The Press – Friday January 31, 2020

ONE PAPER ... ALL THE NEWS from Dewsbury, Batley, Ossett, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton & Spen Valley

Emotional Matt opens up and slams RFL

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Friday January 31, 2020

No. 930

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No ‘bongs’ on Brexit day in Kirklees

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LIFESAVER! Teen comes to the rescue and saves choking baby girl on crowded train

VITAL KNOWLEDGE: Nicole demonstrates how she performed ‘back blows’ on a dummy at Dewsbury Sports Centre

By Connor Teale News Reporter connor@thepressnews.co.uk

A TEENAGE lifeguard from Dewsbury has encouraged others to learn first aid techniques after saving the life of a baby on a train.

Nicole Bowler, 18, who works as a casual lifeguard at Dewsbury Sports Centre, was travelling to Manchester when she heard a commotion in an adjoining carriage.

The shouts were coming from the mother of a baby girl who had begun to choke on her food.

“I heard cries of ‘does anybody know what to do?’, but no-one was responding,” said A-level student Nicole.

“The train was extremely busy and everyone was packed in. I had to shout ‘I know first aid, let me through’, as I made my way to the baby.

“I asked the woman if it was alright to take her child and she threw her into my arms.”

Using knowledge acquired from a lifeguarding course she

ly think about what’s happening. My only thought was that I knew what I had to do and I just needed to help,” she said.

“I flipped the baby over so her chest was resting on my forearm and I had my hand under her chin.

“Then I tilted the baby so her head was facing the floor and applied two ‘back blows’ to the upper back. After the second one I managed to dislodge the food.”

Nicole described experiencing an overwhelming feeling of relief as other passengers in the carriage gave her a rapturous round of applause.

“When the baby started to cry again everyone was so relieved – quite a few people were crying themselves.

“Passengers were coming up to me and asking if I was a paramedic! They were all really appreciative.”

But the most appreciative person on the train was the mother of the young baby, who hugged Nicole for 30 minutes until they reached their destination. took in March 2019, Nicole managed to dislodge the food obstruc-

tion that was preventing the child, believed to be around a

year old, from breathing.

“In that moment you don’t real-

Continued on page 2

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ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

Family notices in The Press Although we carry some abridged funeral notices, we cannot guarantee inclusion. However you can ensure information about your loved ones, whether that be a death/funeral notice, an acknowledgement or a birthday memory, reaches by far the most readers in North Kirklees. What’s more, Family Notices in The Press are significantly more affordable than other newspapers. For personal service, from a local business, call us on 01924 470296. Notices can be taken until 1.30pm on Thursdays.

Deaths ALLSOP BRENDA On January 26, of Hanging Heaton, aged 88, sister of the late Eliza, Bill, John and Ethel. Funeral service will take place at St Paul’s Church, Hanging Heaton, on Thursday February 6 at 2pm.

DARNBROUGH (NEE WILCOCK) HAZEL On January 27, of Chickenley, aged 85, wife of Danny. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Wednesday February 5 at 11.15am.

DYSON KEITH On January 27, following a short illness, aged 66, husband of Sue. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Monday

MATHER Sandra

MITA Cosimo

On the 27th January, peacefully at home, aged 78 years. Beloved wife of Anthony, dearly loved mother of Adam and Danny.

Service and cremation will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Tuesday 11th February 2020 at 2pm, followed by refreshments at Lakeside Restaurant, Ponderosa, Heckmondwike. Will friends please accept this intimation, family flowers only.

Donations in lieu for Cancer Research

On 20th January 2020, in hospital, of Mirfield, aged 91 years, Cosimo, dearly loved husband of Florinda, much loved dad of Domenic and Caterina, beloved grandad of Thomas and Demi, Amelia and Elliott.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Aidan’s RC Church, Mirfield on Tuesday 4th February 2020 at 1.30pm, followed by interment in Mirfield Parish Churchyard.

Family flowers only, donations in lieu may be placed in the collection box provided by George Brooke Ltd, for the benefit of The Forget Me Not Hospice.

RIP

February 10 at 2pm.

Thornhill, aged 90, wife of the late Gilbert. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Friday February 7 at 11.15am.

HEELEY (NEE POPPLEWELL) PAULINE MYRA On January 23, of Mirfield, aged 95, wife of the late Jack. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Monday February 3 at 2.45pm.

LOUGHRAN CHRIS On January 21, suddenly at home in Gomersal, aged 57, dad of Abigail, Catherine and Megan.

Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Friday February 7 at 2.45pm.

LITTLEWOOD (NEE SPEIGHT) MILDRED On January 28, of

MORTON Rex On the 18th January, peacefully at home with his family at his side.

Aged 91, a kind, loving and much loved husband, father, father in law, cherished grandpa and great grandpa.

Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Crematorium at 2pm on Monday 3rd February, followed by refreshments at Healds Hall Hotel, Liversedge.

Family flowers only: donations please to Versus Arthritis (formerly Arthritis Research UK).

ROEBUCK (NEE STUBBS) JEAN

Telephone 01924 472178

BOLLANDS (BIRSTALL)

On January 23, of Thornhill, aged 89, wife of the late Clarrie. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Monday February 10 at 12.30pm.

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Family Notices

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Call: 01924 470296 A Family Business providing a complete and caring service for over 65 years Golden Charter Pre-Payment Plans 24 Hour Service Head Office - 14 Sharp Street, Dewsbury Chapel Of Rest - 9 Battye Street, Dewsbury Room Of Repose - 14a St Paul’s Road, Mirfield

In Loving Memory WATSON Margaret (Upper Batley) In memory of a much loved wife, mum and grandma passed away 30th January 2019.

You will always be remembered for your kindness and generosity.

David, Caroline and George xxx

Acknowledgments HIRST John

MITCHELL Barry

Pat, Kate and Moira would like to thank everybody for their cards, expressions of sympathy and to all who attended John’s funeral.

Thanks to everyone for their generous donations for Kirkwood Hospice and special thanks to the Tuck family and the two Joans, Wellington House Surgery. Thanks to Fr Eamon Hegarty for his kind and comforting words, and to Julie and Lewis Scorah & son funeral directors for their care and compassion during this sad time.

The outstanding show of respect was of great comfort to John’s family.

Pauline, Joanne, Jonathan, Sarah and family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all those who came along to celebrate the life of Barry Mitchell at Dewsbury Crematorium on 23rd January.

01924 454476 / 497352

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Hospital visitor COUNCIL leader Shabir Pandor praised the “inspirational staff” at Dewsbury Hospital during a recent visit.

The Batley West councillor met front-line clinicians and local Kirklees social care teams to understand more about how they work together to care for patients.

Coun Pandor said: “I met wonderful and inspirational staff at Dewsbury Hospital who are doing sterling work.

“Seeing how the two teams work so seamlessly together and being able to hear from patients about their positive experiences was brilliant.”

The trust has been developing its approach to more collaborative working with the council in recent months, introducing social workers from the Hospital Avoidance Team to work alongside the nursing and therapy teams on the wards and in A&E.

Teen saves tot on train From page one “I got off the train and as soon as I got out of the crowd, what I had just done hit me. I couldn’t believe it.

“I called my mum to tell her what had happened and we ended up crying down the phone to each other.

“Unfortunately I didn’t get the family’s details, everything was rushed and it all went at 100mph.”

Nicole, who attended St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy in Dewsbury, is now encouraging other people to take up first aid training.

“It was pure coincidence that I was on that train and it’s down to my lifeguard training that I knew how to react and what to do,” she said.

“I would definitely encourage everyone to take up some sort of first aid training.”

KAL trustee Dawn Stephenson said: “We are immensely proud of Nicole and her ability to react so quickly to ultimately save a life.

“KAL’s lifeguard courses teach valuable life skills which Nicole demonstrated so well.”

ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

‘Hey guys, I think I’ve caught .... A BOMB!’ ARMY explosive experts cordoned off part of a Dewsbury canal on Sunday after magnet fishers pulled a mortar bomb out of the water.

The team from the Yorkshire Magneteers group made the extraordinary find in the Calder & Hebble Navigation at Lock Street. Police attended and closed off the area and ordnance disposal experts dealt with the World War Two device.

Magnet fishing – where people hunt for metal submerged in canals and rivers – is increasing in popularity nationwide.

Ian Platt, the magneteer who pulled out the bomb, said: “I knew what it was straight away. I shouted ‘mortar bomb’ and everybody ran. We went about 50 yards in each direction and cordoned the area off.”

A bomb disposal team confirmed the device was live and put it in a special container before driving it away. The area was cordoned off for around three hours.

Photo – the Yorkshire Magneteers Credit: YappApp

BATLEY: A Porsche worth £150,000 was recovered by police less than 24 hours after it was stolen.

The find was made as part of a two-day road safety operation based at Wilton Park and led by officers from the Batley and Spen Neighbourhood Policing Team.

A Porsche 911, which was reported stolen in Leeds on the evening of January 23, was located on January 24 and another car was seized after it was determined the owner was disqualified from driving.

Officers pulled vehicles into Wilton Park and issued six further tickets for mobile phone use and a car having no MOT. Two men aged 38 and 45 were arrested in connection with the stolen Porsche and have been released under investigation

Mansion bid hits brick wall Crow Nest group gives up and blames ‘lack of Kirklees support’

By Zoe Shackleton and Tony Earnshaw THE future of Dewsbury Park Mansion is uncertain after a community group pulled out of plans to try and save the building.

The museum in Crow Nest Park was closed in 2016 due to funding cuts, but volunteers soon set up a campaign group in a bid to take it over.

Members of the Dewsbury Park Mansion Community Hub (DPMCH) wanted to resurrect the Grade II listed mansion, museum and cafe by splitting it between community and commercial use.

But the group claims that “a lack of proactive support from Kirklees” has meant they can no longer continue with their plans.

Gill Young, group secretary, said: “The directors of DPMCH have reluctantly decided that they would withdraw their application for a community asset transfer of the mansion in Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury in order to develop the building as a community hub for the park users.

“This is because of a lack of pro-active support from Kirklees Council, lack of consistent communication and fundamental changes in the funding opportunities for heritage buildings. The committee is devastated after three years of hard work to save the mansion, including its cafe – a well-loved facility for park visitors, dog walkers, families, Park-runners and many others – that we have to make this decision.

“It has taken hundreds of volunteer hours and tireless effort to try and make it a community hub.”

The group made an asset transfer request to the council, which was accepted, and a business plan was presented.

Mrs Young added: “Many meetings with various and different council officers were held. Lines were drawn, plans were made and

Man in 40s found dead in street POLICE have launched an investigation after the body of a man was found in Cleckheaton.

Officers were called to a report of an unconscious male on a pavement on Serpentine Road at 2.50am on Wednesday.

Paramedics attended the scene and the man, believed to be in his 40s, was pro-

nounced dead a short time later. A police spokesperson has confirmed the death is being treated as “unexplained” pending a post-mortem examination. It is believed that there are no suspicious circumstances. Serpentine Road was closed by police for several hours while forensic investigators worked on the scene.

News In Brief Wilton Park cop op nabs £150k Porsche

deadlines set. The issues were rehearsed as different officers seemed to take the lead.

“However with a proposal that broke the mould of other asset transfers as it offered a completely new use for the building, real action and support seemed to be lacking.

“During this period, the funding opportunities have substantially changed for buildings such as the mansion. This means that acquiring funds for the renovation and adaptation of the building is unlikely.

“Having received funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund to obtain resources to assess the viability of the project, we are drafting our report to them.

“Given the evidence we have, the project is not viable. And so the painful decision was reached at a meeting earlier this month.

“A frustrated group of volunteers can no

longer battle against the passive resistance and lack of actual help that would make our objectives real.”

Coun Graham Turner, cabinet member for corporate, said: “We are deeply disappointed that this transfer is no longer going ahead.

Officers and I have worked hard to try and deliver this project over the past three years.

“Due to its size, location and listed status, Dewsbury Park Mansion was the most ambitious and difficult transfer we have had to date. Local volunteers are crucial to our communities and since 2013 we have supported and successfully transferred 21 assets to community organisations across Kirklees.”

RVS events diary NORTH KIRKLEES: The Royal Voluntary Service has a number of events planned this week. On Monday (February 3) there is the weekly movement and games session at Batley Community Centre from 10.30am12pm. At the same time there’s a conversation, coffee and cake meeting at Batley Butterfly House in Bagshaw Museum.

Tuesday sees the return of pilates at the community centre (12pm-1pm), and on Wednesday there is ‘generations united’ from 12pm-1.30pm, bring a packed lunch.

On Thursday the lunch club is on from 11.30am-1pm, which must be pre-booked by Tuesday.

At 10.30am-11.30am is the groovy grannies class at St Andrew’s Community Hall in Purlwell. Then on Friday the movement and games class is at Birstall Community Centre from 10.30am-12pm.

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Friday January 31, 2020

News In Brief Victoria Court project nears completion CLECKHEATON: The town’s famous ‘Rubber Tunnel’ is set to reopen with work on a £2.5million revamp now complete.

Renovations on the newly-named Victoria Court, between Cheapside and Market Street, began in September and include stone fascias, new flooring, lighting, external seating and a new £150,000 roof. The shopping arcade will officially reopen with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid-February.

Police on the spot BIRKENSHAW: Police disturbed three teenagers attempting to break into a house on Mill Lane this week.

Officers spotted the youths at 2am on Monday and requested the help of further units and the force helicopter. A stolen vehicle was seized following the incident, which resulted in the arrests of three males aged 17, 14 and 19.

Police said enquiries remain ongoing.

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Drug-fix robber in shop terror

By Connor Teale A DRUG addict thug threatened a woman with a hammer before making off with cash from the till at a Dewsbury cafe.

The armed robbery took place at the Pie Shed, on Green Lane, Westborough at around 4.45pm on Sunday.

The masked man was reported as saying he needed the money for a drugs ‘fix’ and smashed a window in an attempt to gain entry.

It’s the second time in two years that the popular spot has been targeted, but the owner has maintained that “no-one will hold us down.”

Emma Conyers, 36, who opened the Pie Shed in 2014 using her own fridge and microwave from home, described the terrifying ordeal suffered by one of her employees.

“The shop itself was closed and we’d just finished hosting a baby shower upstairs,” she said. “One of my employees, Susan, was walking down the driveway when a male, dressed all in black and wearing a balaclava, caught her eye. She locked the door behind her which we wouldn’t normally do.”

The male then approached a side door and told the female employee that he wanted a drink. But when she told him the cafe was closed he produced a hammer.

“He started to kick the door and then smashed at the door handle with the weapon,” said Emma.

“Susan was shouting ‘please don’t hurt me’, to which he replied: ‘I won’t if you open the door, I just want a fix’.”

Once inside, the man marched Susan to the front entrance and made off with money from the till, as well as tips that had accumulated over several days.

It’s estimated that between £300 to £500 was taken during the robbery and Emma says she is now looking at installing new security measures, including panic alarms, with the help of Dewsbury and Mirfield MP Mark Eastwood.

Mr Eastwood said: “This is a terrible incident and my thoughts go out to the victim and her family. It’s my understanding that the police are dealing with this as an urgent priority and I hope they manage to track down the culprit so that they can face the full force of the law.

“I’ll be contacting the local inspector to ask for an urgent update on the investigation.

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Police at the scene of the robbery on Green Lane

This is a shocking crime and the police need to make sure there are adequate patrols in the area to reassure the people who live there.”

Police confirmed enquiries remain ongoing. Anyone with information should contact 101, quoting crime reference number 13200046693.

Dewsbury 10k is mum Michelle’s way of helping

A MOTHER-OF-TWO is running the Dewsbury 10k this weekend to raise funds for a charity close to her heart.

Michelle Townsley, who lives in Dewsbury, is running for Kidney Research Yorkshire due to her family’s history of kidney disease.

Her son Tom – with whom she’s pictured above – was diagnosed with Alport Syndrome when he was a baby and was told back in March 2017 that his kidneys had started to fail.

But thanks to his father Roger being a donor match, the 28year-old was able to have a kidney transplant the following year after a course of dialysis.

Tom has since learnt to walk again and his kidneys are now

functioning at around 75 per cent, while Roger was able to return to work as a fence erector shortly after the life-changing operation.

Michelle has raised over £1,000 and said: “I am a mum and to watch your child, however old, go through all he has is hard.

“Being able to raise awareness and also vital funds so that Kidney Research Yorkshire can fund more research to save and improve the lives of other patients living with kidney disease helps me to feel I can do something useful.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Michelle can visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/michelletownsley2.

Details of race road closures MOTORISTS face disruption when the Dewsbury 10k road race hot-foots into town this Sunday. A record 2,300 runners have entered this year’s event, which makes its way through Dewsbury, Batley and Birstall.

The race, organised by Dewsbury Road Runners, starts at 9am and passes from Dewsbury Ring Road, along Bradford Road to Birstall Smithies and back. The first runners will finish at about 9.30am and the last ones at approximately 10.30am.

Bradford Road will be closed to vehicles between Birstall Smithies and Dewsbury for the duration.

Drivers are advised to plan ahead to avoid routes which either cross or use the main road into Batley and Birstall.

Road closures also mean there’ll be a disruption to bus services and commuters are asked to double check before making their journey.

The following roads will be closed: Dewsbury Ring Road, both directions between Halifax Road and Leeds Road (7am12pm); Bradford Road, between Dewsbury Ring Road and the A62 (8.15am-10.30am); Cliffe Street slip road, from Dewsbury Ring Road to Crackenedge Lane (7am-12pm); Greaves Road, for its full length (7am-12pm); Wood Street, for its full length (7am-12pm).

Long delays are expected all along Bradford Road, particularly at the Town Street/Jack Lane junction, the Rouse Mill Lane junction, the Hick Lane junction, the Stocks Lane/Batley Field Hill junction and the Carlinghow Lane/Centenary Way junction.

The outward and inward streams of runners can cause delays for as long as 40 minutes.

ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

Play us a tune!

News In Brief North Kirklees CCG gets new chief

A MUSIC session at Batley Community Centre which introduced people to playing the ukulele was part of the First Time for Everything programme, designed to give local people an opportunity to try something new in their community.

Visitors Reuben and Jenny from Musica Kirklees taught attendees how to play different chords and strum the instrument in unison.

Helen Pollard, who attended the session, said: “It was great fun and very instructive, thanks to Reuben and Jenny. I never thought I’d be able to play a chord.”

Libraries ‘saved’ in budget

By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter KIRKLEES Council has reined back plans to find savings of £370,000 in its libraries service.

Instead it will plough the money into a revamp focusing on libraries as hubs for a range of services such as the voluntary and community sector, primary care and communities teams.

Chief librarian Carol Stump’s project focuses on the “wider community function” including more volunteer input.

Coun Graham Turner (Lab), is spearheading the library service shake-up. “It’s not a U-turn,” he said. “This is about investing. We have seen the value of libraries.

The streamlining of the service continues and we are not going back to the old-fashioned ways.

“However we are no longer

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making those savings, where we would have had to look at staff costs and running costs.”

He said no frontline staff would be cut and no trained librarians would be replaced by volunteers.

“We are in a position to put something back and to continue that innovative approach. That THE BUDGET INCLUDES: – £68m to regenerate Huddersfield and Dewsbury town centres – £10m for regeneration/greening of smaller towns and villages – £15m for unclassified roads – £500,000 to deal with ‘grot spots’, such as tidying streets. That will increase to £1m in 2021/22 and £1.5m by 2022/23 – £1m for voluntary organisations – £2m towards recycling and reducing waste – £2.4m on electric council vehicles and charging points

5

means we continue to develop and improve the library offer in Kirklees.” The libraries cash forms part of the council’s proposed budget for 2020/2021, which will be discussed next month.

In an address to Cabinet, which approved the proposals, Coun Turner described it as “a budget – £1.1m to review school transport – £600,000 to ensure town centre car parking meets demand – £2m for projects with ward councillors, schools and local communities – £750,000 towards planting more trees – £170,000 to develop foster carer support – £600,000 to help tackle antisocial behaviour, gang and knife crime – £400,000 a year on improving domestic abuse services – £8m for adult social care

full of ambition and investment”.

And he warned that austerity was “still alive and well as far as funding for local government is concerned”.

He added: “We made very difficult and unpopular decisions at times. However we can deliver a budget that is more ambitious than (in) previous years and starts to undo the damage done to Kirklees and its residents by austerity.”

Investment in Early Learning Support and Education Support to Vulnerable Children is also to be a priority. Previously planned savings of £250,000 in this area will be reversed. There is also a plan of £206,000 for virtual schools – a service for lookedafter children.

Council leader Shabir Pandor said Kirklees had lost 60 per cent of national funding since 2010.

NORTH KIRKLEES: A Batley GP has been appointed new head of the North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Dr Khalid Naeem, a GP in the town for over 15 years and a partner at Mount Pleasant Medical Centre, will take over from Dr David Kelly as the new clinical chairman.

He said: “I am delighted to be taking on the challenge of this role and look forward to working with local GPs, practice staff, patients and the CCG to ensure we continue to build on our vision for the population of North Kirklees.”

Town centre incident BATLEY: Emergency services rushed to reports of an alleged hit-and-run in the town on Monday.

A pedestrian was taken to hospital via ambulance after being hit by a black vehicle on Upper Commercial Street at around 6.15pm.

A police spokesperson said: “The driver initially left the scene but then returned. The pedestrian was treated for non-serious injury.”

Charity helps kids OSSETT: A charity is appealing for urgent donations of unwanted toys, toiletries, gifts, bric-a-brac, jewellery and empty bottles.

The Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust, which supports looked-after children in Kirklees and surrounding areas when they leave care, has a stall at Ossett Market selling various goods.

Donations can be dropped off at the stall on market days in Ossett Town Hall every Tuesday and Friday.

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Big Brother’s sister is listening DON’T trust Alexa, Google’s all-hearing domestic ‘assistant’ – and not just because her name has a slightly Russian twang to it.

I don’t trust Apple’s supposedly benign equivalent Siri, either, that eavesdropping Mata Hari lurking beneath my iPhone screen.

I don’t even use the darn thing – Siri – but I can be in the middle of a conversation with my darling wife (just in case she’s reading) and up Siri pipes: “Sorry, I didn’t quite get that…”

Get what? We were talking about whether I’d put too much chili in the con carne, not asking for directions to Santiago, the capital of Chile.

Also, I thought you were supposed to press a button to ask Siri a question – we were

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standing nowhere near my phone … hmmm.

You can’t even get in the car these days without having someone on your case.

Have you been in a new motor later? We were in one recently and I said something like “nice drive, this Mercedes...”

Off went the radio and up chirruped another dusky maiden’s voice, “Yes, what can I do for you?”

They get everywhere, don’t they? And why are they always women these electronic eavesdropping devices – are we to assume that the female of the species is the font of all knowedge? Bit sexist isn’t it? Shouldn’t at least one have a posh, Jeeves-like English butler’s voice?

As it is they all sound like M’s sidekick in James Bond

James Bond’s sultry ‘friend’ Pussy Galore. Ahem...

films, Miss Moneypenny, posh totty.

To digress briefly, I remember watching From Russia With Love with my grandad on the old telly box and he muttered: “By gum, I wouldn’t half mind being

casseroled by her…”

“Casseroled, grandad?” I asked. “Don’t you mean caressed?”

“No lad, casseroled. Go ask your grandma.” So I did.

“Casseroled?” she replied.

“That means ‘to be done slowly for four-and-a-halfhours’.”

Ah, the old ones are still the best!

Anyway, I went ahead and tried it out – I gave ‘Mercedes’ a postcode, asked her to do an ET and ‘phone home’, then change the radio station, and she was all over it. Impressive. But rather scary too.

UT if I’m slightly distrustful of Alexa and friends, them I’m positively worried by whoever’s sat on the other side of my t’interweb, deciding which spam emails to send me.

Now, I’m not completely naive. I know that if I click on Facebook ads for, say, lawn mowers, in the flicker of a sparrow’s fart, my spam emails are going to be inundating me with great offers on B&Q, Bosch and Flymo machines.

But believe me, I’ve just sat down at my office computer – and I promise, hand on heart, I never Google-search for anything that’s remotely dodgy.

To maintain the Bond theme, ‘Q’ himself could

B

beaver away at my internet history, and he’d declare me a veritable saint.

But here’s what the t’interweb assailed me with this morning, when I opened up my emails: First up, young and luscious Russian ladies are lurking nearby, mad keen for a secret, passionate tryst with a bald, middle-aged duffer like me.

(I’ve just run out into the middle of Batley, and all I can say is that they’re very well hidden. I’d rather feel poorly than feel any of the ladies I’ve just seen shuffling to Asda in their size 18 tracky tops and size eight leggings).

So, seemingly Russian ladies think I’m hot stuff this morning (and yesterday morning, and the morning before, and no doubt tomorrow too).

Well, I can kind of understand that, especially if they’ve been looking at 30year-old photos of me...

But next up is an email offering me an unbeatable deal on ‘blue pills’ (“you too can go all night”).

Has the missus been talking out of turn?

And my next offerings are to help with my Alzheimer’s (who are you again?) then for ‘Pure CBD Gummies (cannabis I think) – Advanced Natural Pain Relief to Reduce Chronic Pain, Anxiety and Stress, and Promote Better Sleep’.

In the unlikely event that I manage to survive my forthcoming encounter with sexy Svetlana, I doubt that I’ll

need help sleeping.

Mind you, judging by the next couple of missives, it might not be happening at all. Not only am I not ‘up’ to it, but I’m in dire need of Fungus Eliminator to do away with unsightly toenail fungus, once and for all!

Yeurrrghh.

My feet might be a bit battered from running and kicking rugby balls for 20 years, but there’s nothing wrong with my toenails, thank you very much.

And I can positively state that the next email is way out of line – apparently I’ve got a prostate ‘the size of a lemon!’

I think I’d know if someone had been had been broddling about where the sun doesn’t shine, thank you very much.

How very dare they?

All I can say is that those Moscow men must be very much on the ropey side if these hordes of Russian femme fatales want a wrinkly old bald bloke with manky toe nails who can’t remember where he left his Viagra I wouldn’t mind this quite so much, but every so often I have a mad hour of unsubscribing from all these unwanted emails – I never subscribed in the first place!

– but to no avail, they just keeping coming back.

Just a sec – hold on. Here’s one just dropped in from a bloke called Prince Ngagwe Yabbadabbadoo, who wants me to help him get 20 million quid out of Uganda, pronto.

Gotta go...

Make mine a fine champagne! ’M not a big champagne fan, I have to say. More a glass or three of red wine. I’ll drink French red if given it – it would be rude to refuse – but wouldn’t order it from a wine list, or buy a bottle in the supermarket.

Why? Just my thing. I have French – and a variety of European – acquaintances and friends, but I choose not to support French business where possible. On a political level they clearly don’t like we English so in that one respect at least, I’m choosy where I spend my money.

However there is a very nice bottle of Moet et Chandon in the fridge that I was given for a big birthday and this Friday night, at about five minutes to 11, I might just crack it open and pour as large a glass as I can find. And on the stroke of

I

11pm I’ll raise it in a toast faithful to the spirit of that great headline from The Sun of November 1990 – ‘Up Yours, Delors!’

It’s a tad petty, I know, but in guzzling their precious champagne I’d like to think I’m adding my little bit of personal V-sign to all the British doom-

mongers, snowflakes and the entire corrupt EU institution, while celebrating democracy.

Anyone noticed that the stock market hasn’t crashed, sterling imploded, unemployment soared or planes fallen out of the sky since we elected Boris to ‘Get Brexit Done’?

Did you see the original author of Project Fear, George Osborne, predicting that the UK economy was going to leave the EU trailing in its wake?

Indeed European businesses (and people) are investing in British property at a rate of knots, so what on earth was all the fuss about?

The big question I have isn’t whether Scotland will leave the UK – they won’t – but which country will be next to abandon the sinking EU ship. It would be hilarious if it was France.

ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

Rifle group on target for church

News In Brief Ball for Beverley

MEMBERS of the Mirfield Rifle Volunteers fundraising group have presented representatives of Christ the King Church with a cheque for £500 to aid their luncheon club.

Church officials Ian and Helen Grange accepted the donation at the Old Colonial pub in Mirfield. Twice a week Christ the King, on Stocks Bank Road in Battyeford, opens its doors to people over the age of 50 and provides them with a home-cooked meal.

Tim Wood (centre left) is seen with Ian and Helen Grange (to his true left) with members of MRV to his right.

NORTH KIRKLEES: Batley Bulldogs chairman Kevin Nicholas is hosting a ‘pink’ black tie event at The Village hotel in Tingley on Saturday February 15.

The Nicholas family raise money for Beverley’s Pink Weekend, in memory of Mrs Beverley Nicholas, who lost her battle with cancer last year.

The £50 tickets include 3-course meal, a band and much more. For tickets contact Alexandra on 07595 062669 or email kevin@nicholasandpartners.co.uk.

Full and part-time positions available

No Kirklees ‘Brexit party’

By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter BREXIT Day will not officially be marked in Kirklees.

Asked if bells will be rung today (Friday) at any of the borough’s town halls the Labour-run authority confirmed it has “no plans for any such activity”.

But Leavers are likely to celebrate privately, even if Remainers do not. Coun John Taylor, deputy leader of the Kirklees Council Tory group, said: “I think it is appropriate that the Brexit Day is marked nationally and I support the Government initiatives but feel that locally we should all be able to mark the day as individuals.

“I will be celebrating, alongside many of my colleagues. I recognise that this will not be universally welcomed across the political spectrum and would wish to avoid embroiling Kirklees in an unnecessary argument.”

Coun Andrew Cooper, leader of the Green group, had a markedly different response.

He said: “Boris Johnson may think it is appropriate to have a countdown clock and mint a special 50p piece but I don’t.

“He said he wanted to get Brexit done.

“It seems rather that he wants to rub the noses in it of the millions of us who didn’t support Brexit.”

Coun John Lawson (Lib Dem,

Cleckheaton), also gave a categoric “no”. He said: “Enough time and money has been wasted already on Brexit without wasting more officer time and money from the public purse.”

Coun Shabir Pandor (Lab), Leader of Kirklees Council, said: “There was talk nationally of making Big Ben chime on Friday.

That plan was dropped because it would have cost millions of pounds” (Editor’s note: It was estimated at £500,000).

“January 31 will be a historic moment. The great public are very sensible.

“They will pull together and make the best of Brexit. It’s been an exhausting three years and people want closure. Now we need to respect the democratic

decision and move forward.”

Batley & Spen MP Tracy Brabin (Lab) urged people to work towards a united future once the Union flag no longer flies in Brussels. Ms Brabin said: “I have my usual busy day in the constituency on Friday and, as always, encourage everyone to look positively to the future.”

Dewsbury’s newly-elected Tory MP Mark Eastwood, who was a member of the Leave campaign, said Brexit should be celebrated “after three-and-a-half years of frustration.”

He added: “From a personal point of view I’ll be celebrating with a beer or two with Conservative Party colleagues and councillors on Friday evening.”

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ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

Shameful ways our NHS wastes money Regardless of which political party one supports or whatever way one voted in the referendum, it would seem that everyone is in full agreement about the poor state of our health service.

We can complain about foreign visitors abusing the system by getting free treatment or that we don’t pay the doctors and nurses enough.

Some think throwing more cash at the problem is the answer. Well perhaps we should start at the bottom and eradicate the shameful ways that money is being wasted every day.

Last week my husband received his six-monthly letter reminding him to have his bloods checked at his

The dreaded ‘O’ word...

From: ‘Octogenarian’, name and address supplied Some unfortunate countries have problems with plagues of locusts. Here the problem isn’t locusts – it’s houses.

All across the green land, country-wide, the mighty housing juggernauts are on the move...

Some time ago I found myself in a London cafe watching the banners of extinction rebellion on their way to a rally in Trafalgar Square.

Letter of the Week: Linda Harrison, Birstall GP surgery. The letter was sent from a third party.

Three days later an identical letter arrived that was posted out locally from his GP surgery!

Now, apart from it being a waste of someone’s time and energy, what about the cost of sending duplicate letters out? How many others receive duplicate letters from their surgery?

I thought one or two must surely mention the fundamental, root cause of global warming.

I looked in vain. No mention of the ‘O’ word as far as I could tell.

What’s more disturbing is that that word doesn’t seem to be mentioned very often on TV. However, have you noticed there does seem to be a plethora of planned programmes promoting pregnancy and procreation?

I may be wrong, but I can’t help but wonder, are we being subtly programmed? (pun intended). Keep your eye on commercials! So many feature bouncing babies.

Please note: Correspondents must supply a name and postal address, even if you do not wish the information to be published.

The editor reserves the right to shorten or amend letters for legal or other reasons.

If each letter costs about £1 (postage and stationery) that is a lot of money being wasted and a total waste of a salary paid to the third party.

I was always told: “Look after the pennies and the pounds take care of themselves”. Perhaps the powersthat-be should put those wise words into practice!

The fundamental cause of global warming is overpopulation.

Unless the human race can somehow control the desperate urge to breed uncontrollably, civilisation as we know it is doomed.

All the conferences and measures now being taken will merely paper over the cracks and prove ineffective in the long term. Pollution is caused by people – more people, more pollution.

I’m now in my mid-80s and looking back I see just how fortunate I have been.

I believe that I have lived through the best years!

Best wishes to campaigners From: Harry Teale, Mirfield In February 1963, I was fortunate to marry Beryl (now passed away) who was the

daughter of a miner.

I feel I would be betraying Beryl’s memory and lineage if I failed to expose the hypocrisy of politicians abusing the memory of the victims of the Combs Colliery disaster in 1893.

How can a local politician suddenly announce that the memorial to those who lost their lives in the Thornhill disaster is to be erected in the centre of Dewsbury?

Adding insult to injury, the politician was appointed chairman of Dewsbury Forward and unbeknown to the Thornhill community, the project had been ongoing for 20 years!

My compliments to Councillor Masood Ahmed for supporting the Thornhill claim which I assume will be at conflict with his party’s policy!

As an afterthought, is there nothing from the disaster which could be used for

LATEST PLANNING APPLICATIONS S Patel, change of use of domestic accommodation to consulting rooms and erection of single storey extension to outbuilding, Woodleigh, Vicarage Road, Savile Town.

A Bisaggio, variation condition 2 (plans) on previous permission 2019/91422 for alterations and erection of rear dormer windows to convert existing building (A2) to 7 apartments (within a Conservation Area), 2 Nelson Street, Birstall.

N Sugden, single-storey extension to rear and external alterations, 36 Western Avenue, Birstall.

Z Celensu, detached dwelling (within a Conservation Area),

adjacent to 1 The Copse, Scholes, Cleckheaton.

B Brighton, single-storey side and rear extensions and external alterations, 8 Ghyllroyd Avenue, Birkenshaw.

J Thorn, demolish existing rooftop storage area and erect enclosed balcony to first floor and alterations, 2 Far Common Road, Mirfield.

Z Shafiq, single and twostorey rear extension, 34 Lees Holm, Thornhill Lees.

A Patel, extensions to front and rear dormers, 25 Manor Farm Drive, Soothill.

Hamid Khan, demolition of existing attached buildings and garage and erection of

single storey extension, 17 Leeds Road, Mirfield.

S and W Barraclough, refurbishment to re-instate church function, formation of one living unit and erection of storage shed (Listed Building), Hopton United Reformed Church, Calder Road, Lower Hopton.

Mr Noor, single and twostorey rear and single-storey front extensions, 32 Camroyd Street, Dewsbury.

Willow Properties (Yorkshire) Ltd, change of use from bank (A2) to hot food takeaway (A5) and coffee lounge (A3) with business (B1) to first floor, 15 Bradford Road, Cleckheaton.

A Hussain, detached building to create dwelling forming annex accommodation associated with 1 Stakes Fold, Heckmondwike.

Mr & Mrs Collins, singlestorey side and rear extension, 242 Hunsworth Lane, Cleckheaton.

Mr & Mrs Naylor, two-storey side extension with associated works and single-storey detached garage, 1 West Royd Grove, Mirfield.

M H Sabir, certificate of lawfulness for proposed dormer windows to rear and hip to gable enlargement, 25 Ravens Crescent, Scout Hill.

HSBC Corporate Real Estate, installation of 1 exter-

nal and 5 internal CCTV cameras, 14 Bradford Road, Cleckheaton.

Mrs Sonia, work to tree in CA, 110 Oaks Road, Soothill.

AY & Y Patel Ltd, construction of car parking area including electric charging bays and air/water bay, Three Nuns Service Station, Leeds Road, Mirfield.

I Aslam, discharge conditions 3-7 on previous permission 2018/91522 for erection of six dwellings, land at 6 Valley Road, Thornhill.

H Reed, prior notification for change of use from office to one flat (within a Conservation Area), 70 Daisy Hill, Dewsbury.

the memorial, rather than something from another area?

My best wishes for a successful outcome for the Thornhill community.

More funding is needed From: Len Gardner, Batley As a carer and husband I have listened to people dismissing dementia as ‘an old people’s illness’ and therefore inevitable.

I am not fully convinced this thinking is correct. I’ve recently heard of 22, 30, and 42-year-old people suffering from this terrible, souldestroying illness.

It affects family, friends and the carer. The carer can find themselves devoid of ordinary conversation and is told to go out and socialise as much as possible.

I believe this does help a little and one finds that so many other people know of a relative, friend or neighbour suffering from the illness.

Cancer patients can expect over a 50 per cent success rate. That’s brilliant, and a lot of that success is down to funding. I’m grateful for it as I’m in recovery of this dreadful illness.

But I do wish that more funding could be found for dementia to discover the root cause as I sincerely believe that there are other reasons for this illness.

Jive the night away ANYONE who’s keen on learning how to dance is invited to a rock & roll jive class,

Dementia should have more government funding, it’s fast becoming an epidemic. Perhaps our MP, Tracy Brabin, will take up the challenge and ask for more thought and finance from the government in regards to dementia.

Thanks for all your support From: Tim Wood, Mirfield The Mirfield Rifle Volunteers (MRV) group have enjoyed yet another hard-working and prosperous fundraising year.

Set up to raise funds for military charities as well as local good causes, the MRV has supported many, with thousands of pounds being raised and donated, all to grateful groups.

Last year, money raised helped to put on a Christmas dinner for persons who have been recently bereaved. A Christmas party with entertainment was paid for at the Radcliffe Care Home in Mirfield.

Gifts and parcels were also distributed in the community, and our work continues!

Last Saturday, further funds were raised at our annual Burns Night supper.

As a small fundraising group, we would like to thank all those who have supported our activities.

Without your help we couldn’t help so many others. held every Thursday at Heckmondwike’s Brighton Street WMC (8pm-9pm). It costs £5 and is ideal for those who want to keep fit and have fun.

The class is followed by a social dance (£3) from 9pm11pm.

ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

Interim headteacher promises to turn Batley school around

‘We will make the grade’

By Zoe Shackleton THE new man in charge of a primary school in Batley says he is determined to make it the best in town.

Andrew Midgley was brought in to Carlinghow Princess Royal Junior, Infant and Nursery School as interim headteacher just before Christmas to help turn its fortunes around after a damning Ofsted report.

After just two days in the role Mr Midgley was preparing for another Ofsted visit – the first special measures monitoring inspection since it was rated as inadequate the previous year.

The subsequent report said that, among other issues, leaders and managers weren’t taking effective action towards the removal of special measures and that pupils weren’t making enough progress.

Former head Andrew Wilcock has since left the school and the board of governors have stood

Interim head Andrew Midgley down. And Mr Midgley, who works for the Greetland Multi Academy Trust which Carlinghow will be joining in

March, is putting all his effort into helping the school get out of special measures.

He said: “The community need reassurance that this school is going to go from strength to strength.

“I had my first headship in 2007 and was in a school in Ovenden which was bottom of the league table.

“We turned that around and within four years of me being head we got a letter from the Secretary of State saying our school was in the top 50 in England for sustained improvement.

“My track record is working at schools in challenging areas, with challenging circumstances and moving them up.

“This is my fourth headship and when (Carlinghow) joins the trust in March it’s got free access to wonderful resources – there’s a lot of hope for this school.”

Mr Midgley arrives at school for 7am every day, working through break and lunch and not leaving until early evening – because he says “this school needs it right now”.

And although his job is only temporary, he won’t be leaving until a new headteacher is in place.

He said: “I’m very optimistic about the future here because I would hate for me to work my backside off to then see it go to waste. I want this school to be the best school in Batley.

“The bottom line is the school was rightfully judged to be in a bad place and the school has already significantly improved and has got the potential to be even better.

“We are determined that this school will be a success.”

9

News In Brief Hijab Day invitation NORTH KIRKLEES: The Spen Valley branch of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association is hosting a special event on World Hijab Day tomorrow (Saturday).

Women and girls from all religious and non-religious backgrounds are invited to 9A Old Hall Road, Batley, from 11am-12.30pm.

On the agenda will be a get-together to discuss people’s views on the hijab – a type of head covering worn in public by some Muslim women.

Refreshments will be served.

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WELL ESTABLISHED ‘Panic-alarm’ teen Car chase ends in three arrests DRIVING SCHOOL GOOD RATES pepper-sprayed

A 16-YEAR-OLD youth was arrested along with two other males following a police pursuit in the district on Monday.

Officers chased a silver Renault Clio after the driver failed to stop for them in Gomersal shortly after 10.45pm.

The car was eventually stopped by officers on Raikes Lane, Birstall, but the occupants fled the scene.

Three males, aged 35, 23, and 16, were arrested nearby on suspicion of failing to stop for police, dangerous driving, going equipped

A DRUNK teenager had to be pepper sprayed after throwing a can of beer at a police officer.

Kirklees magistrates heard that Ryan McFarland, of Queen Street, Mirfield, drew the attention of officers by repeatedly activating a panic alarm in his home.

The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to common assault of an emergency worker.

Vanessa Jones, prosecuting, said police attended the teenager’s home on 01924 December 27.

490118 “When they got MIRFIELD there they found him WF14 0DQ to be very intoxicatwww.facebook.com/haighsfarmshop ed,” she said. “He said he hadn’t activated the panic alarm and didn’t know where it was.”

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for theft and possession of an offensive weapon. The teenager was also charged with an outstanding shoplift offence and bailed to appear at court.

The 23-year-old man was charged with an outstanding burglary and theft from a motor vehicle charge. He was due to appear in court on Tuesday.

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ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

Schools in deficit

By Tony Earnshaw and Claire Miller ONE in nine Kirklees schools are spending more than they have coming in.

A total of 15 local authority-maintained schools (10.9 per cent) reported a revenue deficit in 2018/19, down from 16 in 2017/18.

The figures include primary and secondary schools, as well as special schools, nurseries and pupil referral units. Overall 15 schools in Kirklees reported a total deficit of £2.7million in

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2018/19. The total was down from £2.8m in 2017/18, but up from £0.4m in 2012/13, according to figures from the Department for Education.

The average deficit per school in 2018/19 was £177,000. But the differential was vast: from £1.4m to just £24.

In North Kirklees, Fairfield School in Batley recorded a deficit of £443,815 and Shaw Cross Infant and Nursery School was down £8,370 in 2018/19.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “This government has announced the biggest funding boost for schools in a decade, giving every school more money for every child.

“This means that every school in the country can see per pupil funding rise in line with inflation next year, with all secondary schools receiving a minimum of £5,000 per pupil.”

Across England, the planned spend per pupil in 2019/20 is £4,556, nominally up from £4,521 in 2018/19. However, if the 2018/19 figure was adjusted for inflation, it would be £4,602 per pupil, meaning schools are £46 per pupil worse off.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Schools have suffered several years of realterms cuts to the funding they receive from the government, which has plunged many into deficit.

“They will be implementing costreduction plans to balance their

books but this is not a quick fix because it entails reducing staffing costs while trying to minimise the impact on the provision for children.

“Schools which have seen their deficit position worsen are likely to be those which face the greatest financial pressures.

“The government has allocated increased funding to schools over the next three years.

“However, we do not think this funding will be sufficient to reverse all the cuts that have taken place to school budgets and the likelihood is the financial position will continue to be challenging.”

A spokesperson for Kirklees Council said: “Schools are responsible for their own financial management.

“However as a local authority we work closely with individual schools and also with the Kirklees Schools Forum, which represents schools in relation to financial matters.

“Most of the maintained schools in Kirklees which showed as being in deficit at March 31 2019 have already dealt with their deficit through budget planning for 2019/20.

“Both locally and nationally, many schools are facing difficult decisions with their budgets due to very challenging financial circumstances.

“We have excellent relationships with the Kirklees family of schools and we support them strongly in helping children and young people to enjoy the best start in life.”

The Weeping Sisters outside Dewsbury Town Hall

Photo: Malcolm Johnson

Holocaust memorial event in town centre HUNDREDS of people turned out in Dewsbury for a Holocaust memorial event on Tuesday.

Organised by Kirkees Council and Creative Scene alongside Holocaust education charity 6 Million+ and the Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre in Huddersfield, the event started with six ‘Weeping Sisters’ paraded in front of Dewsbury Town Hall.

The huge figures were made by refugees and local residents to represent women who lost their lives in the Holocaust and other

genocides.

The commemoration evening then took place inside the town hall, featuring moving contributions from Holocaust survivor Leisel Carter – who was interviewed on stage by students of Flockton School – and the Makaton Choir of Ravenshall School.

The event ended with representatives of faith and community groups in Kirklees lighting candles in commemoration, whilst Rudi Leavor sang the Jewish Song of Mourning.

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David has regular meetings with clients,

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David Hall and they can call him whenever they need or pop into the office where he has recently relocated in central Gomersal.

Married with five children, in his spare time he likes to watch local rugby league and relax on the east coast of Yorkshire.

Despite 30 years of service, he has no plans to retire and said simply: “I love what I do.

I’ve worked with some of my clients for 30 years, and many have become good friends.”

For details visit www.westfieldfs.co.uk.

Friday January 31, 2020

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GP surgeries are likely to merge

By David Spereall Local Democracy Reporter PLANS have been revealed to merge two GP surgeries following problems recruiting doctors at one practice.

Prospect Surgery, in Ossett, has asked for permission to tie its operations in with Church Street Surgery.

Both practices are run separately at the same site in Ossett’s Health Village, so should the merger go ahead it would not result in longer journeys for any patients.

The proposal was put forward after Prospect’s senior partner, Dr Adrian North, announced he was leaving the practice at the end of March.

In 2017 the surgery had five practising GPs, but Dr North’s departure will leave it with just one.

Health chiefs at Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which runs local surgeries, will now start an engagement process to gauge public opinion.

Speaking at the CCG’s probity committee meeting on Tuesday, Dr Hilary Craig said: “The practice has struggled to recruit new GP partners, and the resignation of Dr North has been the catalyst for this application to merge. It doesn’t have sustainable capacity to meet the needs of patients.”

Asked if there were any “downsides” to the proposed move for patients, Dr Craig replied: “From Prospect’s point of view, it’s a positive thing because they’ll have more access to a wider range of clinical staff.

“When Dr North leaves, some patients may lose that access. From a Church Street perspective they’ve been quite positive about it.

“It’s early stages in terms of the community engagement.”

Both surgeries will now lead the consultation process with their own patients.

Speaking after the meeting, Mel Brown, the CCG’s director of commissioning, said: “It’s important that there is now an engagement process that captures the views of as many patients as possible from both Prospect and Church Street, including those who may have not attended the practices recently.”

If approved, the merger is likely to go ahead in October.

THE GREATEST CHANCE

By Zoe Shackleton A PERFORMER from Roberttown has made it through to the live finals of hit BBC show ‘The Greatest Dancer’.

Talented dancer Bradley Walmsley is part of the Brothers of Dance troupe which impressed the audience and all four judges during their audition which aired two weeks ago.

Now the 21-year-old will dance in front of millions of viewers tomorrow (Saturday) as the group bids to go all the way to the final – and be in with a chance of winning £50,000.

Mum Rachel, who founded Timestep Community Dance in Heckmondwike, said: “I am absolutely bursting with pride because this is years and years of hard work that’s coming together now.

“He’s so passionate about it and he was just born to do it and everybody is getting to see him now, it’s an absolutely amazing feeling.”

Bradley grew up in Roberttown and went to Norristhorpe Junior and Infant School and later Heckmondwike Grammar before pursuing his career as a dancer.

At the age of just eight he took part in the Royal Ballet School’s junior associates programme and then at 16 attended the Central School of Ballet in London.

He helps mum Rachel teach classes at Timestep as well as teaching in London, where he

was scouted to be part of the dance troupe by renowned choreographer Dane Bates.

The nine-strong group was put together early last year in preparation for the auditions in Birmingham in August.

Now they are part of the final 12 acts chosen from hundreds who were seen.

And Rachel says it’s been difficult to keep the result a secret.

She said: “Obviously we’ve had to keep it quiet because we know what had happened.

“We weren’t allowed to say anything at all, it was difficult!

BROTHERS GO LIVE: Bradley Walmsley (far right) with members of the Brothers of Dance group and mentor Cheryl

“Since the episode aired it has been an absolute whirlwind …

I’m going down to London this weekend to watch the live show, I

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Friday January 31, 2020

So much to celebrate at Batley Girls’ High School We had a superb Autumn Term to start the 2019-20 academic year, with so much to celebrate.

opportunity to reward the significant achievements of our young women as they begin their next phase in life.

We returned after the summer break to fantastic exam results and culminated the term with a series of key events in the school calendar.

We also held our annual East Meets West celebration, which is now in its 14th year.

The theme this year was ‘Humility and Resolve’, these are two core values, which are central to our ethos. Students and external guests celebrated our deep respect for the values we all share of peace, love, hope and charity. We also shared the pride we feel in the communities of Batley, Dewsbury and Spen and their united resolve to champion ‘we have more in common than that which divides us’.

Our Celebration Evening took place in December, where A Level and GCSE students were presented with their certificates and prizes for Faculty Awards. Our guests presented our prestigious Special Awards which recognise the inspirational work of our students. We highly value this

All proceeds for the event, including donations on the night, went to our nominated Parents’ Forum charity, the Batley Food Bank.

David Cooper and Julie Haigh, Co-Heads affirm “Both our celebration events are testaments to the strong and productive partnership that exists between our schools, communities and families. We are incredibly proud of all our students and their remarkable achievements, both in their academic work and with their commitment to humanitarian values. ”

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Bulldogs get behind Diskin Former Batley coach ‘traumatised’ by prospect of returning to hotel where Archie Bruce died MATT DISKIN played 264 games for Leeds Rhinos before moving to the Bradford Bulls in a celebrated career that included winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy for man of the match in the Grand Final. The Dewsbury-born hooker also represented Great Britain.

Current coach of Oldham RLFC, he was coaching Batley Bulldogs last August, during their fateful trip to Toulouse, when debut hooker Archie Bruce died in the club hotel. Here he tells the story of that fateful trip, of his own battles before and since with depression – and how he feels the Rugby Football League has deliberately abandoned him.

LAYING Rugby League Football, it’s the greatest game of all’ – those are lyrics penned by Australian Danny McMaster (and repeatedly renditioned by an old coach of mine when he partakes in a few ales).

The sentiments won’t be disputed by anyone involved in our beautiful game.

Unfortunately rugby league in the UK has missed numerous opportunities over the last 30 years to capitalise on the heroes it catapulted into the national limelight in the 90s.

More specifically I believe the governing body, the RFL, are guilty of mismanaging ‘our’ game for their own interests, rather than serving the people that make the sport the ‘greatest game of all’ – the players, coaches and most of all the fans.

The governing body has inflicted damage at various levels over the years, for which they are never held accountable. For our game to progress I feel the institution itself needs entirely dismantling; only then can it move forward.

Please don’t interpret my view as being that of someone ‘biting the hand that feeds you’. I love our sport. It has taken me from a council estate in Dewsbury and allowed me to travel the world, opening doors I could never have knocked on, without rugby league. I will always be indebted to many people I’ve met through this great sport.

But it has also given me first-hand experience of the RFL’s lack of accountability. When you experience two administrations with the Bradford Bulls you soon learn who and what people really care about – and it’s not the future of rugby league.

My move to the Bulls led to a very tough time with regard to my mental health and since 2010 we (my family and I) have suffered with my continuing battles with depression. It came once again to the fore over the last six months, following the tragic death of Archie Bruce.

I must give credit to the RFL for their support of charities like State of Mind, the RL Benevolent Fund and Sporting Chance. The latter and its chairman Colin Bland brought me back from the brink when I was at my lowest and I will always be indebted.

But behind the funding and all the noise about how seriously the RFL takes mental health, my recent experience suggests otherwise.

When we knocked on the door for help, they kicked us off the doorstep without hesitation or sympathy. At that point I felt I had to speak out.

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NOT LOOKING FOR SYMPATHY: Matt Diskin claims the RFL refused to help him ahead of his first return to Toulouse following the death of Batley player Archie Bruce (above right) last year HE visit to Toulouse in August last year was the most traumatic thing I’ve ever experienced and the rawness is still overwhelming.

On the morning of August 18 the Batley Bulldogs group gathered in the reception area of our hotel ready to depart for home. Five minutes passed and we had a couple of no-shows.

I sent my assistant Lee St Hilaire to round them up, but the situation swiftly turned to panic. Lee returned clearly shocked and asked me and our physio Alison Briggs to go with him.

We found Archie fully clothed and still firmly grasping his wallet.

Before Ally could confirm he had no pulse I knew he wasn’t coming home.

Ally began CPR, while I sprinted to reception to get their defibrillator and then their receptionist to help interpret the French instructions.

Archie’s teammate Michael Ward took over when Ally started to tire, until the paramedics arrived and asked us to leave the room, at which point reality hit. Ally broke down in tears whilst I held her. She will always be a hero to me.

Thirty minutes later the French medics ended the longest hour of our lives, confirming Archie’s death. You can imagine the emotions involved, but I needed to somehow compose myself to inform his teammates. Their faces, and that of Archie’s that morning, will always haunt me.

I also needed to try and speak with Archie’s family before they heard the news second-hand. I must have called his dad Steve a dozen times but to no avail. I eventually rang my uncle and asked him to

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drive to their house.

When he rang me back from the front door of the Bruce’s home he passed his phone to Steve. To this day I’m not sure how I actually told him or what I said other than that I felt I’d let him down. His son was my responsibility and I wasn’t bringing him home.

I returned to the room where Michael Ward was sat with Archie.

We didn’t want him to be on his own. After a while Michael left and I was alone with him. I spoke to him as a proud friend who was sorry he’d let him down.

Later, we had to find a way to get people home. Bulldogs chairman Kevin Nicholas was great in keeping everyone calm and speaking with the RFL and the Benevolent Fund.

Flights were rearranged and following the police investigators’ approval everyone went home except those in charge and the people who saw Archie last.

You can imagine how we all needed to leave that hotel. Cedric Garcia from the Toulouse club had us moved and Cedric was invaluable to us and the Bruce family over the coming days.

Everyone went home the next day except me. I stayed to be there for Archie’s mum and dad, Steve and Beverley Bruce, but I was lost, both physically and emotionally. How do you deal with something like this?

I decided to edit the previous evening’s game, highlighting Archie’s contribution; very positive for a young kid making his debut.

But watching the game just made the whole situation even more unreal.

Waiting for Steve and Beverley at the airport led to my first-ever

anxiety attack. Nothing I could say or do could relate to their pain and trauma. They were clearly drained, but other than a hug, there was nothing else I could say or do that would help that.

Cedric was driving for us and I answered the Bruces’ questions as honestly as I could. I hope that in some way that helped. Later we tried to eat but instead shared a couple of beers. I opened the laptop to view the match highlights before it became too much for Beverley who returned to her room with Archie’s playing shirt. Me and Steve shared stories, memories and took pride in the progress his son had made in nine months with our development programme.

I’m not sure much if any comfort can be taken in such circumstances, but having just made his professional debut and with things going so well in his personal life, I’m sure Archie was on top of the world when he fell asleep for the last time.

The process of writing this has been cathartic in a sense, as it is the first time I have spoken in depth about the events to anyone.

I’m not looking for sympathy. These are my issues and emotions that I personally need to deal with and for six months I’ve bottled them up, whilst trying to support everyone involved. This all changed when the 2020 Championship fixtures were released.

SAW my new club Oldham would be visiting Toulouse in Round Two, less than six months from the day we lost Archie. It sparked a domino effect of emotions that led to me isolating myself from the people I love, looking to alcohol to solve my problems and generally pushing away anyone that cares for me.

But all of that was compounded when the itinerary for the Toulouse trip was published – we would be staying in the same hotel where

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Archie died. That took me lower than ever, and I relayed my concerns to my chairman Chris Hamilton who in turn asked the RFL to put us in a different hotel.

Cedric and Toulouse were in a tough position in regards to the cost so we asked the RFL for help. After weeks of back and forth, the same RFL that is so public on mental health issues, said no.

Ralph Rimmer personally said they have numerous such requests and they couldn’t be seen to differentiate my request from those.

In other words, what we went through wasn’t unique and therefore didn’t deserve their support. They would put me in another hotel, but not the team. And a coach simply can’t do that.

After Ralph made that refusal I broke down, because the fear of returning to that hotel was overwhelming. There is no way I could visit that place and I thought I would have to quit my coaching role as a result.

I think the RFL and Ralph Rimmer would have helped if they thought they could reap positive PR headlines from the situation, but as this was a private request they simply declined.

I believe they intentionally put a coach in such a traumatic situation as to cause emotional and mental damage.

Despite the RFL’s governance, there is a reason to still say we’re ‘the greatest game of all’ – the amazing people within it. You only have to look at the support Rob Burrow and Mose Masoe have received following recent events to realise how wonderful, how generous and how close our sport can be.

The friendships it creates between players, coaches and fans are what makes it special.

It’s one of these friendships I want to close with.

Kevin Nicholas, the chairman of Batley Bulldogs, my old boss but more importantly my friend, has humbled me with his support.

Having talked through the RFL’s refusal to help, Kevin took it upon himself to fight my corner but the RFL were steadfast in their decision.

What Kevin Nicholas did next, I will always be indebted for.

With the RFL uninterested, the Batley Bulldogs have funded the extra cost for Oldham to be moved to a different hotel.

I won’t have to relive the horrors of that morning.

When I have doubts about our beautiful game, the friendships it creates reaffirms those Aussie lyrics: ‘Playing Rugby League Football, it’s the greatest game of all’.”

A spokesman for the RFL said: “Clubs liaise with Toulouse to directly arrange travel and accommodation.

“Following dialogue, we ensured that there was alternative accommodation offered for the whole Oldham squad.

“We appreciate it is a sensitive situation for all involved with Batley last season.

“The need for confidentiality means that much of the work we do relating to mental health, working alongside RL Cares, the RL Benevolent Fund, and Sporting Chance, must remain private.”

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Friday January 31, 2020

Over the next 12 months we will be following on from our series on life between the wars to take a look at wartime and post-war life in both the Heavy Woollen District and Britain at large, writes MIKE POPPLEWELL. We are entering an era that I can personally recall and, as always, comments and memories from readers are welcomed.

This year’s theme is ‘2020 vision’, where we will look at historical events from today’s viewpoint and, as ‘the person with hindsight has 20-20 vision’, we will be taking an ‘if only we had known’ look at events...

All families, mine included, played their part in wartime HERE are two online 1944 extracts from Kathleen Hey’s diaries of life in wartime Dewsbury, as seen from her corner shop on Heckmondwike Road, Dewsbury Moor, but neither touched on two crucial events that year that were deeply significant in respect of World War Two.

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On June 14 Kathleen visited Bradford’s ‘Salute the Soldier’ week and talked of her visit to the Prince’s Theatre on Manningham Lane, and also of her witnessing a visit from the Princess Royal – the King’s sister Princess Mary – at Harewood House.

Unfortunately for us there is no mention of the effect on Dewsbury and district of what was the biggest invasion the world had ever seen that took place the previous week.

I have no personal memory of D-Day, I was only about 10 weeks old, but over the years the events of that time have slowly been pieced together, like doing a jigsaw without a picture, to reveal some real surprises in my family story.

My dad was working as a shipwright (a jobbing carpenter) in the Royal Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth during the war and, apart

from the time he threw his brand-new coat over a misdirected German incendiary device that was burning harmlessly in a field, little is known of his wartime contribution to the fight to save our shores.

However, the reason for his silence on this matter is perhaps explained by the need for secrecy that he signed up to at that time.

As a shipwright he had an important part to play in the D-Day invasion, for he and his colleagues would have had some responsibility to ensure the invasion craft were properly prepared for the monumental task before them.

That secrecy was clearly to extend beyond the build-up to the event, on June 6, 1944 for neither dad nor mum ever once spoke of this period of their lives.

The D-Day landings would have had an impact on this district as much as any other in the country as there could not have been any community which did not have ‘one of their own’ involved in the Allied forces.

But soon after Germany responded with a massive aerial bombardment largely confined to London and the Home Counties.

Although my Popplewell and Firth relatives in the Spen Valley were not affected by

Parts of the capital were severely damaged in the 1944-45 rocket blitz

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the deadly V2 rocket raids, the branch that moved to London 135 years earlier most certainly were.

It was a last throw of the dice for Hitler when he launched his V2 rocket assault on southern England in the first weeks of November 1944, and though it was to no avail militarily in the long run, there were thousands of civilians killed and injured with family lives turned upside down – not least my own.

When Robert Popplewell married Mary Firth in Birstall in 1918, and subsequently moved to London, he could never have foreseen the disaster that would befall his great grandson William in 1944.

William, a retired carpenter, was at home in Ilford waiting for his wife Gertrude to return home and prepare tea after visiting their sick grandaughter a few streets away – but she never arrived.

At around 3pm that day there was a tremendous bang and blast that shook every window in the house.

The clock tower at the local park entrance had been hit by a V2 just as grandma was walking past. She was said to have not had a mark on her but the blast waves had done their damage and she lay dead in the street along with several others.

The cast-iron post box still stands on the corner of the street opposite the park and the holes in its base, made by flying shrapnel, bear an irrefutable witness to that tragic day.

It was a scene played out all over the south, but in the north the relative safety from those attacks was arguably one of the reasons for Dewsbury people accepting evacuees like the Cooper family into their houses.

The story of Irene Cooper and her sons

The feared V2 missile, which caused so much destruction in southern England

being evacuated to Dewsbury is told in the BBC’s WW2 People’s War website.

But, in any event, Christmas 1944 was to prove the last wartime Christmas.

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Dine with us for...

Valentines Day

Plan now for Valentine’s OMANTICS will have February 14 already circled in their diaries but for those of us who sometimes need a nudge in the right direction, Valentine’s Day is only two weeks away.

For most people, this may seem like more than enough time to put some thought into how best to show that special someone how much they care, be it with flowers, chocolates, a cosy meal or whatever takes their fancy.

Perhaps you’ve got it all figured out already. Maybe you’ve planned a wonderful evening where your partner will be wined and dined and at the end of the evening ... well that’s up to you!

But to help the more forgetful among us avoid the cold shoulder from our loved ones, here at The Press we are trying to inspire our readers (and ourselves!) with ideas to make the

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ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

day extra special.

As already mentioned, wining and dining is one of the best, and more popular, ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day together, as a candle-lit dinner at either a restaurant or at home goes a long way to showing how much you care.

An intimate meal at home tends to work even more, if you’re willing to pull out all the stops by cooking their favourite dish and setting a candle-lit table with soft lights and music.

However, if your Casanova culinary skills are more of a turn-off than an aphrodisiac, your best bet may be to take them to a restaurant.

There are plenty of restaurants across the district which cater for all tastes, so you’re bound to find the perfect place.

Even so, restaurants will be at their busiest for the night in question so you are urged to

book early, unless fish and chips are more your thing.

Perhaps you want to give your partner a more lasting token of your love, in which case jewellery may be the answer.

A bracelet, necklace or earrings will provoke thoughts and feelings about you every time they are worn by a loved one.

A ring would also make a great symbol of your affection but for those of us in the early stages of a relationship these might best be avoided to prevent a few wires getting crossed!

Flowers and chocolates are always the quick-fix answer but are never unappreciated. This doesn’t mean thought shouldn’t go into it a bag of jelly babies and a bunch of daffodils doesn’t usually do the trick.

Perhaps your chosen one

has a favourite sweet or favourite flowers? Ten minutes hunting in the High Street could make all the difference.

For that special touch you may want the flowers delivered so they will need to be ordered early.

And for those of you who really want to splash out perhaps spending a weekend together at a hotel or a health spa could help you to relax together and grow to appreciate each other more All of these gestures are sure to be appreciated and make your loved one feel exactly that.

But don’t forget the simple things. A card telling them just how much you love them can work as many wonders as a meal, flowers or chocolates.

Whatever you plan, plan it now. And have fun!

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Friday January 31, 2020

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Friday January 31, 2020

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into cash £££s 1) Ring Angela on 01924 470296 (9.30am-4.30pm). Have your advert ready and you can pay by debit card (30p surcharge).

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3) Post your advert and include your name and a contact number, along with cheque for payment.

ADVERTS must be no longer than 50 words. (We cannot accept the following items: Motor vehicles, caravans, livestock. All listings will stay in Marketplace for a maximum of two months. If you wish to amend your listing, or cancel when sold, contact or call 01924 470296.

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Tel 01924 469537. (2542) Two mirror-backed dis-

play cabinets in silver.

One corner, one straight unit. As in current Argos catalogue, £60 each or £100 for both. Buyer to collect Tel 07746 245435.

(2544) Two seater sofa, scroll arms style with chocolate and beige chenille fabric cushions. Eight months old (size 58 L x 35 D). Very good condition. £100 ono, buyer to collect. Tel 07508 580211. (2546) Two-seater sofa, a little dated but very seldom sat on. Very good condition. Colour light brown, £200 ono. Tel 07563 968522. (2549) Phoenix 3ft single adjustable electric bed base (no mattress).

Good condition. Buyer to collect, £100. Tel 07740 717701. (2541) Three-seater leather settee. Good condition, £45.

Tel 07533 2090. (2539) Two x three-seater settees with beige dralon velvet seat cushions.

One sofa has 5 large orange/ gold scatter cushions. The other sofa has two beige back cushions plus four orange/gold scatter cushions. Plus brown leather-effect foot stool. £200 ono, buyer to collect. Tel 01924 430088.

(2536) Attractive Italian leather 4-piece suite comprising of 3-seater, 2-seater, chair and storage pouffe.

Black with red trim (bought from DFS), £550.

Buyer to collect. Tel 07876 411694. (2535) Dropleaf oval dining table with four chairs.

Medium wood colour.

Buyer to collect. £100 ono. Tel 01924 401280 (Heckmondwike). (2533) Black glass TV stand with two shelves.

Suitable for 43 TV. Good condition £20 Tel 07876 536335. (2529) 6 x French hardwood dining chairs with white legs and ladder backs.

Complete with seat cushions. £25 each or will sell in pairs. Tel 01924 408171. (2522) GARDEN Electric garden shredder, £20. Tel 01924 524232.

(2547)

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? ITEM bands

Cost per item

Up to £7: £8 - £25: £26 - £50 £51- £100 £101-£200 £201-£500 £501-£1450 £1,451 plus HOBBIES Small collection of unworked tapestries with wools plus other embroidery articles, from £5 each. Tel 0113 253 4632.

(2532) HOUSEHOLD 3 x winter warm oil filled radiators 1600 watt £25 each. Tel 01924 469537.

(2542) Ikea pendant light, 35cm, white and copper, £25. Tel 07746 245435.

(2544) Copper and white light shade, £10. Tel 07746 245435. (2544) Focus HE slimline gas fire. Good condition.

Serviced £100 Tel 01924 474062. (2528) Central heating control, Salus RT510TX with instructions. Only 12 months old, £25. Tel 07939 599381. (2527) Adey Magnaclean filter (for central heating), £35.

Tel 07939 599381. (2527) 12 ltr expansion vessel (for central heating), £20.

Tel 07939 599381. (2527) Green/pink/peach lined full length curtains (fits floor to ceiling). Each curtain measures 10ft 6ins W x 7ft D. Includes matching pelmets, tracks, fixtures & fittings plus brass holdbacks.

Very good clean condition, £75 ono. Tel 07475 109308. (2525) Love heart mirror 650mm W (25.5 ) x 720mm H (28.5 ) £45. Tel 01924 408171. (2522) KITCHEN/DINING Electric cooker. Good condition, £45. Tel 07533 209056. (2539)

£1 £2 £3 £4 £5 £7 £9 £11

Kenwood Chef Gourmet shredder FP596. Never been used, £60. Tel 01924 490266. (2538) MISCELLANEOUS Gaming equipment.

Black Jack shoe, 400 casino chips, gaming board etc. £20 ono. Tel 01274 876814. (2523) MOTORING Hood motorcycle jeans, unworn, waist 36 L29 .

Complete with knee and hip armour. Navy blue.

Retail £160, will accept £100. Tel 07563 968522.

(2548) New Ultimate Speed bottle jack. Lifts 3.000kg £12 Tel 01274 876814.

(2523) MUSICAL Goldring Lenco GL72 record player turntable.

Amplifier, 2 speakers + microphone. Excellent working order, £225. Tel 07720 958377. (2549) Very nice Reynolds Bb tenor trombone In its original hard case showing Reynolds USA logo.

The gold lacquer is about 90% full & nice inner legs of the slide.

Ideal for a beginner to professional player, £145 ono.

Tel 01924 477016 (cash only). (2531) OUTDOORS Harris Dry walking boots, size 8, colour brown. Guaranteed waterproof & washable.

Hardly worn. Retail £70, will accept £35. Tel 07563 968522. (2548) SPORTING GOODS Cannon 57 two-piece snooker cue. Complete with original case. Hardly used, £40. Tel 07508 162369. (2540)

ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

MONDAY

WEDNESDAY

Scholes Cricket & Athletic Club 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Lily 07507 204210

Dewsbury Town Hall 9.30am, 11.30am Tel Amber 07471 826774

Cleckheaton St Pauls Church Cleckheaton 9.00am & 11.00am Tel Tracey 07970 722726

Thornhill Social Club Edge Top Road 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Sarah 07539 452622

The Trinity Centre Batley Carr 9.00am Tel Hameedah 07983 445501

Hunsworth Scout Headquarters Cleckheaton 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Paul 07848 958798

Earlsheaton, Dewsbury District Sea Cadets (behind Earlsheaton WMC) 9.00am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Amber 07471 826774 Staincliffe Cricket Club Halifax Road 5.30pm Tel Diane 07961 631257 Tingley Methodist Church Westerton Road 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Lyn 07792 032170 Mirfield Zion Baptist Church Mirfield 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Claire 07768 311351

TUESDAY Heckmondwike Comrades Club 9.00am, 11.00am, 5.00pm & 7.00pm Tel Sue 07790 590763

Roberttown Community Centre 5.30pm 7.30pm Tel Kathryn 07906 118636 Mirfield Trinity Methodist Church Hall 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Claire 07768 311351

THURSDAY Batley Town Hall 9.00am & 11.00am Tel Lynne 07988 662052 Batley Town Hall 5.00pm & 7.00pm Tel Lynne 07988 662052

Gomersal Public Hall Gomersal 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Sharon 07904 650476

Westborough Ratepayers Club Dewsbury Moor 5.00pm & 7.00pm Tel Lucy 07730 264938

Shaw Cross Boys Club Leeds Road 3.30pm, 5.30pm, 7.30pm Tel Lynne 07988 662052

Millbridge Sports Bar Liversedge 5.00pm & 7.00pm Tel Kathryn 07906 118636

23

Battyeford Christ The King Church 5.00pm & 7.00pm Tel Mandy 07793 732268

FRIDAY Thornhill Social Club Edge Top Road Friday 9.30am Tel Sarah 07539 452622 Battyeford Christ The King Church 9.00am Tel Mandy 07793 732268

SATURDAY Liversedge St Andrews Methodist Church 7.30am & 9.30am Tel Emma 07786 513072 St. Pauls Church Hall Hanging Heaton 8.30am & 10.30am Tel Lyn 07792 032170 Heckmondwike Comrades Club 9.00am Tel Sue 07790 590763 Cleckheaton Howard Park Community School 8.00am, 10.00am & 12noon Tel Paul 07848 958798 Mirfield Trinity Methodist Church Hall 8.30am & 10.30am Tel Angela 07745 894238

24

ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

THIS WEEK ONLY...

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E !

FR

When you spend £399 or more on any bed set from our Highgrove, Shire or Sealy ranges FREE DELIVERY ON ALL BEDS & MATRESSES

, S E L G N I S DOUBLEES& KINGSIZKING SUPER

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REMOVAL & DISPOSAL OF OLD BEDS AVAILABLE BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

3 FLOORS OF FLOORING, BEDS & FURNITURE

SUPERB QUALITY BEDS

VISIT US THIS WEEKEND FOR THIS FANTASTIC Approx 2 weeks delivery time DEAL Free parking outside door

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FREE PARKING OUTSIDE STORE AND WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

*FREE CARPET DOES NOT INCLUDE FITTING MAXIMUM 12 SQ METRES

w w w. b i r s t a l l m i l l c a r p e t s . c o . u k OPENING HOURS: Monday to Friday 9am-5pm • Saturday 9.30am-4pm • Sunday 11am-4pm

In front of Fuzzy Lemon Self Storage

25

ThePress

26

Friday January 31, 2019

Ramblers’ corner FORTHCOMING walks with the North Kirklees Group of the Ramblers – non-members are always welcome. Please call the walk leader for more details.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 3 OAKWELL COUNTRY PARK Starts at 1pm at Oakwell Hall car park (WF17 9LG, SE217271) 4 miles – moderate No dogs please Contact: Kathleen 01924 471473 kathleenoshea5@aol.com

WHAT’S ON AT The

Woodman Hartley Street, Batley Carr Sunday 2nd february

motown & soul night 5pm onwards

everyone welcome

Tel: 01924 463825

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12 THE 2 HEATONS Starts at 11am at Dewsbury Sports Centre car park (WF12 8EN, SE246216) 4.5 miles – moderate Contact: Jim 01924 469700 janderegan@hotmail.co.uk

Ed’s dazzling art SPEN Valley Historical Society’s next meeting is on Wednesday February 12 when David Bland will give a talk titled ‘The Life Story of Edward Wadsworth – Razzle Dazzle Artist of Cleckheaton’.

Meetings are held in the Catholic Church Parish Hall on Dewsbury Road, Cleckheaton, starting at 7.30pm, with refreshments served from 7.15pm.

The cost is £2 per meeting for members, £4 for guests and membership is £10 per year. For more information email scooper@ thecoopersonline.org.uk.

Faberge workmasters THE Antiques Circle group is hosting a presentation by Susan Rumfitt, a jewellery expert on the BBC Antiques Roadshow, on Tuesday February 4.

The meeting, at Healds Hall

Hotel in Liversedge, starts at 7.30pm. Tickets priced £6 are available by calling 07999 727971.

Search for an accompanist MIRFIELD Choral Society is seeking a piano accompanist.

The role is a paid position, with remuneration according to experience.

Rehearsals are held at Trinity Methodist Church, Huddersfield Road, Mirfield on Monday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

The successful applicant would be expected to accompany the choir for rehearsals and for the three concerts during the year – in spring, summer and December.

The post is subject to a threemonth trial period.

If you are interested in applying please contact the secretary on 01924 494708 for further details or email mirfieldchoral@gmail.com.

Aladdin in Bobtown ROBERTTOWN PLAYERS are presenting their annual panto show during February half term.

Aladdin will be performed at Roberttown Community Centre from Thursday February 20 to Saturday February 22.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

My quick but rich mushroom soup ALWAYS seem to end up with odds and sods of mushrooms in my fridge.

I seem incapable of actually finishing a pack before I buy a new one, leaving me with stacks of packets with about four mushrooms in each.

This usually carries on until I run out of fridge space.

Then, I make this soup.

Mushroom soup is a great recipe to have up your sleeve. It really is so delicious, simple to whip up, and super reliable – it’s kind of hard to mess this one up!

All you really need are a bunch of mushrooms, some herbs and some vegetable stock.

The rest is all additional and completely up to you – I like to throw in some garlic and some red onions, but whatever you have in the cupboard will work and be totally delicious.

It’s the definition of a one-pot wonder. The mushrooms cook in the stock with the herbs and the rest of the flavours, before everything is blitzed with a hand blender.

You can leave it chunky if you like, but I like to take it nice and smooth with the blender.

You can pick up a decent one for about a tenner and they’re great for

I

soups and sauces.

You can also use a blender or food processor if you like, I just tend to spill soup all over the kitchen when I use these. If you’re not as clumsy as me, use one by all means.

It keeps for a few days in the fridge, and can be frozen and reheated really easily, so is great to make in batches for when you need a quick and healthy meal.

What you need (makes 6-8 portions) 600g of mushrooms – chestnut are best but whatever you have will work and a mixture works really well 2 red onions 20g butter 3 cloves garlic A few sprigs of fresh rosemary 1 tsp mixed herbs 1L veg stock 100ml double cream 1tbsp olive oil Good pinch salt Good pinch pepper

Method • Roughly chop the mushrooms, and slice the red onions. Crush the garlic cloves and roughly chop, then finely chop the rosemary.

• Add the oil to a hot frying pan, and fry the garlic and rosemary for about 45 seconds to bring out the flavour.

Add the sliced red onions and cook for two or three minutes.

Add the contents of the pan to a large soup or stock pan.

• Add the butter to the frying pan and fry the mushrooms in batches for two minutes, adding to the large stock pot when coloured.

Make sure the pan is nice and hot and don’t overcrowd the pan – take your time and make sure the mush-

rooms are browned, this brings out the sweet, nutty flavour.

• When all the mushrooms are done and in the stock pan, add the vegetable stock to the pan. Add the mixed herbs, salt and pepper, and bring the stock to the boil.

• Put a lid on the pot and simmer for 20 minutes.

• Take off the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

• Blend using a stick blender, or transfer to a blender/food processor and blend in batches. Continue blending until you reach your desired thickness – I like it to keep a little bit of texture, but you may want to pass through a sieve or strainer.

• Add the cream, and stir.

• Serve immediately, or keep in the fridge for up to three days.

• I have my own food blog, called Dan’s Always Hungry, which is packed with my own recipes and even more ramblings about food. You can check it out over at dansalwayshungry.com, and follow me on Instagram at @Alwayshungrydan.

Friday January 31, 2020

ThePress

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ThePress

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Classified Want to advertise in our Classified section? Call 01924 470296 or 0113 457 2900 or email advertising@thepressnews.co.uk

Friday January 31, 2020

BUILDING & LANDSCAPE SERVICES

PROSPECT BUILDERS & LANDSCAPE GARDENERS

CATTERY

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Copper Stillbarn, Upper Batley Low Lane, Batley, WF17 0AW

01924 474851 or 07456 441100

Call Marc Tel 07834 383957 or 01274 887911 Email prospectbuilders@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/ThePressNews

BUTCHERS

CAR DEALERS

McFaddens Quality Cars Established 1965 Your Local Quality Butcher

5kg Chicken £28 2.5kg Chicken £15 5lb Steak Mince £12.99

Tradespeople A brand new voice

0113 285 3996

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McFaddens carsales.co.uk

Covering Dewsbury, Mirfield, Ravensthorpe, Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike, Morley, Churwell, Gildersome, Drighlington, East & West Ardsley, Tingley, Woodkirk plus all surrounding villages

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CAR BODY REPAIRS

Residential & Dementia Care Home

Providing 24-hour Care, Respite & Day Care 27 Church Street, Heckmondwike 01924 404122 CAR BOOT SALE The Area’s Biggest and Best Car Boot Sale every Sunday at Dewsbury Rams, Owl Lane, Dewsbury OPEN AS USUAL DURING GROUND DEVELOPMENT WORK Price £12 per car, opens at 6.00am, ring 01924 465489 for further details

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Visit our showroom

(Next to The Horncastle Pub)

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EST 50 YEARS

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01924 469944

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ON MAIN A58 DRIGHLINGTON

See instore for more details

T: 01924 492185

Call now for the most cost effective weekly advertising rates in your local area

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Follow us @ThePressLatest CLEARANCE & COURIER SERVICES

Professional Clearance & Courier Services We offer a range of packages!

From residential / commercial clearances to house/office removals and courier services.

REGISTERED WASTE CARRIER, BROKER AND DEALER TEL 01924 488279 07599022715 EMAIL INFO@PROCCSERV.CO.UK WEB HTTPS://PROCCSERV.CO.UK

COACH TOURS

Carols Travel QUALITY COACH TOUR HOLIDAYS

Prices include excursions Wheelchair & Scooter Friendly No Single Supplement Executive Coach Travel with Hostess Service All Our Chosen High Quality Hotels Are Ensuite Up To 4* Rating Spenborough & Mirfield Pick-ups are Door-ToDoor at No Extra Cost 93 Killinghall Road, Bradford, BD3 8AB

01274 85147

www.carolstravel.co.uk

COMPOSITE DOORS www.facebook.com/ThePressNews

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CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

CALDER CLEAN CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING • • • • •

Stain removal protection Anti-allergy treatment Curtains & blinds cleaned Insurance work undertaken Rug cleaning

Call Tim Riordan Tel: 01924 490241 / 07770 462239

www.calderclean.co.uk

Steven Clay Composite Doors

u.P.V.C Double Glazing. Large range of quality, affordable composite doors. Many styles & colours Double glazed windows 30 years experience Fully backed by Certass Trust Marked Approved Please ring for no obligation quotes

07778 615829

Email: s.clay757@gmail.com

25

years service

CONTACT OUR SALES TEAM ON 01924 470296 or 0113 457 2900

Classified

ThePress

Friday January 31, 2020

COMPUTING

ELECTRICAL

Computer Problems?

Sick of Cowboys?

ANYTHING ELECTRICAL

DEWSBURY IT. Ltd

07976 877 768 23 Years Experience

• No Repair, No Charge • No call out charge • We repair on site Bradford Road, Dewsbury CYCLES

HARGREAVES cycles

DECORATORS

MOUNTAIN - ELECTRIC BMX - ROAD - KIDS ACCESSORIES CLOTHING COMMUTER/LEISURE MAINTENANCE Finance Available Free Delivery

www.hargreavescycles.co.uk Mon: 9:30-6pm, Tues: CLOSED, Wed-Sat: 9:30-6pm, Sunday: CLOSED 27 Bradford Road, 01924 Dewsbury, WF13 2DU 461283 10mins M62 jn28

DOORS, DECKING & TIMBER

DECKING

SOFTWOOD HARDWOOD COMPOSITE

01924 469726 400 Huddersfield Road, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury, WF13 3EL

www.draysontimber.co.uk

0113 457 2900

Tel: 01924 477844 / 01924 443822 Mob: 07702 373315

TS FENCING & PROPERTY REPAIRS

BLOCK PAVING INDIAN FLAGS etc ALL AREAS OF KIRKLEES & CALDERDALE COVERED

FOR FREE ESTIMATES CALL

07973 959968

ELECTRICIANS

J. Peel Electrical Local Domestic Electricians Fully Qualified and Certified Father & Son Team Over 30 Years Experience (working in peoples homes)

All Work Undertaken (ranging from putting up a light fitting to full house rewires)

No Call-Out Charge Contact

Jason

07929 850056 Email:

jpeelelectrical@gmail.com Facebook search

J Peel Electrical

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OR

Interior & Exterior Decorators FREE ESTIMATES Insurance work undertaken

DRIVES & PATIO SPECIALISTS

Free quotes 01924 506616 www.kitchenbedroom.co.uk

FIND US ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ ThePressNews

Call TODAY for a quote

0113 252 8811 07748 934810

Mirfield Hypnotherapy Centre

Fears and phobias Smoking cessation

Weight management

Follow us @ThePressLatest FISH RESTAURANT

FENCING

Anxiety management

Confidence building Fear of public speaking Appointments available 8am-8pm, 7 days

and more!

Tel: 07580 107241 (Andrew) or 07808 931714 (Louise)

All type of fencing, gates, decking, flagging & patios etc All types of property repairs, general handyman work.

Any Odd Jobs Big or Small

Call Tony 07939 018428

01924 402578

RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY OPEN 7 DAYS

FRESH FISH, COOKED TO PERFECTION!

TEL: 0113 253 5376 Britannia Road, Morley, Leeds, LS27 0BA

Tel: 01274 864902 Tutti Frutti 141 Birkenshaw Lane Birkenshaw, Bradford BD11 2HD

Reliable and Professional with over 25yrs experience

• Internal/External Doors • Flooring • Skirting Boards • Locks Changed • No Job Too Small • uPVC Doors & Windows

01924 476107 07769 660358

NELSON STREET, DEWSBURY, WF13 1NA

TEL: 01924 467269 FAX: 01924 430800 MASTER LOCKSMITHS ACCESS CONTROL INTRUDER ALARM INSTALLERS WEBSITE: www.harfordssecurity.co.uk

HGV TUITION

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Emergency Lock Replacement Locks Changed Locks Fitted Snap Safe Cylinders Fitted UPVC Specialised

Over 20 years in the business

07977 127676 Obtain your HGV or PCV Licence With Ease Use The Professionals Over 30 Years Experience

PAINTER & DECORATOR

PLASTERER

PAINTING & TIM PRYKE DECORATING PLASTERING Exterior & Interior Telephone Steve

07884 495530 01924 476432

No Job Too Small Quality Workmanship!

Free Quotes Telephone

01924 492272 07990 956685

PLUMBING & HEATING

www.themermaidfishrestaurant.co.uk

Concrete Garages & Sheds Dismantle & Bases Garage re-vamps Garage Doors 230 Bradford Rd, Batley Tel: 01924 461996 dencroftgarages.co.uk

• PAMPER PARTIES • WEDDING MAKEUP • PROM • SPECIAL OCCASION

Paul Atkins JOINER

HARFORD’S SECURITY LTD

The Mermaid Fish Restaurant

DENCROFT GARAGES

N ails H air B eauty P ackages

JOINER

MASTER LOCKSMITH

GARAGES

E: lamtala@hotmail.com

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HYPNOTHERAPY

Unleashing the power of your own mind, to help you make positive changes

T utti F rutti FULL / PARTIAL REWIRING FUSE BOARD UPGRADE EXTRA LIGHTS OR SOCKETS PROPERTY SERVICES NEW EXTENSION WIRING

Makeovers, Facelifts, Revamps, Repairs, Alterations

enquiries@ mirfieldhypnotherapycentre.com www.mirfieldhypnotherapycentre.com

HAIR & BEAUTY

NEEDAN ELECTRICIAN?

KITCHENS & BEDROOMS

Ring Batley:

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Want to advertise in our Classified section?

Call 01924 470296 or 0113 457 2900 or email advertising@ thepressnews.co.uk

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

0113 285 4563 or 07801 063911

DECORATORS 01924 470296

Drayson’s E.J.GREENWOOD & PATIO Timber DRIVEWAYS SPECIALISTS DOORS TARMACADAM ALL TYPES

Electrical Cookers Repaired Supplied & Fitted, No Job Too Small, 35 Years Experience, Same Day Service Available

CALL US ON

Paul Grayshon

SPECIALISTS

ALARMS, OUTSIDE LIGHTS

The Press – no other local paper can touch us on advertising prices!

29

MOTOR CARE

Car body repairs Imperial Motor Company 107 Bradford Road, Dewsbury Tel: 01924 461607 or 07860 754984

KEEP WARM A.T BELL THIS WINTER & PLUMBING SERVICE YOUR & HEATING BOILER 10 years

From a dripping tap, to a full central heating system, bathrooms designed supplied & fitted Check us out on

guarantee available on selected boilers

Landlord Servicing & Certificates

Call Tony today for a quote on Mobile: 07831 260466 or 01924 492556

11557

MOTORCYCLE LESSONS & MORE

All Aspects Of Driving

Tel: 01274 686211 www.atkinslgv.net

Classified section continues over page >

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Friday January 31, 2020

REMOVALS & CLEARANCES

ROOFING

HARVEYS SIMPSON DENNIS REMOVALS (Roofing Services) All roof repairs. Insurance work .COM Re-roofing, lead and chimney Full/Part House Removals House Clearances Ebay/Online Items Collected Single Item Pick-ups/Delivery Home and Garden Waste Cleared Full Packing Service Available (call for details) No Job Too Small

FAST FRIENDLY PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Call Michael on 07740 815883

work – Reduction for OAPs All work guaranteed, free estimates Established 25 years Tel Mirfield

Domestic & commercial

01924 497776 Mobile 07768 298739 www.simpsondennis-roofing.co.uk

Approved by leading insurance companies

ALL SIZES OF SKIPS 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE KIRKLEES RELIABLE SKIP HIRE COMPANY AFFORDABLE SERVICES SECOND TO NONE

Unit 10, Westend Mills, Brick Street, Cleckheaton, BD19 5EH Tel: 01274 851120

RW Roofing & Property Repairs Pointing, guttering and general maintenance work ALL INSURANCE WORK UNDERTAKEN

07901 750921 • 01924 485168

FURNESS ROOFING & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ALL TYPES OF ROOFING REPAIRS • New Roofs • Flat Roofs • GRP • Chimney Stacks • Gutters, Pointing • Fascia and Soffits • Insurance Work • General Building Work • Leadwork • Velux Windows

ALL WORK GUARANTEED email: mark@furnessroofing.co.uk 01924 406941 07850 786270 www.furnessroofing.co.uk

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Spen’s Olivia bags bronze medal SPENBOROUGH AC’s Olivia Reah won a bronze medal last Sunday at the Scottish Indoor Championships.

The competition is attended by many of the top Team GB athletes and is seen as a chance to record some of the best indoor performances at national standards.

Olivia bagged bronze in the senior women’s triple jump with a distance of 11.65 metres, having had two nojumps at over 12m, behind Nony Mordi (Fife) and Carolyn Harvey (Ayr Seaforth).

Spen were also celebrating junior success last weekend at the Sheffield Indoor Festival with three of its young athletes taking home medals.

Millie Rhodes won gold in both the Under-11s 60m (with a time of 9.57 seconds) and

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200m (32.68s).

Imogen Atkinson won the silver medal in the Under-13s 1500m, with a ranked personal best of 5 minutes 44.9 seconds, and then also placed in 11th in the 200m.

Also on the track, Edward Atkinson ran in the Under-11s 60m and 200m races, finishing in sixth and fifth respectively.

Spen’s final medal came in the long jump as Reuben Byfield earned bronze in the Under-15s group with a distance of 4.95m.

Edward finished 4th in his long jump, Imogen in 7th, and Millie in 6th.

SPEN SUCCESS: Olivia Reah on the podium with her bronze medal at last week’s Scottish Indoor Championships PHOTO: Bobby Gavin

Top contenders ready to battle in Dewsbury 10K FIVE-TIME winner Mohammed Abu-Rezeq will aim to regain the Dewsbury 10K title on Sunday (February 2).

The Jordanian athlete missed out on entry for last year’s race but now returns to defend his unbeaten record on the course.

Last year’s winner Chris Parr (Morpeth) is likely to be the biggest danger to Altrincham’s Abu-Rezeq as both seek to beat the 30-minute mark.

Other likely contenders for the prizes include Marc Brown (Salford), Joe Sagar (Spenborough) – who was runner-up last year – and Ethiopian Paralympic athlete Wondiye Fikru Indelbu (Leeds City), while Mark Holden, of the host club Dewsbury Road Runners, will be looking to set a club record for the race.

In the women’s race the leading contenders are defending champion Julie Briscoe

(Wakefield), Lucy-Erin Hunter (Darlington) and Alice Leake (Leeds City), with Georgina Weston (Rotherham), Rebecca Winter (Ackworth) and Tracy Millmore (Birtley) also looking to get among the prize-winners.

A field of 2,300 have entered the race, which starts on Dewsbury Ring Road at 9am and goes along Bradford Road through Batley to Birstall Smithies, returning along the same route.

The race is sponsored by SMK Sports Elland, Disken & Co Solicitors and Kirklees Active Leisure (Dewsbury Sports Centre), with water supplied by Shepley Spring (Ice Valley).

The benefiting charity is Kirkwood Hospice and several runners have charity places and are running for the hospice.

Entries have closed and there are no entries on the day.

HOCKEY

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Late strike sees Slazenger men taste defeat SLAZENGER’S men’s first team were unfortunate to end up on the losing side last weekend as a late goal saw them lose 4-3 at home to Lincoln 2nd.

The game got off to a good start when Richard Tuddenham found the net after 10 minutes, but this only seemed to spur on Lincoln who went on to score three breakaway goals in 20 minutes.

The second half saw Slaz steady things down again and begin to play more intelligent hockey. This worked a treat as Ben Jackson and, for a second time, Tuddenham scored goals to level things at 3-3, and things looked to be edging Slazenger’s way.

However, with only minutes to

go, a reverse stick shot flew past the ears of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to break Slaz hearts.

The men’s second team got back to winning ways with a 4-1 success over Worksop 1st, while Harry Buttery scored a hat-trick for the thirds in a 4-3 defeat to Leeds 7th.

The fourths secured a draw against table-topping City of York 8th and Slazenger’s development team drew 1-1 against Halifax 5th.

The ladies’ first team made it three wins on the bounce in the new year with a 5-1 victory over University of Leeds 2nd.

Holy Tyers scored two goals while Frankie Tyrrell, Hannah Field and Sarah Sykes also found the target.

Sport In Brief Coates wins at Spen BOWLS: Gareth Coates picked up his second win of the season in last week’s Spen winter sweep.

Coates saw off Chris Bly, who was competing in the decider for the first time after losing in four previous semi-finals, 21-18 in the final, despite struggling with a chest injury.

Liam Griffin and Chris Mordue reached last week’s semi-finals as the tournament whittled down the 36 bowlers who braved the cold Gomersal air to take to the green.

Clough off the top FOOTBALL: Howden Clough were knocked off the Wakefield Division One summit after a 2-2 draw at Rocking Horse.

Ossett Dynamoes earned a 3-0 win at Pontefract Sports and Social, while Rob Spiers netted four as Thornhill United moved joint-top of Division Two with a 9-2 hammering of Snydale Athletic Reserves.

In the Premier Division, Hanging Heaton beat Nostell Miners Welfare 4-3.

Setback for Horbury FOOTBALL: Horbury Town are five points off the top three in the West Yorkshire Association Premier Division after a 2-1 loss at second-placed Ilkley Town.

Overthorpe Sports Club remain a point behind the Division Two summit following a 5-3 win at Old Centralians, while bottom side Howden Clough lost 4-2 at Rothwell.

The ladies’ second side had a well-deserved 3-1 win over Wakefield Wanderers.

Nicci Swinden opened the scoring and although an equaliser quickly set them back, excellent passing allowed Stacey Drake to put them back in front at half-time.

Their perseverance paid off in the second half as Mia Davis scored through an excellent sweep for their third goal.

Goalkeeper Lizzie Tunstall saved a penalty flick two minutes from time to earn Slazenger’s thirds a 3-3 draw at home to Otliensians 1st.

Slazenger’s fourths, meanwhile, were beaten 3-1 away at Leeds University 7th, despite Ruby Farrington-Fawcett’s early goal.

SLAZENGER’S Under-10 boys were in good spirits for their tournament at Weetwood last Sunday

RACING PREVIEW WITH MIKE SMITH

Cheltenham pointers to be found at Dublin festival HERE’S a good amount of quality racing to watch this weekend but the best of the action is across the Irish Sea, where more Cheltenham pointers are likely to come from the Dublin Racing Festival.

The two-day affair will probably be the best race meeting between Christmas and the Festival, but much has been said and written about Leopardstown’s watering policy. Their reluctance to turn on the taps a year ago proved costly and led to high-profile withdrawals on day two.

Officials at the track have been watering for a while and will be praying that temperatures don’t plummet.

Not one of Gordon Elliott’s 10 entries for last Saturday’s Cheltenham Trials day ended up making the trip and he’s clearly taking the opportunity to test handicap marks for the Festival.

It should be a different story at Leopardstown where he has a topclass staying prospect in EASYWORK in tomorrow’s (Saturday) 2m 6f Grade 1 novice hurdle. A bumper winner in November, the six-year-old beat Mt Leinster on his hurdling debut over 2m at Gowram

T

before scoring over 2m 4f a month later, and is expected to handle the step up in trip.

He will be one of two Elliotttrained horses in my each way double along with COLUMN OF FIRE, who has progressed with every run this year and looks well treated from way down the handicap in Sunday’s 3m handicap hurdle (2.30).

The highlight of the day is the Grade 1 3m chase an hour later, where KEMBOY will probably go off favourite in what looks like a tough contest for punters.

Preference is for PRESENTING

PERCY with Davy Russell expected to ride an aggressive race.

If ENVOI ALLEN lines up on Saturday as anticipated, then Elliott’s ABRACADABRAS in the novice hurdle at 1.55 may be the best bet of the weekend at 7/4 at the time of writing. This race is a traditionally strong Cheltenham indicator and victory would take Ireland’s second-best novice hurdler towards the top of the market for the Supreme.

Other horses at the Irish jamboree worth a look are SNUGSBOROUGH HALL as each way punt in tomorrow’s (Saturday) 2m 1f handicap chase at 2.35, Joseph O’Brien’s RISK FACTOR in Saturday’s bumper and BIGBADANDBEAUTIFUL in Sunday’s closer.

Back in Blighty, Sandown’s Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase tomorrow looks an open proposition in what has been a pension pot filler for Nicky Henderson, who has won five of the last 10 contests of this Grade 1 chase, and he can strike again with PRECIOUS CARGO. The valuable Heroes Handicap Hurdle at 3pm looks equally open but Fergal O’Brien’s DILLON should be spot on for this after

plugging on to finish third when returning from a break last time out at Chepstow in December.

There’s also racing at Musselburgh, where the durable pair of LITTLE BRUCE and VERY FIRST TIME head the market in the Bet 365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase.

This 4m 1f handicap chase will be real test of stamina which will suit LITTLE BRUCE, who galloped on strongly to beat Sumkindofking at Catterick over 3m 6f last time out.

It may seem a sentimental choice, but the veteran WONDERFUL CHARM will love the anticipated good ground and can roll back the clock and get in the frame off a mark which is more than 20lb lower than when in his pomp.

CARRIGILL’S NAP: (money back as a free bet if it finishes outside top four. Write Augur on your slip to qualify): MIDNIGHT SHADOW, Sandown, Saturday, 2.25.

AUGUR’S BEST BET (e/w double): EASYWORK , Leopardstown, Saturday, 12.50 and COLUMN OF FIRE, Leopardstown, Sunday, 2.30.

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Friday January 31, 2020

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Ten goals for super Sedge’s strikeforce NCEL Premier Division

LIVERSEDGE HANDSWORTH

10 1

LIVERSEDGE hit double figures last weekend in an extraordinary rout of a young Handsworth side which saw them move joint-top of the league for a few days.

In front of their second-highest Clayborn crowd of the season, 187 fans saw Sedge record a fifth win in succession in a run that has seen them score 26 goals.

They have constructed a fearsome strikeforce in the past couple of months, with Joe Walton and Oliver Fearon joined by returning legend Paul Walker and most recently Mark Simpson.

All four were on the scoresheet on Saturday, with Simpson netting his first two goals since moving to the club from Garforth, having come off the bench with his team already 6-0 up.

He replaced Walton, who got a brace himself to make it 20 goals for the season in all competitions,

while Fearon grabbed a hat-trick and Walker added an effort along with Alfie Raw, who scored for the sixth game running, and an own goal.

Handsworth were well and truly beaten by the time they netted the final goal of the game to deny Liversedge a clean sheet.

Sedge now travel to fellow promotion-chasers Yorkshire Amateur tomorrow (Saturday, kick-off 3pm), after their scheduled clash with Thackley on Tuesday night was postponed due to snow.

That denied them the chance to move top outright, and instead other results saw them slip down to third behind leaders Staveley Miners Welfare and second-placed Penistone Church.

Against Handsworth, Fearon got the ball rolling inside three minutes, left unmarked inside the sixyard box to steer a cross past goalkeeper Ben Townsend, who was set for a miserable afternoon.

Walton could have made it 2-0 after six minutes but his header from a Fearon cross was well-saved at point-blank range by Townsend.

TOP FORM: Jonathan Rimmington’s (centre) side have scored 26 goals in five matches The striker didn’t have to wait much longer for a goal though, with Fearon flicking the ball into his path and a smart finish following.

Liversedge continued to dominate with Fearon and Raw both denied by the keeper and skipper Tom Jackson unable to convert a free header.

Walker scored his goal just past the half hour, shooting through a crowd of bodies to find the net, and it remained 3-0 to half-time.

Long throws have been a dangerous weapon for the Clayborners in

recent weeks and proved so again when they opened their account for the second half. The ball found its way to Walton at the back post and he managed to turn it in for the first of seven Sedge goals in the space of 28 crazy minutes.

Fearon scored his second of the game just past the hour mark, getting on the end of goalkeeper Alex Lill’s long clearance and holding off the defender to slot home.

A block on the line denied Handsworth a goal back, and instead the pain continued for the

Sloppy start costs ‘embarrassing’ United Northern Premier N/West Division

RUNCORN LINNETS OSSETT UNITED

2 1

A SLOW start saw Ossett United slip to defeat at Runcorn Linnets as two goals in the first 15 minutes gave them too much to do away from home.

Paul Shanley and Ally Brown both netted in the opening stages of the game for Runcorn, who are fighting for a play-off place, to leave Ossett in trouble.

Only with six minutes left, at which point they were a man down following Brodie Litchfield’s dismissal, did United pull a goal back through Jack Stockdill, but it came too late for the away side, who remain five points above the BetVictor Northern Premier N/West Division relegation place.

Manager Wayne Benn admitted: “The first half was embarrassing. We were second-best all over the pitch, ill-disciplined, not working hard enough, not pressing well enough, playing too deep. We were lucky to be 2-0 down at half-time.

“We said a few things at half-time and in fairness to the lads they’ve come out and made a game of it.”

It was nonetheless a largely dominant performance by Runcorn, who were up and running inside just three minutes as James Knowles’s clearance was sent straight back over the top and Shanley ran onto the ball to finish.

The home side turned down several other openings for more goals before doubling their

BUSY MAN: Ossett goalkeeper Brett Souter spreads himself to keep out Lewis McKinney PHOTO: John Hirst

lead, with Shanley heavily involved again. He got on the end of a through ball, beat his man and saw his shot denied by goalkeeper Brett Souter, but the ball ran across goal for Brown to tap in at the back post.

Only a last-ditch Dylan Cogill challenge prevented a third goal after Connor McCarthy was found in behind, and Souter made a top save to keep out Aley’s header.

There were few chances for either side in the early stages of the second half as Ossett did enough to just about stay in the game, until their hopes looked to be gone when they were reduced to 10 men in the 69th minute.

Ryan Gibson broke from inside his own half to bear down on goal, only to get a touch in the back by Litchfield as he neared the

penalty box. Despite the apparent presence of a covering defender in Jake Maltby, the officials showed the substitute a red card.

Far from spelling the end of the contest, the incident seemed to fire United into action, resulting in an 84th minute lifeline when a defender’s miscue allowed Cogill’s cross to find Stockdill in the area with time and space to take a clever touch before finishing.

There was a final flurry as Ossett looked to throw everything they had at the opposition, but ultimately it was too little and too late.

Ossett return to action this Saturday (kickoff 3pm) at home to Marine before a trip to Thackley in the third round of the West Riding County Cup three days later (Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm).

Ladies hold their heads high despite defeat to Hartlepool OSSETT UNITED Ladies more than matched high-flying Hartlepool United for much of last weekend’s game but suffered a 3-1 defeat.

In their first North East Premier Division game since early December, Ossett came out flying from the kick-off with a mis-hit backpass presenting Lauren Swailes with the chance to open the scoring. She chipped the goalkeeper but saw the ball hit the bar, bounce down on the line and fail to cross the whitewash.

Instead, the ball was sent straight down the other end and

Kate Hampson’s ambitious effort from 30 yards dipped into the far corner of the net.

The scores were levelled in the 11th minute. Swailes beat the offside trap to run through on goal again, and this time she made no mistake in burying the chance.

Swailes was denied a second by the goalkeeper but the next goal went to the visitors as a neat through-ball found Justine Robinson and she neatly finished.

Ossett hit the woodwork for a second time before half-time when Emily Stakie delivered a free kick

into the box and Danielle Sidebottom headed onto the crossbar.

There had been little between the sides in the first half so Ossett were very unfortunate to find themselves 3-1 down after 55 minutes as Robyn Foster’s cross was diverted by Carly Hoyle into her own net.

Swailes shot just wide from an Ellie Betteridge pass, Alayna Millard’s drive was cleared off the line by a defender and Jordane Allison fired just over as Ossett never gave up, but they were

unable to get back into the game.

“We’re really happy in terms of the performance; we’re not so happy with the result,” reflected manager Emily Senior.

“We’re really tough on ourselves and we know we’ve not been good enough (this season). We know we need to be better and today we made very good strides in doing that.”

Ossett are in seventh place, having won only two of their seven matches, but have the chance to respond back at Ingfield this Sunday against Farsley Celtic.

visitors as Raw fired in number six from the edge of the area.

The introduction of Simpson from the bench proved no let-up for Handsworth as he bagged his first goal for the club moments after entering the field to make it 7-0.

An Alex Varley own goal made it eight before Simpson turned his defender and expertly found the far corner of the net.

Simpson then turned provider as Liversedge made it to 10, finding Fearon to allow the striker to bag his hat-trick and a 14th goal of the season.

Lill had been required to make some saves in the second half, keeping out two efforts from Ehsan Mohammed, and he was beaten with five minutes to go as Jamie Austin headed in the slightest of consolations.

This weekend sees Sedge head to Leeds to take on fifth-placed Yorkshire Amateur, who have won six of their past eight matches themselves.

The mid-week Thackley tie at Clayborn has been rearranged for March 10.

Vital Littletown win closes gap at top LITTLETOWN came out on top in last Saturday’s crucial top-of-the-table Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division clash with Farsley Celtic Juniors.

The Liversedge outfit went into the weekend six points behind Farsley, who had won all 13 of their games before being overturned by their nearest challengers 2-1.

The league leaders went in front after only four minutes through Danny Lyons, but Littletown came back to turn things around in the first half.

First Matthew Bugg levelled things up with a quarter of an hour played, and soon after Rob Mallender had found the net too to put them in front.

With more than an hour of the game still to play there was plenty of work to do, but Littletown continued to match their opponents and defended well to see things out and collect the three points.

Lower Hopton continue to prop up the Supreme Division following a 4-2 loss to Calverley United, despite Liam Fox and Connor Langford goals.

Norristhorpe’s lead at the top of the Division Two standings has been cut to just two points following their 4-2 defeat at North Leeds, in which Lewis Collinson and Daniel Mountain got their goals.

Littletown Reserves extended their lead at the Division Three summit to 11 points as two strikes from James Blane and another from Austin Broadbent earned a 3-0 win at Woodkirk Valley.

Savile United moved up to fourth in that division by seeing off Tingley Athletic 3rd 3-0, with the goals spread among Adnan Khan, Shaahid Patel and Nafees Hafeez.

Old Batelians secured only their second Division Four win of the season and did so in style, as braces from Razeb Raja and Craig White and further strikes from James Byrne and Connor Secker gave them a 6-1 win over Tyersal Reserves.

In Division Five, West End Park’s lead at the top was extended to 18 points by Jonathan Asquith’s hat-trick in a 3-0 win at St Bedes Academy. In the same league, Jack Smith’s goal couldn’t prevent Dewsbury Rangers Under-23s from a 2-1 loss at Leeds Modernians 4th.

Norristhorpe Reserves were in Hodgson Cup action but their campaign came to an end in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 defeat at Middleton Park Under-23s.

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Whetham snatches a last-gasp try as Kestrels claim dramatic Yarnbury win Northern and Western League One

CLECKHEATON KESTRELS 29 YARNBURY THIRDS 26 CLECKHEATON’S second-string Kestrels team entertained Yarnbury and came away with a dramatic win thanks to a try in the final minute of the game.

Their hopes looked desperate when they let a 22-7 lead turn into a 26-22 deficit in the closing stages, but full-back Elliott Whetham dummied his way across the line for the match-winner.

Kestrels had to make a lastminute change to the selected team as Will Denham took the place of prop Henry Iwanjenko, with Niall Jackson filling in on the bench.

Yarnbury had the better of the early exchanges and the centre made a powerful run to open the scoring on 12 minutes, with the conversion making it 7-0.

The Kestrels fought back strongly and dominated possession for the next 20 minutes with Yarnbury hardly getting out of their 22 area.

After a quick tap penalty, Drew Judge-Clark made a strong burst up the middle and offloaded to Ben Etchells who scored under the posts, and Ben Dearing added the goal to level the scores.

Denham and Wade Laycock made strong ball carries and kept the vis-

TRY TIME: Ed Curley heads for the line

PHOTO: Gerald Christian

Cleck cool on promotion talk CLECKHEATON head coach Thiu Barnard says that his squad aren’t focusing on the prospect of promotion just yet, despite a six-match winning run taking them into the top two in the North One East division.

Ahead of tomorrow’s (Saturday, kick-off 2.15pm) trip to West Hartlepool, Cleck are in the league’s play-off places, six points behind leaders York and five ahead of Driffield directly behind in third place.

In a run going back more than two months, they have beaten Malton and Norton, Bradford and Bingley, Kendal, Percy Park, Huddersfield YMCA and Moortown consecutively.

Despite that rich form, Barnard says that he and his team have little time for promotion talk yet as the Moorenders prepare for their final 10 matches of the season.

“There’s obviously talk about it around the club, but I take my hat off to the boys. They’re focusing on the week-to-week job,” he said.

“We’ve got a tough February coming up and we’ve got to go to West Hartlepool and get that win. If we slip up there we make February a lot harder, so all of our focus is on this weekend.

“If promotion happens, it happens, but we’re only looking on a week-to-week basis at the moment.”

Having only avoided relegation on the final day last season, it has been quite some turnaround to be fighting at the right end of the table this time, and Barnard says that the extra fitness work since the very beginning of pre-season has paid

itors on the back foot, and the only to crash over the line and, after other score came on the stroke of Jarrod Toulson failed to find touch half-time when Dearing kicked a 20- with a clearance, some poor defence metre penalty to give Cleckheaton a allowed Yarnbury to break through 10-7 lead at the break. five or six would-be tackles to score Four minutes into the second again and make it all to play for at half, after Kestrels had won clean 22-19. ball at a lineout, quick hands down In the 73rd minute, Yarnbury the line saw Ed Curley cut inside took the lead after sustained presthe final defender for a fine try, sure led to a try under the posts, although the conversion couldn’t be with the goal kicked to ensure that added. only a try would do for Cleckheaton.

Kestrels were in control at this When the Yarnbury prop was yelstage when a series of drives saw low carded on 75 minutes the game Etchells stopped short of the line went to uncontested scrums and, and Callum Green, who came on as with play deep in the Yarnbury 22, a replacement, denied by the referee the Kestrels battered the visitors’ who deemed the player was held up line in an attempt to secure victory. over the try line.

Robin Bennett and Etchells drove On 59 minutes, following a series in hard and, when the ball was recyof infringements near the Yarnbury cled to the left, Whetham got the line, the referee awarded a dramatic score and Dearing conpenalty try and the score verted. was extended to 22-7.

The Kestrels face tough chalA dramatic passage of lenges in the next two weeks play followed as Cleck against the only two teams to have conceded three tries in defeated them this season, with a seven minutes to see the home derby with Ossett tomorrow RUGBY LEAGUE: Dewsbury Rams have game turn around.

(Saturday) followed by a trip to announced that their highly successful Firstly, the left wing Harrogate Pythons the following Rampage Club will return again this year. worked his way into space weekend (February 8).

The scheme provides local junior teams with a free training session at the club, making use of their 3G pitches, gym and wrestle Sponsored by www.chappelowsportsturf.co.uk room, and is run by Rams players Martyn Reilly and Luke Nelmes.

The Rampage Club will run on Monday evenings, at 6pm until 7.45pm, from the beginning of February through to September.

Anyone who wants to book their team’s place on the scheme can contact Rams LOCAL TALENT Anthony I was 16 and turned to mountain media manager Steven Downes at Boardman is getting his first shot biking, which went well,” he media@dewsburyrams.co.uk or ring the club at the professional game at the explained. on 01924 465489. age of 30 with Hunslet.

“I reached a good level – elite Boardman, known as AJ, has level in fact – and appeared intermade the step up to League One nationally in a couple of World after several impressive years Cups. But I never lost my passion playing for Dewsbury Moor in for rugby league and returned to RUGBY LEAGUE: Shaw Cross Sharks will the National Conference League. the sport in 2011.” partner with Motor Neurone Disease The former Shaw Cross junior, Predominantly a centre, Association as their charity in the 2020 seawho hails from Mirfield, joined Boardman – whose partner Amy son.

Hunslet on trial at the beginning Hardcastle is an England The club will be helping raise awareness of of pre-season and impressed head Women’s international – the disease and the work of the charity as coach Gary Thornton enough to approached Hunslet boss well as adding a fundraising event to their earn a one-year deal.

Thornton ahead of the 2020 seacalendar.

However, Boardman’s early son to try and earn his first conThe MND Association was founded in 1979 adult years were dedicated not to tract. and is the only national charity focused on rugby league but a very different “I thought when I reached 30, MND care, research and campaigning. sport altogether. why not give professional rugby “I stopped playing rugby when league a go, so I got in touch in

Sport In Brief Rampage continues

ONE WEEK AT A TIME: Thiu Barnard isn’t getting carried away PHOTO: Gerald Christian dividends along with the commitment of his squad.

He said: “The boys have put all the hard work in and it’s all coming together. I think there’s still more to come so I’m quite excited to see where we’re going.

“We’ve really looked after the boys fitness-wise and conditioningwise. We’ve given them rest when they’ve needed it, given them work when they’ve needed it, and they’ve all bought into what we’re trying to do. It’s paid off massively.”

However, Barnard also warned: “There’s always room for improvement … the finishing is not quite up to scratch yet. If we start taking more of our opportunities in attack we’ll score a lot more points, so it’s just finishing opportunities off and stop leaking tries when we shouldn’t.”

RUGBY LEAGUE

Boardman earns shot at professional game

Sharks MND support

Ossett abandonment RUGBY UNION: Ossett host Rotherham Pythons tomorrow (Saturday) in Yorkshire Division Three after their game last weekend was abandoned.

Ossett’s tie away at Old Otliensians last Saturday was abandoned in the second half, with the score at 16-14 to their opponents.

Full-back Ben Lunt was named as man of the match after scoring one of Ossett’s two tries. The abandonment leaves them in ninth place in the table ahead of the clash against 11th-placed Rotherham.

touch with GT, who I knew from his days at Dewsbury Moor,” said Boardman.

“He was happy to give me trials, training went well and so did the friendly games with Bradford Bulls and Dewsbury Rams.

“GT, who I can’t speak highly enough of, has been really supportive and has given me some great tips. He’s confirmed that there’s a place for me at Hunslet and I’ve been happy to put pen to paper.

“My aim now is to play as much as I can, play to the best of my ability, keep on improving and see how far I can go.”

OPPORTUNITY: AJ Boardman

Mirfield clear at top as Trojans and Sharks prepare for derby MIRFIELD STAGS extended their gap at the top of the Pennine League Division One to six points with a 32-24 victory at Sharlston Rovers.

Richard Silverwood’s side made it eight wins out of eight this season but had to do it the hard way in a closely-fought contest.

Winger Mikey Otty and hooker Casey Canterbury led the way with a brace of tries each for the Stags, who were without influential half-back Brad Delaney and handed a debut to

full-back Jarrod Ward.

Dom Flanagan and Scott Bradley also crossed the whitewash, while Wayne Wilson kicked three goals and Flanagan got one.

Omar Alrawi took the man of the match award for Mirfield, who host third-placed Illingworth tomorrow (Saturday).

Elsewhere in the top flight, fourth-placed Hanging Heaton were beaten 40-10 at home by Drighlington.

In Division Two, Thornhill were beaten 48-0 by leaders Fryston Warriors while their first team competed in the Challenge Cup. That result means Shaw Cross are four points behind Fryston in the table, albeit with four games in-hand, and they will look to close that gap when they welcome the Trojans for a local derby tomorrow.

The Sharks had a friendly away at Sherburn Bears last week, losing 38-22.

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Sloppy ‘Dogs fall to young Giants Pre-season friendly

BATLEY BULLDOGS HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS

22 26

Stephen Ibbetson at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium A SLOPPY first half from Batley Bulldogs gave them too much to do against a youthful Huddersfield Giants side as their pre-season campaign ended in defeat in a frequently fiery encounter.

The Giants fielded a second-string outfit – including Reece ChapmanSmith, Connor Davies and Oliver Waite from reserve partners Halifax – with none of the 17 likely to face Catalans in their Super League season opener featuring here.

However, Batley failed to take advantage of their extra experience as the Giants went 26-0 up. Only as they went downhill in the second half did they finally make a game of it but ultimately they ran out of time.

Reiss Butterworth spent time at Batley in each of the last two seasons but that familiarity didn’t help the defence when the hooker sold a dummy to go clean through and break the deadlock after eight minutes.

Another player who played on loan at Mount Pleasant last term, Oliver Russell, began a perfect record from the tee with the conversion.

Four minutes later, Tom Holmes lifted a kick into the right corner, Travis Corion leapt ahead of Dale Morton and knocked the ball down to Ben Tibbs for the second try.

Then it began to get feisty with fisticuffs between the teams, and Holmes was sent to the bin shortly after for a late, high challenge on

Danny Yates.

Batley thought they were on the board when Michael Ward took advantage of confusion in the Giants’ fiveman scrum to intercept and score, but he was ruled to have been offside.

Instead Huddersfield piled on the points, Russell adding two with a penalty and then kicking a 40/20 from which Owen Trout’s short pass allowed Jon Luke Kirby to reach for the line.

Lewis Galbraith was yellow carded for holding down an attacker on the line with the Bulldogs on a team warning, and they were another try down by the break as Jordan Paga’s pass saw Oliver Roberts skip through the line and score.

After a superb first half from the young Giants, errors began to creep in and Batley made a game of things with the slope in their favour.

Their first score came from great work by Dane Manning, who managed to shrug off a defender and then roll through a couple of challenges in the corner to reach the line.

Toby Everett then added another score as a Giants knock-on was punished by the prop claiming Alistair Leak’s short pass to crash over, with Morton converting both efforts.

Leak was fingertips away from claiming an offload for another try and Sam Bowring later missed out on a score by trying to go back inside when an overlap had been created.

Another Huddersfield error gave them the platform to score with six minutes to go as another overlap saw Luke Hooley cross.

A Shaun Lunt 40/20 kick yielded no results and their fourth and final try only came on the hooter as Manning scored his second from a Yates pass to leave a four-point difference.

The attempted comeback wasn’t enough to mask Batley’s poor showing in their final match of a pre-season which has brought no wins, and coach Craig Lingard said: “I think we got dominated and out-enthused which was really disappointing.”

Steve Fox, the Giants’ reserve coach, said: “I’m really pleased with the

young guys.

“We wanted to build on Wednesday and the positives and in the first half our defence was very good.

“In the second half a lot of changes didn’t help us, there were errors that we need to cut out moving forward, but a lot of the young guys in there we were really pleased with.”

‘We’ve got to be better’ – Lingard Continued from back page Featherstone may not have had time to hit their stride yet but the Bulldogs certainly go into the opener with reasons to be concerned, following a firsthalf showing which saw them trail 26-0 to a second-string Huddersfield Giants side before clawing back most of that deficit in last week’s final preseason friendly.

Lingard admitted: “That first-half performance was not acceptable from us.

Everything that we did well against Hull (the previous) week, defending the middle and being tough and aggressive in the ruck and the middle, we didn’t do.

“All the tries against Hull were out in the corners because they couldn’t play through us. This week the majority of tries that we conceded were actually through the middle so that was a real disappointment, because we

DOUBT: Joe Taira could miss this week’s Featherstone opener want to pride ourselves on having a really tight, aggressive middle unit.

“In every aspect of rugby league in that first half, Huddersfield had the better of us. The challenge for us in the second half was to increase the performance by a massive amount and we got that, but the overriding thing from that was the first half performance because

we’ve got to be better.”

Joe Taira picked up a knock in the defeat to Huddersfield which is likely to rule the prop out of the season opener, while James Brown (abductor), Tyler Dickinson (back), Anthony Bowman (concussion) and Johnny Campbell (hamstring) all missed that game and will be assessed ahead of Sunday.

Terrific Trojans into round three Coral Challenge Cup

THORNHILL TROJANS 58 NORMANTON KNIGHTS 14 THORNHILL TROJANS will play in the third round of the Challenge Cup for the first time since 2007 after a comprehensive victory over Normanton Knights, earning a tie against semi-professional League One outfit Doncaster.

However, the win last weekend was overshadowed by a serious injury to Normanton’s winger Charlie Barker in the first set of six in the game. The Knights kicked forward and the ball reached Barker, but he twisted as he attempted to avoid going into touch.

He lay on the touchline with a suspected broken leg and the game was held up for 50 minutes while an ambulance arrived to take Barker to hospital.

When play resumed, Thornhill quickly built up a lead which Normanton were left to valiantly chase for the remainder of the game.

Luke Haigh was absolutely outstanding in the game, looking lively in attack and creating several opportunities for Thornhill.

There was also a brilliant performance from man of the match Casey Johnson, another player

who continually caused Normanton all sorts of problems.

It was Haigh who scored the first try of the game. This was created by Liam Morley who broke clear to put Matthew Tebb away, and he in turn fed Haigh to finish the move by scoring a try between the posts which Johnson converted.

Moments later Thornhill were once again testing the Normanton tryline. Haigh took play close and then, from the play-the-ball, Tom Gledhill powered over for another converted try.

Thornhill were now on a roll and seemed to be having an easy time of things, as Haigh stood up in a tackle and managed to get a pass out to Will Gledhill to get over the line. This was the only unsuccessful conversion attempt all game from Johnson, who had a remarkable afternoon kicking nine from 10 attempts.

Whether it was a case of Thornhill easing off or Normanton eventually recovering from the early injury setback, the visitors began to cause the Trojans some problems. After a stoppage in play which saw a Normanton player carried from the field, Ryan Kelsey forced his way over for a try, resulting in cheers from the large contingent of travelling supporters. Jacob Crossland converted.

A chip over from Normanton then caught the defence out and Luke Camplin was up in support of this attack to complete the move and go over for an unconverted try.

With their hold on the game now reduced to six points, Thornhill knew they had to get their act together. A try from Johnson, straight from a penalty situation, helped to steady their nerves.

Thornhill then scored a try through what appeared to be an element of good fortune. George Woodcock made a raid on the line but looked to have lost the ball, a defender failed to clear play and Declan Kaye pounced onto the loose ball to apply the necessary downward pressure. After consulting his touch judge the referee awarded the try, much to the annoyance of the Normanton supporters.

Just before half-time the Knights scored a well-worked try.

From a play-the-ball close to the Thornhill line, the ball was flipped towards the bottom touchline and Ben Carter was alert to the switch in play and took the ball to score an unconverted try in the corner.

However, in the second half the Trojans reigned supreme, scoring 34 unanswered points.

The hosts had Sam Ratcliffe sin-binned early in the second

35

half for tackling a player who was already on the floor. Despite this setback, they managed to score a try when Tom Gledhill sent out a pass which picked out Johnson and the loose forward ran onto the ball to score.

Thornhill then had Anthony Harris sent to the sin bin as well for punching before George Woodcock made a terrific break, with Haigh up in support to take the pass and go over for a try.

Haigh became try creator when he broke clear and sent a pass which picked out winger Ross Roebuck. There was never any doubt what was going to happen when Roebuck took the pass in full flight to race away.

In the closing stages of this game Kaye completed his hattrick of tries. After having two earlier scores waved away by the referee, Kaye finally got his second try when the ball was flung along the attacking line to allow him to score in the corner.

The same move was then repeated by Thornhill and reaped the same reward as Kaye dived over in the corner to complete his treble.

Monday night’s draw saw the Trojans handed a home clash against Doncaster, which will be played on February 8. The club have confirmed that the game will take place at the Tetley’s Stadium with a 2pm kick-off.

MATCH STATS BATLEY BULLDOGS: Luke Hooley Wayne Reittie Keenen Tomlinson Lewis Galbraith Dale Morton Ben White Danny Yates Toby Everett Shaun Lunt Jack Blagbrough Dane Manning Lucas Walshaw Shaun Pick Subs: Michael Ward Alistair Leak Sam Bowring Joe Taira George Senior Danny Bravo Dom Horn Tries: Manning (51, 80), Everett (59), Hooley (74).

Goals: Morton 3/4.

6 6 6 5 6 5 6 6 6 5 7 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 5

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS: Louis Senior 6 Travis Corion 7 Dom Young 7 Innes Senior 7 Ben Tibbs 6 Oliver Russell 8 Tom Holmes 7 Oliver Wilson 7 Reiss Butterworth 7 Jon-Luke Kirby 7 Oliver Roberts 7 Sam Wood 6 Sam Hewitt 6 Subs: Jordan Paga 7 Owen Trout 7 Alfie Copley 6 Callum Cameron 6 Reece Chapman-Smith 6 Connor Davies 7 Oliver Waite 6 Tries: Butterworth (8), Tibbs (12), Kirby (27), Roberts (35).

Goals: Russell 5/5.

Referee: B. Pearson Half-time: 0-26 Penalties: 13-10 Sin bin: Holmes (20, high tackle), Galbraith (29, repeated team offences) Man of the match: Oliver Russell (Huddersfield) Attendance: 422

Magrin settling in at tight-knit Rams CONFIDENCE: Jon Magrin is looking forward to the start of the season

JON MAGRIN says that he is settling in well at Dewsbury Rams and believes that the squad has become tight-knit over pre-season.

The back-rower has impressed in the Rams’ friendlies including scoring two tries in their win against Bradford, the club he departed to link up with Dewsbury for 2020.

Magrin said: “I’ve really enjoyed pre-season so far, it has been good to get to know all the lads and staff. I think we’ve got a great bunch and that’s always half the battle.

“The training programme has been gruelling but I feel fit and strong as a result of it.

“Pre-season has gone well, I think Greeny (coach Lee Greenwood) and his staff have put together a robust training programme that is sure to prepare us as best as possible for the season.

“The squad is getting more close knit with each session so hopefully we can go into round one with confidence and pull off an upset.”

The Championship season begins tonight (Friday) with a clash against Leigh Centurions at the Tetley’s Stadium and Magrin added: “I am looking forward to playing on the Friday night against Leigh. They are a quality outfit so we will have to bring our A game.”

Rams face a ‘step up’ in Leigh opener

Flynn handed Bulldogs deal

By Stephen Ibbetson DEWSBURY RAMS kick off the 2020 Championship campaign tonight (Friday) against Leigh Centurions, and coach Lee Greenwood has warned his squad that it will be a step up from what they have faced in pre-season.

Almost a fortnight has passed since their final friendly of a schedule which saw them draw on Boxing Day with Batley, lose in the final minute at Keighley and then beat Championship rivals Bradford.

But tonight’s curtain-raiser at the Tetley’s Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm) represents a step up from those games, against a club who have spent big and aspire to earn a place back in Super League at the end of the season.

Leigh have brought in no fewer than 15 new players in the winter, with established top-flight names including Junior Sa’u, Jarrod Sammut and Danny Addy joining John Duffy’s roster, and the strength of the squads in the Championship’s opening game reflects the disparity between budgets in the division.

“They’ve spent heavily to make a proper fist of it this year,” said Greenwood. “They said that once Toronto were out of the way they’d go for it, so they’ll be expecting to come and get off to a really good start on Friday. On paper it shouldn’t be a contest but that’s up to us to make it one.”

Dewsbury have made 13 new additions themselves and, while brought together on a very different budget, Greenwood believes that the attitude of the group over pre-season means that they are capable of giving some of the top teams a game – but warns that the challenge this week is greater than what they have come up against so far.

SIGNED UP: Flynn (left) with Lingard

READY TO GO: The Betfred Championship launch took place in Huddersfield, with Shaun Lunt (third from left) representing Batley Bulldogs and Paul Sykes (fifth from right) there for Dewsbury Rams He said: “It’s tough because they need to step up from what they’ve given us in pre-season.

Leigh are a level above what we’ve played in the last three games so we’re going to need to step up again.

“For lads who are playing their first proper Championship rugby or haven’t been regulars before, it’s a big ask.

“We’re in a good spot. We know what type of group we’ve got and what type of attitude we’ve got from over pre-season, so I think if you get a group of lads together and they give absolutely every-

thing, then surprise results happen.

“If they give absolutely everything and you can visibly see that, I certainly won’t be questioning them.”

The Rams have almost a full squad to choose from, with any lingering knocks from the side’s friendly fixtures all worn off.

Only Jason Walton remains out but there is positive news on that front too, with his operation earlier this week going well, putting the centre around six weeks away from being available to make his debut for the club.

The 21-man squads: DEWSBURY: Joe Martin, Andy Gabriel, Adam Ryder, Matty Fleming, Will Oakes, Paul Sykes, Liam Finn, Frazer Morris, Dom Speakman, Michael Knowles, Chris Annakin, Sam Day, Liam Johnson, Connor Scott, Martyn Reilly, Davey Dixon, Sonny Esslemont, Morgan Punchard, Luke Nelmes, Jon Magrin, James Thornton.

LEIGH: Gregg McNally, Ryan Ince, Iain Thornley, Junior Sa’u, Adam Higson, Ben Reynolds, Jarrod Sammut, Nathan Mason, Liam Hood, Mark Ioane, Ben Hellewell, Danny Addy, Matty Wildie, Jordan Thompson, Josh Woods, Tom Spencer, Nick Glohe, Craig Mullen, Callum Field, Alex Gerrard, Cameron Scott.

BATLEY BULLDOGS have handed a contract to forward Nyle Flynn following a successful trial at the club, on the eve of their Championship campaign getting underway.

Ahead of the visit of Featherstone Rovers to the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 3pm), head coach Craig Lingard has added to his ranks with the signature of the back-rower.

Flynn, 22, is a former Dewsbury Celtic junior who played in the Leeds Rhinos academy before joining Hunslet. He signed for Dewsbury Rams during the 2019 season and made five appearances, but he didn’t receive a new deal and crossed the district to go on trial with the Bulldogs aiming to land a contract.

After playing in three of Batley’s pre-season friendlies and impressing in training, a permanent deal was confirmed at the beginning of the week to see him follow in the footsteps of his father Adrian Flynn, a former Mount Pleasant favourite.

The Bulldogs have also had Sam Bowring and Dom Horn on trial in pre-season but Lingard says that any further deals may be dependent on arranging a dual-registration partnership with a Super League club’s reserve side.

“Without having a reserve team, it’s going to be difficult to give them much game time so we are making a few enquiries about whether we can dual-reg with a reserve team to get these guys some game time,” he said.

Batley’s first assignment of the campaign sees them face the side that lost the Championship Grand Final last season and, looking ahead to his first competitive match as boss, Lingard hopes his team can catch Featherstone cold.

“I think they’ve strengthened on top of what they had last year and they were Grand Finalists last year, so it is a tough start,” he said. “But I suppose you could say it’s a good time to get them, early in the season before they start winning lots of games.”

Continued on page 35

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