and North both scored their second to make it 5-0 at half-time. The pressure continued as two goals from Erin Menzies were followed by three from North, taking her tally to five. Rose completed her hat-trick before a double strike by the outstanding Olivia Hooper rounded off the scoring in an excellent team display.