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ONE PAPER ... ALL THE NEWS from Dewsbury, Batley, Ossett, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton & Spen Valley
Friday July 12, 2019
No. 902
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FAMILY MOURNS ‘FANTASTIC LAD’ Tragic Luke, 18, killed in holiday island crash By Staff Reporters TRIBUTES have poured in for a Dewsbury teenager who died in a car crash on the island of Crete. Luke Hall, an apprentice builder from Dewsbury Moor, was a passenger in a soft-top 4x4 when it crashed into a wall and careered into a field following a night out in the resort of Malia in the early hours of Monday morning. The 18-year-old died instantly alongside driver Zara Crane Davies, 41, while a third passenger is now fighting for her life. Greek police said Ms Davies, from Manchester, hit a kerb on a seaside road and the jeep overturned, crashed into a wall and ended up in a field.
Poignant... mum Anne’s social media message before Luke left for holiday
Ms Davies’s friend, 39-year-old Louise Waddington, has suffered lifethreatening brain injuries but another 18-year-old passenger – according to local reports the only one wearing a seatbelt – escaped unscathed. He flagged down members of the public to help before being taken to the police station to give a statement. The two women had gone on holiday together and met the two young men on a night out. A senior police official in Greece said: “The car overturned as the 41year-old female, the driver, hit a kerb, sending her crashing into a wall. “She then rammed into a parked motorcycle and in her bid to regain control of the car steered it into the opposite lane, hitting another kerb that tipped the car into an empty field. “The impact and jolt that followed was enough to send (Mr Hall) flying backwards, landing on his head. He died instantly.” Police and paramedics said the scene was “harrowing” after finding
Holiday destination ... Malia on Crete Ms Davies dead in the front seat. Ms Waddington is in an intensive care unit in hospital in the Cretan capital, Heraklion. Luke was on holiday with three other friends who flew back to Leeds Bradford Airport on Tuesday evening. The 18-year-old twin was an apprentice builder at Walter West Ltd in Dewsbury, played football for Dewsbury Rangers and went to St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy. His mother, 46-year-old Anne, posted a now-poignant Facebook message to him before he flew out on June 28. She wrote: “Have an amazing time in Malia Luke. Please stay safe and come home in one piece xxx.” She has since flown out to Greece with Luke’s grandmother to bring his body home. Luke’s father Tom, 47, described his son as a “fantastic lad – the best Continued on Page 2
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Friday July 12, 2019
Tributes paid to much-loved Luke Continued from Page 1
Deaths BREARLEY STEVEN MICHAEL On July 1, in hospital, of Shaw Cross, formerly of Scout Hill, aged 65, partner of Alison. Requiem Mass will be celebrated
Funeral service will take place at St Patrick’s Church, Birstall, on Tuesday July 23 at 10.30am.
at Our Lady and St Paulinus RC Church on Monday July 22 at 11am.
GODDARD CHRISTOPHER
HINCHLIFFE EDGAR MORRIS
On July 3, at Bradford Royal Infirmary, a loving son, nephew and cousin.
On July 3, peacefully at home, Dewsbury, aged 77, husband of the late Jacqueline. Funeral service will take place at Cottingley Hall Crematorium, Leeds, on Wednesday July 17 at 11am.
Hospice, of Heckmondwike, aged 66, wife of the late Melvyn. Funeral service will take place at Huddersfield Crematorium on Wednesday July 31 at 11.15am.
SPENDLER KENNETH On July 4, in hospital, aged 83, husband of the late Jean. Funeral service will take place at Wakefield Crematorium on Thursday July 25 at 1pm.
PINDER (NEE SMITH) DORIS
STENTON SHEILA MARGARET
On June 13, peacefully in hospital, of Heckmondwike, aged 97, wife of the late Leonard. Funeral service will take place at Huddersfield Crematorium on Friday July 26 at 11.15am.
On July 4, formerly of Carlinghow, aged 79, wife of the late George. Funeral service will take place at St James Church, Heckmondwike, on Wednesday July 24 at 12.30pm.
TALBOT (NEE MCGRATH) KATHLEEN MAUREEN On July 6, in hospital, of Dewsbury, aged 80, wife of the late Allan. Funeral service will take place at Wakefield Crematorium on Friday July 26 at 11am.
WILLIAMS CLAUDIUS HERBERT On July 6, surrounded by his family in hospital, of Earlsheaton, aged 84, dad of Caroline, Elizabeth, Jacqueline, Karen, Christopher, Shayne, Vanessa, Conrad and Sarah, now re-united with Sylvia. Funeral service will take place at Huddersfield Crematorium on Saturday July 20 at 11.15am.
RILEY DAVID IAN On June 29, of Wakefield, formerly of Mirfield, aged 48, husband of Kate. Funeral service will take place at St Mary’s Parish Church, Mirfield, on Friday July 19 at 11am.
SCAIFE (NEE PADGETT) MARGARET
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On June 30, aged 83, wife of the late Charles. Funeral service will take place at St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Liversedge, on Wednesday July 17 at 12.15pm.
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ever”. He added: “It was their first lads’ holiday and it was the first time Luke had been away without his mum and dad. His twin Jacob is lost, he’s broken, he’s sobbing constantly.” On Wednesday, Luke’s amateur football club Dewsbury Rangers released a statement which read: “The club is devastated at the extremely sad and shocking news of the loss of Luke Hall. “Such a nice young man will be missed by so many and all his teammates. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Luke’s family and friends at this very sad time.” Heartbroken cousin Chelsea
Concerns grow for missing man, 32 POLICE looking for a missing Dewsbury man are becoming increasingly concerned for his welfare. Alex Starikov, aged 32, was reported missing on Saturday (July 6) but was last seen by his family on July 2. He is described as white, around 5ft 10ins tall, of stocky build, with short brown hair and grey eyes. When he was last seen he was wearing a blue short-sleeved t-shirt, blue trousers with patches across the knees and was carrying a large backpack. He also has links to the North Yorkshire area. Det Insp Mark Catney, of Kirklees CID, said: “We want to urgently trace Alex to check he is ok. His family are becoming increasingly concerned about him. “I would like to appeal directly to Alex or anyone who sees him to get in touch immediately.” Anyone with information should contact Kirklees CID on 101, quoting log 541 of July 6.
ThePress Friday July 12, 2019 Issue No: 902
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Murphy paid tribute to Luke online, saying: “He was such a placid lad who would do anything for anyone. He was just starting a career in joinery. “He was caring and supportive to anyone, not just family. He was a popular boy who had many friends. “Fly high Luke. Forever in our thoughts and always in our hearts. Love you kidda.” Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff said: “Devastated to learn of the death of a local young man who was on holiday in Malia, Crete. “Thoughts with his family and all who knew him at this sad time. RIP Luke.” A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed they were supporting the families.
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The Press abides by the principles of the Independent Press Standards Organisation and at all times attempts to report fairly and accurately and correct mistakes or errors as soon as possible. In the first instance, contact the editor, otherwise we will be happy to give details of the Independent Press Standards Organisation. If you notice a factual inaccuracy, please email news@thepressnews.co.uk. You can also write to The Press, 31 Branch Road, Batley, WF17 5SB We adhere to the Editors’ Code of Practice as enforced by IPSO, who are contactable for advice at: IPSO, Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, London, EC4M 7LG Website: www.ipso.co.uk Email: advice@ipso.co.uk Telephone: 0300 123 2220
Time to move on A LONG-ESTABLISHED caravan firm in Mirfield is selling up and moving premises. Kenmore Caravans has been trading from its Huddersfield Road site for 20 years – but recently announced plans to build new retail units there. The company is working with property developers Morbaine Ltd to “re-model its business in line with current market requirements”. A planning application has been lodged and the site has received interest from various retailers. Graham Adams, of Morbaine, said: “This is a highly prominent site on a main arterial route and we have had many enquiries from retailers keen to occupy new premises in this location.”
ThePress
Friday July 12, 2019
Two arrested after girl, 12, dies in hit-and-run motorway crash By Staff Reporters A MAN and a woman were arrested following a hit-and-run motorway crash in which a 12year-old girl was killed. Sana Patel died after her family’s Nissan Qashqai collided with a Vauxhall Corsa on the M61 near Bolton at around 10.45pm on Saturday. The occupants of the Corsa fled the scene and a search by
Lancashire Police led to the arrest of two people from North Kirklees. The man, aged 28 and from Dewsbury, and the woman, 23, from Mirfield, were both arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, while the man was also arrested for failing to stop at the scene of an accident. Both have been released pending further enquiries. Sana, from Blackburn, was travelling home with her family
when the smash happened on the northbound carriageway of the motorway, between junction eight and the Bolton West/Rivington services. Superintendent Andy Cribbin, of Lancashire Police, said: “This was a tragic incident in which 12year-old Sana Patel lost her life and our thoughts are very much with her family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time. “We have made two arrests but
are very much still trying to establish what happened and are asking anybody who saw the collision or either vehicle in the moments before it happened to get in touch as soon as possible. “We would also like to speak to anyone who was in the Corsa at the time and would urge them to make contact with us.” Anyone with any information is asked to get in touch via 101, quoting log number 1817 of July 6.
Pub regulars take on trek in the Dales to raise cash for charity A GROUP of regulars at a pub took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise money for a mental health charity. Customers at the George Inn at Healey had already started fundraising for the Dewsbury-based Take Ten charity and John Kilroy, who lives just down the road from the pub, wanted to do his bit after his family was affected by suicide. So he decided to get a group of 14 family and friends together to complete
MPs back Labour’s Remain policy in any upcoming Brexit referendum THE DISTRICT’S two MPs have both supported Labour’s announcement this week that their party would back ‘Remain’ in any referendum called on a Conservative Brexit deal. On Tuesday Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn unveiled a “settled” policy of campaigning to Remain if a referendum was held on a Government deal to leave the European Union. Corbyn made no reference to what stance Labour would take in the event of a general election in the near future. In the 2016 Brexit referendum the Batley & Spen constituency voted 59.63 per cent to 40.37 per cent in favour of leaving. Similarly, Dewsbury and Mirfield voted 57.15 per cent to 42.85 per cent to leave. In a statement yesterday (Thurs) Batley & Spen MP Tracy Brabin said: “The Brexit process is in a mess and responsibility for that lies with the Conservative government. “Theresa May failed in securing a decent deal that MPs could support and now we have Tory leadership candidates grandstanding about a nodeal exit. This chaos helps no-one, so in order to stop a disastrous no deal and let you have the final say on any Brexit deal, I will support a second referendum. “Those following my actions closely will know this is a decision I’ve come to reluctantly but it’s now painfully clear a new instruction from the British people is now required.” Dewsbury and Mirfield MP Paula Sherriff said: “Over the past three years the Conservatives have failed to negotiate a deal which carries the support of the majority of the country, or which protects our rights as workers, consumers or the economy. “I have been clear throughout this process – from my vote to trigger Article 50, to my writing this today – that a No Deal exit, and the damage it would cause, would be a disaster for our country and must be prevented; I was elected on this pledge in 2017.
“Labour has worked to respect the result of the referendum and come to a compromise with the Government which can carry the support of Parliament and the country. “The Tories’ dithering, delays and disastrous red lines made sure that these efforts were not successful. We are now at an impasse and it now seems that one way or another the public will have to have their say to break the deadlock.”
WHEELWRIGHT COLLEGE, BIRKDALE ROAD, DEWSBURY, WF13 4HQ PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION
INVITATION TO A PUBLIC CONSULTATION EVENT A consultations for the proposed Wheelwright College residential conversion will take place 18 July 2019. Everyone with an interest in the proposed development is invited to attend this public consultation forum at which representatives from Beckwith Design Associates Ltd, Architects for the development will be present to discuss the proposals and answer any questions. The date, time and venue is as follows: 18 July 2019 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm Wheelwright College, Birkdale Road, Dewsbury.
the 25-mile trek in memory of his wife Jane’s brothers, Michael and Mark Ormondroyd, who both took their own life. It took the walkers between nine and 12 hours to climb Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent in the Yorkshire Dales last month. At the pub this week, a huge £3,650 was donated to Take Ten’s founder Stevie Oliver, who said she was “overwhelmed” by the support.
News In Brief Yobs told: Try cricket BATLEY: Yobs who vandalised a local cricket club are being urged by officials to come to the ground and get involved with the sport. The culprits set fire to a pile of wood and new fencing at Mount Cricket Club on Halifax Road last week. It’s not the first time the club has been hit by vandals and development officer Abdul Ravat believes the offenders are bored youngsters. Abdul said he wants “these young people to be involved … and become role models.” The club has been running community cricket for over 40 years and caters for dozens of junior cricketers and children with disabilities. Abdul added: “We have some wonderful examples of kids doing wonderful stuff as a result of what we do.”
Family fun day DEWSBURY: Thousands of people are expected at charity group Kumon Y’all’s seventh annual family fun day tomorrow (Saturday). There’ll be a six-a-side football tournament for under-13s, under-15s and over-35s at £30 per team, and an ‘archery kombat’ competition for over-18s for £10 a team. The day kicks off at Savile Town playing fields at 9am and there’ll also be a barbecue, bouncy castle, donkey rides and much more. For more information on teams and stalls, email enquiries@kumonyall.co.uk.
Charity wrestling BATLEY: A charity wrestling show is being held next weekend to raise money for the Yorkshire Down Syndrome Group. The Batley-based charity helps families and people who care for children with Down’s. The fun event is at the UK Wrestling Training Centre on Branch Road on Saturday, July 20. Doors open at 5.30pm, with the first bell bout at 6pm. A £3 donation is recommended on the door. Hot food and refreshments are available.
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News In Brief
Hospital trust’s annual meeting NORTH KIRKLEES: The trust which runs Dewsbury Hospital is holding its annual general meeting at Pindersfields Hospital in Wakefield on Tuesday, July 30 (5.30pm). Members of the public will get the chance to speak with Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust staff before officials give presentations on achievements and challenges, and the annual report and accounts from the past year. There will be a question and answer session. Any questions for the trust’s board members should be emailed to communications@midyorks.nhs.uk.
Grass fire battle NORTH KIRKLEES: Firefighters spent more than an hour putting out a huge grass fire on a stretch of land between Ravensthorpe and Thornhill Lees last Friday. Crews from Mirfield, Dewsbury and Cleckheaton were called to the 1km-long and 300m-wide blaze just after 5pm. Six fire-beaters and hoses were needed to stop the flames, which firefighters managed to get under control by around 6.30pm.
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Friday July 12, 2019
Men can be care-givers too, says foster dad Phil A LOCAL dad who said his first year as a foster carer was “great fun” is calling on more people to take up the role. Last year Phil Weston swapped his job of 15 years in a debt recovery unit for full-time fostering – a decision he wishes he’d made sooner. The 49-year-old was initially held back by fears he would be turned down on the basis that most main care-givers are women, but he says the fostering team at Kirklees Council made him feel at ease. Now he is backing calls by the council for more people, including men, to consider fostering after opening up about the positive effect it has had on him, his wife Becky and 11-year-old son Isaac. “When I first enquired about becoming a foster carer I genuinely thought I wouldn’t qualify because I’m a man,” said Phil. “But, far from it being an issue, I was actually encouraged to apply by the fostering team at Kirklees. “With my wife working full-time as an advanced nurse practitioner and me facing redundancy at work, it made more sense for me to be the main care-giver. “I was definitely in the minority when I went on all the training courses but nobody made me feel
uncomfortable or out of place. In fact, the response I’ve had as a male foster carer has been really positive. “So far I’ve looked after two boys; one aged 13 and another aged 11. I suppose you could argue that being a male foster carer makes me more relatable to older boys, but ultimately it’s having a stable and loving environment that will make the biggest difference to a child.” Having been told for years by friends and family that he was a natural with children, Phil attributes much of his success as a foster carer to being ‘young at heart’. He said: “As a foster carer you find your own style of parenting which may or may not work for a child. I’m relatively new to it all, but for me what’s worked so far is getting on the same level as a child. “I’ve seen gradual but definite progress in the children I’ve looked after. Where manners and basic hygiene might have been lacking, hand-washing, ‘pleases’ and ‘thank you’s’ have soon become a given. “I’ve seen instances where a child has struggled to make friends at school because of trust issues and home routines have been non-existent. But with time and encouragement, friendships have been established and homework readily done without having to ask. Care-giver... Phil with wife Becky and son Isaac “All of this is as a result of a child havchildren in the ing fostering service ing someone in their Kirklees care system. manager at Kirklees, life who believes in Added Phil: “Foster added: “Fostering is them and a home caring is about so all about the level of where there’s love and much more than look- care, love and attenlaughter, but equally, ing after children. tion that an individroutine and boundThere’s so much scope ual can provide to a aries. I truly believe to develop, whether child, rather than it’s also about taking it’s doing training being about age, gensmall steps and setcourses to top up your der or sexual orientating achievable goals skills, training other tion. with the aim of foster carers or sitting “But because fosterencouraging a child to in on approval panels; ing is traditionally do well. no matter how long perceived as a female “At home, Becky you’ve been doing it, profession, many men and I work on the fostering is a continu- are deterred from takbasis that reward, al learning curve. ing on the role as the rather than punish“If I could say one main care-giver. Yet ment, helps to motithing to anyone think- male foster carers like vate a child. From ing of fostering, it is Phil can play a vital this we’ve seen them to please look into it. role in the lives of making the effort to You might think there many children in become the best peoare barriers but you care, particularly for ple they possibly can might find, like me, a child who has never be.” that making that inihad a positive male Statistics locally tial call will set you role model in their and nationally reveal on a path that will life. a huge shortage of fos- transform your life, as “It’s a difficult truth ter carers, particularwell as those of the that older children ly for youngsters over many vulnerable chil- tend to have more the age of seven, who dren who need your issues than younger make up around 75 help.” ones as they’ve per cent of the 469 Andy Quinlan, actmissed out on those
As a foster carer you find your own style of parenting... I’m relatively new to it all, but what’s worked so far is being on the same level as a child.
essential building blocks for longer. They may have suffered more years of neglect than a younger child and might have missed out on the love and attention that all children need to make them well-rounded and whole. “Often they come into care feeling very alone and they might find it hard to make friends, especially if they’ve been moved around various foster homes. “But it’s never too late to start laying those foundations and the rewards in helping to turn a child’s life around are huge.” ■ To find out more about fostering in Kirklees, ring 0800 389 0086 or visit www. kirklees.gov.uk/ fostering.
‘Hepatitis’ man spat blood around store A MAN claiming to have hepatitis spat blood from an arm wound around a Dewsbury shop. Shoppers at the B&M store on Link Road on Monday afternoon said the 47-year-old was covered in blood and had been threatening staff who originally suspected him of shoplifting. One witness said the man had been escorted out by staff but kept coming back.
He reportedly blocked the exit door by “putting his blood all over everything” and then “started spitting it in the store, opening his wounds further as if to make them bleed more.” While doing so he was apparently shouting that he had the hepatitis C virus, which is spread through exposure to an infected person’s blood. Police were called at around
3.30pm and managed to calm the man down so he could receive medical attention. Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed he was taken to Pinderfields Hospital with a hand injury. A police spokesman said: “The man had laceration injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. He has since been released and taken into custody.”
ThePress
Friday July 12, 2019
MP’s dental service plea to the PM DEWSBURY MP Paula Sherriff has called on the government to improve NHS dental services in her constituency. The plea comes after Ravensthorpe’s only remaining NHS dental practice was closed this week. Miss Sherriff pressed Prime Minister Theresa May in the House of Commons to take responsibility. She asked: “Does the Prime Minister accept that the real decay is in the values of a society that does not provide free healthcare to all its citizens, and that her government is responsible?” Speaking after the debate, Miss Sherriff added: “I’m meeting with local commissioners this week to press for a solution to the lack of any NHS dentistry in Ravensthorpe. Travelling out of the area is not possible for some, often those who are most at risk of poor dental health. “But after years of inadequate access, local people know this is just the latest evidence of woeful dental provision. The government must do more to deliver on promises to improve access to NHS dental services and address regional inequalities. “Local people should not be left to go without dental care – the costs of tooth decay far outweigh the costs of prevention and it is local patients who are paying the price.”
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News In Brief Hundreds attend park Pride event Coun Gwen Lowe, second left, with members of the railway station friends group
Why red flags are flying at Batley railway station By Zoe Shackleton IF you’ve visited Batley Railway Station over the past few weeks you will have noticed its exterior has been adorned with scores of huge red flags. While you may not have tried to count them as you walk through the entrance, there are in fact 150 – all hand-made by members of the Friends of Batley Station group. Volunteer Julia King wanted to do something to make the station look more attractive whilst also celebrating 150 years since Batley became a borough. Julia explained how she had seen old photos of Batley with similar bunting and wanted to recreate that look – as well as giving a nod to the popular film The Railway Children, where young-
sters would wave red flags to passing trains. She said: “It’s 150 years of Batley and we wanted to mark that. It’s all about improving the town. If you can do something in the town to cheer people up then do it.” Julia came up with the idea in May and the flags were completed in time to put up before the Great Get Together weekend at the end of June. Coun Gwen Lowe, who founded the friends group four years ago, said: “We wanted to start looking after the station because it’s the gateway into Batley. “We want to enhance it so that when people come to use the station or going out into Batley they are amazed by it. “Just by doing the bunting it’s a bit quirky and something differ-
ent and it’s a talking point – that’s what we want, people to talk about the station.” The flags are part of a wider project to spruce up the station by the friends group, who spend their Saturday mornings clearing up and planting flowers. They meet every week at 9.30am and Coun Lowe is looking for more volunteers to help out. She said: “All volunteers have something different to offer and it’s lovely because there’s no pressure to do anything. You might want to get really stuck in digging in the new garden or take yourself onto one of the platforms and sweep up.” Anyone interested in helping can get in touch with the Friends of Batley Station on Facebook or just turn up from 9.30am on Saturdays.
BATLEY: Hundreds of people flocked to Wilton Park for the second annual Pride event last Saturday. Craig Munns, who helped organise the event to celebrate the town’s diversity and LGBTQ+ community, said: “We had around 500 people attend, which is well up on the 150 from last year because we had more time to promote it. “We had demonstrations by local cheerleaders and a taekwondo group, there were readings by Batley poets, live music from local LGBT singers, a drag act and stalls, plus games, a bouncy castle and food. Everybody said it was amazing.”
Tribute band festival NORTH KIRKLEES: A new music festival dedicated to tribute bands is rocking into Oakwell Hall at Birstall tomorrow (Saturday). The Livefields festival is the brainchild of the owners of Cleckheaton’s popular music venue Live Room. The line-up includes acts like The Antarctic Monkeys and The Clone Roses. Over 2,000 tickets have been sold and fans can also pay on the gate (£30). Doors open at 2pm.
Support group talk DEWSBURY: Professor Philip Quirke, from the University of Leeds School of Medicine, will give a presentation on bowel cancer and colorectal surgery to the Dewsbury and District Stoma Support Group on Thursday, July 25 (7pm). The group supports people who have had or are about have colorectal surgery. Anyone affected, including partners and carers, is invited to the meeting in the Oak Room at Dewsbury Hospital’s Oakwell Centre. For more information ring 07884 003945 or email dews.ssg@gmx.com.
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Mess with the system at your peril OU won’t find many journalists, editors or publishers of British newspapers who have ever caused a criminal trial to be halted, been hauled before a judge and accused of being in Contempt of Court.
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It’s serious stuff. You mess with those vain, bewigged egomaniacs at your peril. And I’ll be very surprised if you can find an editor who, having risked the wrath of one of those arrogant dolts, is mad enough to repeat the dose and risk finding him or herself behind bars a second time. I have. Not twice though. Old loudmouth Locky’s got a hat-trick to his name in that legal game. I almost hesitate to mention the score at risk of tempting fate (3-0 to the scribe) but there is a reason I felt able to challenge the judi-
Tommy Robinson at the Old Bailey ciary – which was actually knowing what I was doing, what the law said and the boundaries therein. Coming from the old school of journalistic ethics, the intricacies of this specific area was drummed into us early and repeatedly.
Conversely however, a judge might rarely be faced with a case of contempt. And when it does arise, quite often the ‘crime’ can be something as simple and silly as offending the judge’s godcomplex, because in that courtroom, he/she is all-pow-
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erful. Boy, does it go to most of their heads. If you’re unwise enough to get sufficiently under their wigs, they can and will despatch you downstairs to cool off in a cell, issue a summary fine or even – very, very rarely – lock you up for up to two years. No matter that when they get it wrong (which is not unusual) any professional redress is far from the public gaze, while for the poor sap suddenly in the dock the damage is done. Now don’t get me wrong, I can’t quote the 1981 Contempt of Court Act chapter and verse – that would deserve being told to ‘get a life’ – but where it relates to what newspapers can and can’t report, and especially when, we have to be on our toes. It was in that guise that I attended the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey) last week to observe the Contempt of Court trial of Tommy Robinson, who had Facebook-streamed some of the Kirklees men accused of grooming and raping children as they arrived at Leeds Crown Court. It has very precise implications for The Press, especially with 90-odd more people being arrested on very similar charges in Dewsbury and Batley. Without boring you rigid, in the Robinson case the evidential proceedings had ended and the jury was out, but the trial – one of three linked trials featuring 29 accused – was covered by
reporting restrictions, which is what it says on the packet; no coverage of proceedings until all three are finished. Robinson’s problems started when he arrived at Leeds Crown Court and there was no mention of restrictions either on the court screens, the door of the actual court, or the court website – a mistake court staff embarrassingly admitted. Even so, Robinson did not repeat anything of the case except the names and charges of those involved, with liberal use of ‘allegedly’ and ‘innocent until guilty’ codicils, which is where it got interesting because that information was in the public domain and easily accessible on news websites; indeed, as the judge who dragged Robinson off the street and banged him up for 13 months subsequently ruled, it in no way prejudiced the trial and those vile men went away for a long time. (The Leeds judge’s actions and rulings were subsequently criticised and overruled, not much consolation to Robinson who spent over two months weeks in solitary on a starvation diet, before winning his appeal and being freed). Once upon a time, that might have been that, but it’s years since British judges scrapped the ‘double jeopardy’ law that means you can’t be tried for the same offence twice. Interestingly, the two judges who gave the Attorney General permission to try
again with the controversial Robinson, were the same two who then presided over the trial. Anyway, notwithstanding sound defence legal arguments, they took minutes to find him guilty. If you’d been sat alongside me, you could have foreseen that from the get-go. Why? Robinson had offended the dignity of the court, he’d got under the judges’ bouffant wigs. He needed putting in his place. I’ve read their judgment and found it appallingly biased – and don’t get me going on judges being fair or impartial. From long experience I can assure you that most of them are very, very far from that and judges Sharp and Warby were visibly hostile and dismissive of both Robinson in the dock and his (admittedly rather pathetic) barrister Richard Furlong. Was he guilty of contempt? Possibly, in its strictest definition, but not seriously, and certainly not – I believe – in the manner Sharp and Warby chose to interpret. He was certainly stupid to put himself in the position in the first place, but boy did the judges cash in on behalf an establishment that’s been overtly trying to silence, harm and even enable the killing of Tommy Robinson for years. Justice was not well served this week – again – but sad to say, that’s no longer a surprise in this country.
Saddle up for more politics ’M NOT sure I’ve recovered sufficiently yet – mentally or physically – to endure three or more months of endless backstabbing and doom-mongering (and that’s just an everyday tea-time at the Lockwood household!) Only kidding. Of course it’s the politics. But even before Boris takes the Tory reins and tries to tame those bucking Brussels broncos, there’s a stampede of domestic wild horses threatening to kick the stable doors down. John Major is one of the most disastrous Prime Ministers of the modern era, although he’s in great company with Gordon ‘spectrum’ Brown and Theresa ‘poor me’ May. I don’t know who Major thinks he is, but his lip-wobbling threats to run to court in order to defy statutes ironically passed by the very MPs now trying to undo them, verge on not just unpatriotic and undemocratic, but treasonous. He’s got plenty of company. That said, Bojo’s biggest challenge won’t be to survive that wild ride on the backs of the EU commissars, but to avoid the hoofs in the head being aimed by his so-called Tory allies led by the dolorous Philip Hammond, soon to be the ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer. And with the Labour Party in a state of total civil strife, the stage is finally set for the most seismic three or four months in politics since … well, the last three or four months. Yee-ha, ride ‘em cowboy!
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O, LABOUR are now the official party of Remain, notwithstanding the fact Comrade Corbyn despises the EU and is probably a more sincere Leaver than Boris. I’ll
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bet Lib Dem teddies are being thrown out of cots the country over. Local MPs Paula Sherriff and Tracy Brabin have confirmed what we’ve known all along (see p3), that both are arch-Remainers. Oh sure, they are all wide-eyed sincere with soothing ministrations about ‘delivering a proper Brexit for the people’ but no one’s fooled. As with a large rump of Parliament, as with the EU gauleiters, they’re maintaining the illusion of process while being 100 per cent devoted to overturning the referendum result. At least with Corbyn it’s just plain, cynical ambition to cause maximum disruption, win a general election, and wreak economic havoc on the country. But there’s the point. Labour have adopted this opportunistic Remain tag to hopefully put the Lib Dems back in their box and appeal to any remainers who rank EU membership over suitable governance of the UK. On our patch, Paula and Tracy may be hoping their Muslim bloc vote, allied to that, will get them home. One thing though – local pollsters found the ethnic minority vote in Dewsbury and Batley was hugely Leave, which throws another element into the mix. These will be fascinating weeks and months, if you can withstand the temptation to reach for the bottles of whisky and pills.
ThePress
Friday July 12, 2019
Emmerdale star calls in at new care home FORMER Emmerdale star Charlie Hardwick and the Mayor of Kirklees were guests of honour at the official opening of a £6m care home in Cleckheaton. The 86-bed Birch Park, run by Darrington Healthcare, offers residential, dementia and nursing care and has created 110 full- and part-time jobs. Standing in landscaped
gardens on Serpentine Road, the home features ensuite rooms, three dining suites, a cafe and bar, a hair and beauty salon, cinema and activity rooms and internet access. Late last month, McCarthy and Stone’s Brooke Dene Court retirement living development also opened next to the new care home. Darrington Healthcare
Emmerdale’s Charlie Hardwick, left, with Mayoress Noreen Hussain, Mayor Mumtaz Hussain and Darrington Healthcare managing director Eric Dixon at Birch Park.
managing director Eric Dixon said: “While Birch Park represents a £6m investment, it is the quality of staff who make the home a real home. “Our people are recruited for their genuine kindness and ability to deliver a high standard of personalised care that meets the needs of our residents. “The mayor told us that he was impressed as soon as he walked in the door.” This is Darrington Healthcare’s fifth Yorkshire care home, with others in Pontefract, Doncaster, Dewsbury and Huddersfield.
Finance chiefs play down council’s £6m of bad debt By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter KIRKLEES Council wrote off almost £6m of bad debt during the financial year 2018-19 – but finance chiefs have advised it reflects only a tiny percentage of the authority’s revenue. They have also warned those whose debt has been formally written off that it may still be pursued in future if new information comes to light. The largest write-offs were in council tax (£1,882,304), adult social care (£1,409,686), business rates (£910,652) and finance
services (£811,250), which relates mainly to housing benefit overpayment recovery. The cumulative figure of £5.9m was slightly higher than the 2017-18 amount of £5.5m. But as a percentage of debt raised it was 1.2 per cent. In 2016-17, the percentage was higher at 1.4 per cent. As the fifth-largest council in the country, Kirklees has 187,894 properties liable for council tax (realising £203m in 2018-19) and 16,003 properties for business rates (realising £107m). The authority achieved a collection rate of 98.55 per
cent in council tax and 98.5 per cent in business rates. Whilst council tax arrears increased to £17m, the percentage compared to the overall debit was approximately 0.08 per cent, due to a large increase in the annual debit raised. Overall collection of arrears is also rising year on year. The Conservatives’ deputy leader Coun John Taylor said: “We are hitting a collection rate of 98.55 per cent. This is a good news story.” James Anderson, senior finance manager for Kirklees Council, told a
meeting of the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee that they did not give up on pursuing bad debts. He commented: “Some debts may be written off if people have left the area or circumstances have changed but we can add them back on. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we have forgotten about it. “We will endeavour to collect if at all possible. The story doesn’t necessarily stop there.” Coun Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) said: “We have to recognise that all large organisations in
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the public or private sector will have debts that they run on. “Although the figure is large, that doesn’t mean to say that (debts) are not pursued for collection.” She added: “The only negative comment – or encouragement – I can provide is that if Leeds and Wakefield can manage 0.5 per cent then maybe we do need to try a bit harder. It would be good to get it below one per cent.” Coun Steve Hall (Lab, Heckmondwike) said Kirklees was performing “pretty well in today’s financial climate”.
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News In Brief Showtime fun again at fire headquarters BIRKENSHAW: The popular Emergency Services Show returns to the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service headquarters tomorrow (Saturday). The family fun day will give crowds a taste of what life is like in the emergency services, with everything from mock-up crash rescues to dramatic demonstrations from the fire service. WYFRS will have a host of specialist fire engines and equipment on display, so visitors can see what being a firefighter is really like. There will be stalls selling crafts and goods, little Freddie the fire engine, donkey rides and music from the WYFRS band. Fairground rides will be on site for the thrill seekers, whilst catering outlets and a fully licensed bar will offer a variety of food and drink. Running from 11.30am to 4.30pm at Oakroyd Hall in Birkenshaw, entry is £3 and under-fours get in free. For more information email receptionist@westyorksfire.gov.uk.
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David 61, from Dewsbury would like to meet lady of similar age for friendship, outings etc. Please reply to PO Box TMP004 “Companionship” c/o The Press News Ltd, 31 Branch Road, Batley, WF17 5SB
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ThePress
Friday July 12, 2019
Danny would be left floundering by them! Letter of the Week: Steve Cass, Mirfield I’VE OFTEN found rugby league followers have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to football – and I say this knowing that my eldest son and his friends who follow rugby league and read this newspaper will probably read these words (if they’re published!). Hope they’re not too annoyed, some of them are beefy guys – lol, as they say! Rugby league’s relationship to football is a bit like that of Huddersfield Town fans to Leeds United – rivalry driven by envy. But I’m a football fan and a Leeds fan so I take it in good
Keep our streets clean From: Linda Harrison, Birstall Recently I’ve read a lot about the vision Kirklees councillors have for regenerating Huddersfield. Well, at some point in the future it may prove to be money well spent. But could Kirklees Council explain what the policy is for keeping the pavements and paths in the area clear of weeds and obstructions? I have complained to Kirklees about the appalling state of one particular stretch of pavement in Birstall, but it’s also a problem everywhere in Kirklees now. Apart from being issued with a complaint reference number that is all the response I have had. I have also emailed two of Birstall’s councillors about the problem. Again I have yet to get a response. I have also noticed that Leeds Road leading up to
spirit. Like all football fans I know football’s the better game, and like all Leeds fans I know Leeds is a more significant outfit than Town is. Danny Lockwood (The Press, July 5) is thrilled more by a rugby league scrum than he is by women’s football. Fair enough, it takes all sorts. But Mr Lockwood is wrong to say that the women’s world cup wasn’t elite sport; it featured the best women footballers in the world – it is by definition elite sport. This is not to say that it’s as good as the male version. But
Bruntcliffe has weeds growing in gutters and pavements, yet as soon as the road and pavement come under Leeds Council control the weeds have been kept to a minimum. Why is this I wonder? At what point will the council do something about the problem? The particular stretch of pavement I am concerned about runs from the junction of Upper Batley Lane down towards the Coach and Six traffic lights. The pavement is now totally unfit to walk on, with bushes protruding out from the retaining wall obstructing anyone trying to use the pavement and hitting wing mirrors of passing cars. As there is a bus stop on this stretch of pavement it means passengers have to criss-cross Leeds Road twice to get to and from the bus stop. Are Kirklees Council waiting for a serious accident to happen before they take responsibilty for the disgusting state of the pavement? May I suggest a representa-
then nobody argues that it is. The same goes for tennis surely. The top women couldn’t compete in the men’s game – does this mean that the women appearing at Wimbledon aren’t elite players? Mr Lockwood dreams: “Those USA women really wouldn’t have known what was hitting them when a 6ft 1in, 14-stone centre half came lumbering into their box...” I’m sure they’d be terrified, but even so, my guess is the most likely outcome of such an event would be him being nutmegged and left on his backside wondering where the ball had gone.
tive from the council takes a good look around Birstall and surrounding areas. It’s happy to splash the cash in Huddersfield so can we have a bit splashed on keeping the rest of Kirklees clean and tidy? I welcome a response from anyone who can enlighten me on this issue.
Celebrating our 150th From: Peter Moreland, Heckmondwike In 1871 a piece of land in Darley Street, Heckmondwike was purchased for the building of a Catholic school and mass centre which became known as St Patrick’s. Until then Catholics in Heckmondwike had been served from St Paulinus church in Dewsbury. In 18 months’ time the 150th anniversary will be celebrated at Holy Spirit Catholic Church Heckmondwike and a num-
ber of special events will be planned, including an anniversary booklet. We are seeking any information readers may be able to provide, especially photos to include in this and would ask people to contact me at petermoreland@hotmail.com or ring me on 01924 501774. We published a book – A Century Of Change – in 2014 to celebrate the centenary of Holy Spirit Church and copies are still available from me.
A loss of perspective From: Alec Suchi, Bradford As the Labour Party has been accused of tolerating supposed anti-semitism, likewise the Conservative Party is said to be accepting of Islamophobia. Demands are being made that the Conservative Party undertake a thorough investigation, and to take resolute action against those who had expressed comments consid-
LATEST PLANNING APPLICATIONS Shove It Up Your Cult Records, change of use from B1 office to D2 assembly and leisure (within a Conservation Area),15 Union Street, Dewsbury. F Hafejee, two-storey side extension, front porch and formation of new vehicular access (within a Conservation Area), 6 Osborne Terrace, Batley. Mr Oldroyd, detached dwelling with associated garden and parking, rear of 6 Peep Green Road, Hartshead. L Richardson, single-storey rear and two-storey side extension, 21 Frank Close, Thornhill. A Smith, the proposal is for erection of single-storey rear
extension. The extension projects 3.8m beyond the rear wall of the original dwellinghouse. The maximum height of the extension is 3.8m, the height of the eaves of the extension is 2.6m, 8 Ashbourne Way, Cleckheaton. A Hussain, two-storey rear extension and front porch, 35 Spen Valley Road, Ravensthorpe. K Hartley, certificate of lawfulness for proposed singlestorey rear extension, 30 Norwood Drive, Birstall. H Greaves, single-storey rear extension and alterations to roof, 6 Balderstone, Hall Lane, Mirfield. Z Hussain, two-storey side and rear and single-storey
front extensions (modified proposal), 17 Lincoln Avenue, Heckmondwike. J Wroe, variation of condition 2 (plans and specification) on previous permission 2016/94041 for erection of 4 detached dwellings, plot 2, land off Liley Lane, Grange Moor. T Ashraf, first floor extension to side, 125 Hollinbank Lane, Heckmondwike. Y Ashfaq, dormer window to front, 2 Mavis Avenue, Scout Hill. Mrs Rose, porch to front, 3 York Drive, Upper Batley. Esso Petroleum Company Ltd, erection of illuminated pylon sign, Esso Dewsbury Express, Wakefield Road,
Earlsheaton. James Brodie, work to TPO 22/95, 2 Hill Park, Upper Hopton. Mr J Henley, work to tree TPO 23/92, 15 Knowl Park Gardens, Mirfield. A Patel, the proposal is for erection of single-storey rear extension. The extension projects 6m beyond the rear wall of the original dwellinghouse. The maximum height of the extension is 4m, the height of the eaves of the extension is 3m, 4 Manor Road, Soothill. M Osman, discharge of conditions 4 (noise) and 5 (land contamination) on previous application 2016/92853 for change of use of former
working men’s club to 10 apartments (within a Conservation Area), former Dewsbury Working Men’s Club, Oates Street, Dewsbury. R Toulson, work to trees, 22 Peep Green Road, Hartshead. Bluubean Ltd, discharge condition 3 (windows) on previous permission 2019/90700 for Listed Building Consent for replacement windows, heads, cills, mullions and door, installation of two rooflights and rebuilding of section of front elevation, 1 Listing Drive, Liversedge. Mr Taylor, dead or dangerous tree, Oakwood House, Upper Batley Low Lane, Upper Batley.
ered offensive or hostile towards Islam and its adherents. Whilst crude and chauvinistic language is not to be condoned or encouraged, our attempts to control and censure what is said may amount to a form of censorship which could prevent legitimate and justified criticism being made. There remains a tendency to dismiss as ‘Islamophobic’ any criticism of the Islamic religion, however reasonably or moderately expressed. It has become the Left’s default position whereby criticism of Christianity is both encouraged and tolerated whilst a politically-motivated over-sensitivity is displayed in favour of Islam. It is clear that there has been a loss of perspective and balance in our politicallycharged times.
Dim and industrious... From: David Pinder, Mirfield Whilst agreeing with the recent letter from Heckmondwike Hector concerning the extraordinary dismissal of Mr Brian Leach from Asda, I feel the affair is an indication of a much more serious climate of unreasoning stupidity which currently dominates this whole issue. Even by the current intellectually-deficient definition of racism, the comments by Billy Connolly, which Mr Leach merely passed on, cannot reasonably be defined as racism – not least because they involved no comment specific to any definition of race; against organised religions generally, yes but certainly not racist in any sense. However the criticism was perhaps inevitable when one returns to the current definition of ‘race’. Many years ago when the so-called race relations
industry was getting started it was pointed out by a few intelligent people that it would both create and sustain the very ‘differences’ its supporters claimed to be trying to eradicate. Since, leaving aside the faint possibility that there might still be a few pockets of Neanderthals living in undiscovered parts of the globe, present human beings are all of the race Homo Sapiens, only by calling someone a Neanderthal (or other humanoid species) could you be making a racist comment. Additionally, by insisting that people of another colour or ethnic origin were a different race, you were creating a difference which did not exist – and thus magnifying whatever friction might be present. Predictably, such sensible reservations were ignored by the enthusiastic, over-emotional dimwits who were charging ahead with their latest cause. A German general observed many years ago that people possessed a combination of several key qualities – the most dangerous of which (both to themselves and to others) were the dim and industrious. It is hard to disagree with him when one considers that the dim and industrious seem to have taken over on almost every issue today.
Community spirit thanks From: Tim Wood, the Old Colonial, Mirfield In a recent conversation with a newcomer to Mirfield, who had moved into the area from Ashford in Kent, I was told, and not for the first time, that they loved living in Mirfield and that it had a great sense of community
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ThePress
Friday July 12 2019
From page 8 spirit. Growing up on the back streets of Dewsbury, when there wasn’t much brass about, everybody helped each other out, on the allotments or building and repairing things, so being part of your local community becomes second nature to you. A fortnight ago we had a great community occasion – on the Friday I was the host and quizmaster for a social event for the Mirfield Show Committee, who hold meetings at the pub. They are all volunteers and their hard work comes to fruition on show day. They are a hard-working crowd of people, although I must say they were a bit rubbish at the quiz (it may have been the drink that fuddled their thought process). Prior to the quiz starting various members from Mirfield Round Table frantically appeared to borrow bits for their beer festival, held down at St Paul’s Church. Behind the scenes I help them whenever they ask. The beer festival on the Friday and Saturday was a tremendous success. Money raised is given back out to help local good causes – once again the round table and their helpers did a fantastic job, and all are unpaid
volunteers. Armed Forces Day in Mirfield went off really well this year, and was attended by veterans, service personnel and the Queen’s representative, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Cairns, as well as the mayor and deputy mayor of Mirfield and various other dignitaries and guests. The service was conducted by the RBL padre Rev Ian Grange, and an address was given by Mr David Pinder about the Falklands War. Serving RAF corporal Richard Conley interred a rock that he had brought back from the Falkland Islands on a recent tour of duty. Our young trumpeter James was pitch-perfect with the last post and reveille. So can I say a big thank you to all those who attended Mirfield’s Armed Forces Day event, and to those who contributed towards the staging of the event, especially to the staff and cadets of 868 Sqdn ATC and their band and the display of their skills on their new drum kits. It was a red-hot English summer Saturday and later that evening I went back down to St Paul’s Church to the beer festival. The atmosphere was absolutely brilliant, and I actually bumped into the family from Kent who had
spoken so highly of the community spirit in Mirfield. They were accompanied by a family from Kent who are now thinking of moving up here. It was a great weekend for Mirfield’s social calendar and I was just pleased to be a very small part of the community-spirited juggernaut that goes forward each year with increasing speed and I hope never stops. Well done to you all.
How are they independent? From: Harry Teale, Mirfield As an ignorant, Christian, English Yorkshireman, I need help in clarifying your article on page three of The Press (05/07/2019) regarding the Fire and Rescue Authority. You state that the FRA is an independent body and yet all 22 members are appointed by five politically-controlled councils. How can the people appointed be independent? Your article also states that the FRA has been under Labour control for seven consecutive years! Could you also explain how elected councillors can fulfil their obligations whilst efficiently carrying out a plethora of other appointments?
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Friday July 12, 2019
Double joy for Fishers as girls are champions
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WO girls' rugby league teams from the same Dewsbury school have been crowned national champions. Both the year seven and year 10 teams from St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy won their respective finals in the annual
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ThePress
Friday July 12, 2019
CLUB LANDS BEER PRIZE
LOWER Hopton Working Men’s Club has been named one of the best in the area for beer. Club steward Alyson Thornton and president Steve Pollard were presented with the Heavy Woollen Campaign for Real Ale club of the season award for Spring 2019. Mike Roebuck, chairman of the HW branch, said winning
the award was a “real achievement” because of the competition from more than 30 clubs in the district. He said the club’s selection of three real-ale pumps, which are rotated on a regular basis, was one of the main reasons they bagged the certificate. Alyson thanked her staff and regulars for helping to keep the club going.
Communities role ‘is not fit for purpose’ By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter
Decision delay on ‘vague’ plan
CONFUSION surrounds a new project to oversee diverse community-level matters in Kirklees. Seven councillors have been appointed as ‘locality leads’ to head up the authority’s approach to ‘place-based working’. They will each receive an annual allowance of £5,007. Their shared role will include overseeing how more than £1m is spent on tackling issues around mental health and domestic abuse in the borough. The initiative, a flagship strategic project that is being driven by council leader Shabir Pandor, was formally unveiled in May. But it has been criticised for being too vague, with councillors uncertain what work colleagues will do. Presenting a report to Kirklees Council’s Corporate Governance and Audit Committee, business manager
Richard Farnhill encouraged members to back the scheme as well as the remuneration, which had been agreed by an independent review panel. But the committee was reluctant to do so. Mr Farnhill said lead members would guide conversations in seven areas – Batley, Birstall & Birkenshaw, Spen Valley, Dewsbury, Huddersfield North, Huddersfield Central, Huddersfield Rural and Colne Valley – to determine how money would be spent. They would liaise with partner agencies, health services, the police and schools and discuss as a group how funding can be best used in individual areas. The lead members’ role would be to co-ordinate such activity. The Conservatives’ deputy leader, Coun John Taylor, said the roles were being rushed
through despite inconsistencies around the job description. He refused to support the project unless it was clarified. “This is not fit for purpose,” he said. “You cannot hold a councillor accountable to deliver on this. It’s not adequate.” Coun Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) said the report before the committee threw up “more questions than answers”. She added: “The principle is good. I am not sure that this (job description) fulfils it.” Coun Steve Hall (Lab, Heckmondwike) agreed: “It’s not clear what roles these people are going to be playing or who they are going to be meeting. “There’s a lot that needs to be done before we agree it.” It was agreed to defer a decision to allow further debate to take place.
‘Spectacular’ tops activities list
centre (1.30-2.30pm), whilst the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium is hosting a walking rugby session on Wednesday (11am-12.30pm). The weekly lunch club returns to the community centre on Thursday (11.30am1pm). Pre-booking is required. There is another movement and games group at Birstall Community Centre on Friday (10.30am-noon).
THE Royal Voluntary Service has a host of activities planned in the district over the coming week. This Sunday (July 14), a ‘Spectacular Sunday’ at Batley Community Centre will feature Latin and Ballroom dancing and a high tea for just £5.
On Monday there’s the weekly movement and games group at the community centre (10.30am-noon), with the ‘Sociables’ session at Bleak House on Ealand Road at the same time. On Tuesday there is a pilates class at the community
News In Brief Canal festival DEWSBURY: The annual canal festival is back at the Savile Town Marina and the Leggers Inn later this month. It kicks off at 10am on Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28, at the site on Mill Street East. There’ll be various food stalls, as well as a bouncy castle, donkey rides, live music, an owl display and boat trips along the canal.
Shop appeal DEWSBURY: The British Heart Foundation shop in Dewsbury is appealing for donations of bric-a-brac, summer accessories, shoes, handbags, jewellery, CDs and DVDs, and unwanted toys. Customers can drop off before 10am and after 4pm at the store on Foundry Street, or there’s a collection service Monday to Friday (call 01924 485882). The store is also seeking more volunteers – ring the same number for more information.
Meeting date MIRFIELD: The committee which runs Mirfield Community Centre is holding an annual general meeting next week. Secretary Liz Marsden says the seven-strong group are looking for more volunteers to help out. Anyone interested should visit the community centre on Water Royd Lane on Monday (July 15, 7pm).
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Friday July 12, 2019
Greengrants available for local groups
News In Brief Get curling! BATLEY: Older people in Kirklees are being invited to try indoor curling in a free session at Batley Community Centre later this month. The class takes place on Tuesday, July 30 (1.303.30pm) and is part of the First Time for Everything programme, which aims to give elderly people in the district an opportunity to try something new for free. Batley Bulldogs’ community engagement team will lead the session and there’ll also be a light lunch afterwards. To book a place call 01924 446100, or just turn up on the day.
Abigail’s memorial day raises cash for good causes AN ANNUAL celebration remembering the life of a young Thornhill girl has raised over £1,000. Each year a memorial bowling day is held at Overthorpe Sports Club in memory of Abigail Harris, left – who was just 12 when she died in a hit-and-run accident in Gran Canaria in 2010 – on the Sunday closest to her birthday. This year dozens of people got together on
Hootenanny NORTH KIRKLEES: Musica Mirfield Swing Band and Greenhead College Big Band are joining forces for an endof-term ‘Hootenanny’ tomorrow (Saturday) at Millbridge Club in Liversedge (7pm). Tickets are £5 and proceeds will go to local youth music schools.
Death appeal DEWSBURY: Coroner’s officers are appealing to trace relatives of a man from Dewsbury. Stuart Fothergill, aged 60, died on Tuesday, July 2. Anyone with information can contact coroner’s officer Sinead Hutchinson on 01274 373721.
Sunday, June 30, to celebrate what would have been her 22nd birthday. The event raised around £1,500, which will be donated to good causes in Thornhill. Abigail’s uncle, Graham Harris, said: “Tony (Abigail’s dad) and the family are indebted to the community for helping us to make some good come from the tragic loss we face.”
Care home wins ‘good’ rating By Staff Reporters A CARE home in Batley has been praised by health officials – just a year on from being told it required improvement. Lydgate Lodge, on Soothill Lane, is now ‘good’ in all areas after being inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC report on the care home, which was looking after 57 people at the time
of last month’s inspection, said that residents were treated with “compassion, dignity and respect” and that their “independence was maintained”. It also noted that inspectors observed “consistently caring and kind interactions” between staff and residents. Residents and family members commented that staff were “very kind... they sit and chat... they like to come
and talk.” The home’s senior team were singled out for praise, with staff saying, “I don’t think you would get any better”. Gary Kent, the home’s registered manager, said: “To be officially rated as ‘good’ by the CQC is testament to the huge amount of work that we’ve done since our last inspection and we’re all ecstatic to have received such positive feedback. “Our residents’ welfare
and happiness lie at the heart of everything we do. “We’re absolutely committed to providing personalised care of the highest quality and ensuring that people continue to enjoy an active and full life. “Our residents are just as thrilled about our new rating as we are – it’s their home after all – and I’m sure there are going to be some celebrations over the next few days.”
i a t s w y a o u p e e l s y l n e Heav
COMMUNITY groups are being urged to apply for money to help make North Kirklees greener. Kirklees Council’s One Community foundation has launched the ‘Collective Power Fund’ to provide groups in deprived areas with cash so they can afford more environmental ways of living. Community activists Hugh Goulbourne, Kate Gilmartin and John O’Grady came up with the idea after council officials declared a ‘climate emergency’ earlier this year. Grants of up to £1,000 are available for groups to replace old lighting with energy-efficient LED lighting in community buildings, or develop new green spaces, amongst other ideas. Paul Johnson, general manager of One Community, said: “In April this year, Sir David Attenborough said we faced ‘irreversible damage to the natural world and the collapse of our societies’, if we did not tackle climate change. “This new fund enables local groups to make a positive difference in their communities. As well as helping to tackle climate change, funded projects could also enhance local areas with the planting of trees and development of new green spaces.” Groups are invited to submit funding applications of between £500 and £1,000 via www.onecommunity.org.uk.
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Friday July 12, 2019
Summertime Closed Thursdays
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Friday June 12, 2019
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Busy times for Players in their 75th anniversary year!
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Winners need nerves (and boules) of steel HECKMONDWIKE’S Firth Park will once again reverberate to the sound of boules on gravel as international teams gather for the second ‘Tog 24 La British Open’ tomorrow (Sat). Last year’s event attracted 34 teams from all over Europe to Firth Park to compete, and organisers say an impressive 54 teams of three are registered for next weekend from all parts of the UK – including the England junior team as well as teams from Belgium and France. Petanque – a version of the popular French game of boules – has been played in Heckmondwike for the last six years, with the town’s club now numbering more than 80 members. Heckmondwike has become something of a centre for the game in Yorkshire, and Firth Park now boasts the largest playing area in the north of England, with purpose-built internationalstandard terrains complete with floodlights. Starting on Saturday hundreds of players and supporters will gather for the second-
annual competition which boasts a total prize fund of over £3,000. Play will commence on Saturday afternoon and will consist of qualifiers for Sunday’s main draw. Saturday evening will feature social play, as well as a precision shooting event. There are Gold, Silver & Bronze knockout competi-
tions to suit all standards Heckmondwike Petanque Club are very keen for members of the public to come along and watch for free, and refreshments including wood-fired pizza and hot sandwiches will be on sale for the duration of the tournament. For details visit https:// labritishopenpetanque.uk.
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Players are currently auditioning male leads for their forthcoming production of the ‘The Full Monty’. which will be performed at Cleckheaton Town Hall in March 2020. The group would welcome prospective auditionees, especially men of AfricanCarribbean heritage. Full details can be obtained by calling 07834 118953. Tickets are available from members, by calling 07816 284841 or online at w w w. t i c k e t s o u r c e . c o . u k / heckmondwikeplayers.
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and at least one metre from the boundary. He or she then throws the first boule (both feet must remain in the circle until the boule lands), aiming it as near to the cochonnet as possible. The rest of the game is spent trying to throw your boules closer to the cochonnet than the other team does.
After all the boules are thrown, the team with the closest boule receives a point for each boule that is closer to the cochonnet than their opponents. The first team to earn 13 points wins the game. The rules of the game are easy to learn. The challenge comes in trying to master your throwing skills...
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RONOUNCED ‘pay-tonk’, petanque belongs to a family of ball games that developed in the Mediterranean, today called boules in French and bacci in Italian It is an exciting game that was first played in France around 1907 and is becoming popular all over the world. It can be played outdoors by everyone, no matter what their age or athletic ability. To play petanque, players divide up into two teams composed of one, two, or three players. The team that starts is decided by tossing a coin. One team member draws a circle on the ground , 35 to 50cm in diameter. The first player throws the cochonnet – the target players aim for – six to 10 metres away
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THE HECKMONDWIKE Players are currently rehearsing for their production of ‘Girls’ Night’ by Louise Roche. The comedic karaoke-style musical follows the fortunes of four ladies on a night out to celebrate the birthday of their dead friend’s daughter. The production will be staged at The Comrades Club on Regent Street, Heckmondwike from September 11 to 13, at 7.30pm each evening. Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, alongside this the
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Friday July 12, 2019
Mining tragedy concert
Festival spectacle, clockwise from main: Pupils from Howard Park Community School and the Sarah Sutton School of Performing Arts as part of the confectionery-inspired parade; gold horses heads based on Red Rum, were made to pull along the Fentiman’s fizzy pop cart; a replica of the cart. Pictures: Creative Scene
Folkies throng the streets for festival By Steve Martyn A DAZZLING carnival parade, inspired by the town’s confectionery industry, was a highlight of Cleckheaton Folk Festival. Led by schoolchildren and young dancers, it swirled through the streets of Cleckheaton on Saturday in honour of traditional goods made in in the town, such as Fentiman’s fizzy drinks and Lion sweets. Now in its 32nd year, the festival is the biggest date on the town’s cultural calendar and attracted thousands of visitors
over the weekend at 12 venues to see some of the UK’s top folk artists. The parade on Saturday was produced by Creative Scene and presented by Callaloo Carnival Arts, working with students from Howard Park Community School and the Sarah Sutton School of Performing Arts, both in Cleckheaton. Emerging folk artists also performed at the event, after attending a folk masterclass, thanks to funding from Creative Scene. Bev Adams, associate producer for Creative Scene, said: “We had a brilliant day and a
great crowd with almost 2,000 people watching the parade. “It was fabulous to see so many youngsters being a part of it. The parade was inspired by Cleckheaton-born artist Edward Wadsworth’s dazzling camouflage work and also by some of the main historic manufacturers in Cleckheaton. “Throughout the event, we shared the stories of Cleckheaton folk who have built creative businesses in the town.” Creative Scene and Cleckheaton Folk Festival also offered a folk masterclass to emerging musicians in the
area. Paul Sartin, of awardwinning band Bellowhead, worked with a group of six people, teaching them the secrets to a successful career in folk music and offering invaluable feedback on their performance. They performed later at the festival’s opening night. Bev Adams added: “They learned how to tell the story in a folk song, how to use the best techniques and why storytelling is key.” Headliners for the festival included John Boden and The Remnant Kings, Daphne’s Flight and the London
Philharmonic Skiffle Orchestra. As well as ticketed gigs, there were plenty of free activities over the weekend, including a street market, workshops, poetry, open mic session and other performances. Festival director David Minich said: “It was a great success. We have seen some fantastic artists this year thanks to Arts Council funding and an action-packed festival with lots of fringe performers. “We have had visitors from abroad who come to see one of the best folk festivals in the UK.”
A MEMORIAL concert in memory of 139 men and boys killed in the Thornhill mining disaster in 1893 is being held in Dewsbury Town Hall tomorrow night (Saturday). The organisers are inviting ex-miners from around Yorkshire to be their guests at the event. Entertainment is being provided by the worldfamous Grimethorpe Colliery Band and Skelmanthorpe Male Voice Choir. It is being presented by St John’s Masonic Lodge, Dewsbury, which is calling all former miners and their families to contact them. The Thornhill Combs Colliery disaster happened on July 4, 1893, and was one of the worst mining disasters the country had ever known. The great loss of life following a huge explosion in the pit shocked the nation. Any ex-miners wishing to receive complimentary tickets should contact Lorraine Gledhill on 01274 852200, Eric Firth on 07870 219290, or Keith Shaw on 01924 401928. Others wishing to attend can book tickets by ringing 01484 225755, online at www.kirklees townhalls.co.uk, or from the reception desk in Dewsbury Town Hall.
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Friday July 12, 2019
Throughout 2019 local historian Mike Popplewell will be searching through his newspaper collection from the 1920s and 30s for some of the biggest headlines from home and abroad – while also taking a look at stories making the news in our own district. Readers are welcome to provide feedback if any of these features are remembered personally, or you can recall being told them by an earlier generation.
Ten days, one summer LTHOUGH his great-grandfather was the cousin of Sir Thomas Freeman Firth of Heckmondwike, who in turn was the uncle of Morleyborn Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith, my Cockney dad was never aware of his Heavy Woollen district origins and had far too much going on in his own life to contemplate an unknown family 200 miles away. Dad was 26 years old in July 1934, married but separated from his wife and four-year-old son, in a common-law marriage with my mum and their one-yearold son, and busy flitting from one place to another in the south in search of work as a jobbing carpenter. Unemployment and poverty wasn’t exclusive to the industrial north, but what was actually going on back in our family’s ‘ancestral’ Yorkshire heartland? Well, this week I am making a start on stories from a period of 10 days in the life of our country 85 years ago, as seen through the eyes of The Yorkshire Observer, starting with Monday July 16, 1934. This coming weekend was full of activity in the district 85 years ago, with carnivals of one kind or another here there and everywhere as people made the most of a heatwave. At Mirfield’s Community of the Resurrection the annual commemoration festival featured a presentation of the quarry play ‘Wat Tyler’ while Dewsbury’s Community Services Council, which runs craft centres and allotments for the unemployed, held a ‘flag day’ and raised £64 – the equivalent of around £4,000 today. There were also fun and games at
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The Community of the Resurrection’s Quarry Theatre
Ossett where carnival queen Eileen Morris was pictured (above) presenting the ‘Ossett Venus’ prize to Nellie Marshall, who was winner for the second year running. Fundraising for hospital charities was the purpose of the carnival and it appears to have been a huge success, with participation from organisations right across the district. If the heatwave was too much and you fancied a cooling off in the cinema, there were plenty to choose from and some significant films on show as well. One of the top actresses of the day was Fay Wray, famous for her role in the classic horror ‘King Kong’, but she was much more than a co-star with a giant gorilla, as George Raft and Spencer
Tracy could testify. George Raft was renowned for his gangster roles, with a career as a minor gangster behind him, and he was playing opposite Fay Wray in ‘The Bowery’ at Heckmondwike’s Savoy while Spencer Tracy was her co-star in ‘Shanghai Madness’ at the Palace. The Invisible Man was showing at the Batley Plaza and it featured a screen debut for Claude Rains – the man who later established himself as an outstanding horror/thriller star in films such as ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’. If it was laughter and not horror you were looking for, you need look no further than the Birstall Cinema on Low Lane where the Hal Roach Studios offering ‘Early To Bed’ was on show. As this film featured Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy it was possibly watched by some of Stan’s many relatives in the Dewsbury district. In fact one-time Lord Mayors of Dewsbury, Herbert and Henry Shaw, were actually said to be Stan’s cousins. On the subject of films and comedy, news broke that silent movie comedy great Buster Keaton, having just
returned to Los Angeles from London, had filed for bankruptcy with debts outweighing assets by $300,000! Monday July 16, 1934, was also the start of a very special week in cricket history, as the Australians were preparing for a fourth Test Match against England in their bid to regain the Ashes lost in the infamous Bodyline series in Australia 15 months earlier. England had looked likely to retain the trophy after winning the first two games, but Australia had won the third and were now looking intent on levelling the series and setting up a grand finale. Yorkshire’s Herbert Sutcliffe, Maurice Leyland, Hedley Verity and future Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent Bill Bowes had been named in the England squad, and the county were in fact preparing for the second day of a game against the tourists at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, having ended play the previous Saturday with their score on 238 for six. The death of 73-year-old Cleckheaton RUFC stalwart Walter Collins, of Alice Street, Cleckheaton, was also announced this day and the former rugby union referee was mentioned as one of the first members of the Spen Valley Trades Council and of the Trades Hall. This year is of course set for another ‘Ashes’ series. And another ‘repeat’ story was one of questionable Hollywood morality – with a missing film extra thrown in for good measure… Next week we will be looking at Day Two of our ‘Ten Days One Summer’ story, of life at home and abroad, and hopefully build up a picture of life in the 1930s.
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News In Brief Spen’s blonde ambition CLECKHEATON: Spenborough Amateur Youth Society are hoping to enhance their growing reputation for excellence when they present Legally Blonde – The Musical at Cleckheaton Town Hall this weekend. The show is a musical based on the film, based on a book, of the same name and there are performances tonight (Fri, 7.30pm), Saturday (7.30pm) and Sunday (2.15pm). Tickets can be obtained via www.kirklees.gov.uk/town halls, the society’s website www.spenaods.com or from Helen Backhouse on 07717 949568. Tickets are also expected to be available on the door.
Another open air classic BIRSTALL: An open-air adaptation of Emily Bronte’s classic novel ‘Wuthering Heights’ will be brought to life by Chapterhouse Theatre Company at Oakwell Hall, Birstall on Wednesday July 31. Gardens open for viewing and picnics from 6.30pm followed by the performance at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced £15 per adult, £12 senior citizen, £10 child/student or £46 family (two adults and two children). Call 01924 324761.
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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.
SATURDAY JULY 13 OAKWELL AND EAST BIERLEY Starts at 10.30am at park gates (near the bowling green), Bradford Road, Birkenshaw BD11 2DR 6.5 miles – moderate Contact: Norma 01274 685343 or 07951 413012
Humour, hope and courage ... WANT to see a show that will make you laugh, cry, and feel like standing up for what you believe in? The award-winning play Joan comes to Dewsbury and Birstall on July 25 and 26. Filled with original songs, great humour and a huge helping of courage, conviction and hope, Joan is a refreshing look at Joan of Arc – one of history’s greatest underdogs. In a welcoming and witty cabaret style, drag king champion Lucy Jane Parkinson takes to the stage playing the gutsy character of Joan and dragging up to become all the men she defied. Written and directed by Lucy J Skilbeck, the production takes audiences through the life of Joan of Arc from early adolescence – guided by Saint Catherine – to her death, burned at the stake at just 19, dressed in men’s clothing. The play was the winner of the Scotsman Fringe First Award, Stage Award and Spirit of the Fringe Award 2016. Joan will be performed at The
Leggers Inn, Dewsbury on Thursday July 25 and at Birstall Community Centre, on Friday July 26 (7.30pm both nights). The production is part of Creative Scene’s ‘We the People’ season, which brings comedy, music and stories about real people, making real change to Dewsbury, Mirfield, Batley, Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike. Creative Scene’s director Nancy Barrett said: “Joan is part of ‘We the People’ which is a season of shows about the world we live in – and the people that fight to change it. “From every day heroes, to Luddite leaders, drag kings to modern day saints; we will be asking questions about what makes it takes to make a difference, how do you speak truth to power, and what happens when you express your true self. We can’t wait to see you there.” Suitable for those aged 12 and over, tickets for Joan are priced at £6 or £20 for a group of four. Visit www.creativescene.org.uk for details.
WEDNESDAY JULY 17 WALKING FROM CROW NEST PARK Starts at 7pm at Crow Nest Park, Heckmondwike Road, outside cafe/museum 3.5 miles – leisurely Contact: Annelis 01924 460597 a.griffin4@ntlworld.com
For one night only, but oh what a night! Here Come The Boys St George’s Hall, Bradford Tuesday July 9 Review by Janet Black
Drag king champion Lucy Jane Parkinson stars in a fearless solo show
THREE of the biggest ‘rock stars’ of dance have combined their incredible talents in a brand-new show. Aljaz Skorjanec, Giovanni Pernice and Gorka Marquez, giants of the ballroom and Latin world, battle it out in a club-style setting, and the challenge is to find out who’s best on the dancefloor! They were here to impress and willing the audience to cheer them on as they went head to head in a Latin, ballroom, commercial and contemporary dance-off! Accompanied by a live percussionist and flamenco guitarist, with live vocals from Elizabeth Troy, the dancefloor classics had us out of our seats whilst we feasted on the visual delights of what the boys had in store for us! Directed and choreographed by Gareth Walker and co-choreographed by Janette Manrara, this guilty pleasure was like no other Strictly show. Here Come The Boys was fun, exciting, thrilling and a really special night. The extensive refurbishment at St George’s Hall now gives visitors the most delightful bar and lounge areas to relax in before and after shows, wonderful and comfortable new seating and terrific sound and lighting to enjoy the array of musicians and singers due to appear soon, including Elkie Brooks, Jools Holland, Lulu and indie band Bastille, as well as the return of the International Classic Music Season with resident orchestra, The Halle.
Friday July 12, 2019
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Marketplace
Web TALK
Turn your unwanted items
with Andrew Firth Welcome to the latest edition of Web Talk, helping Kirklees website owners to prosper online.
Generating those key hits ’M OFTEN asked, ‘what type of marketing should I be doing to send visitors to my website?’ With so many ways to drive traffic at a website, how do you decide what to do? Here’s a brief overview of some of the key ways to generate website visitors... Offline marketing Offline marketing is anything that doesn’t involve a click. Someone will see your business name somewhere and will come directly to your website. Forms of offline marketing include print (leaflets and business cards), radio advertising and billboard advertising (buses, sports etc). Offline marketing is more important than ever thanks to mobile, it’s easy to access promotional information as soon as you receive it by using your phone. Offline marketing can be targeted, such as using leaflets to target a local area, or bus advertising within a city, but it is important to include some way of measuring the campaign’s success. Using a QR code, or promotional offer, or specific URL can help you to see how well the advertising worked and if you generated a return on investment. Often offline marketing can lead to an increase in searches for your business, because you have raised aware-
I
ness of your brand. This is very difficult to track, but being aware of when offline promotions have gone out is important so you can cross-check against your website analytics to see any spikes that may have occurred. Online marketing Online marketing takes many forms, these can be broadly summarised into organic advertising and paid advertising. Organic advertising or content marketing is where you are evolving your website content to be more prominent and share it. Examples of this include appearing when someone searches, being shared on social media and featuring in a blog post. If you have a local target market, you can get quick results by focusing on producing localised content (such as case studies) and share these using social. The more optimised your website content is, the more it is shared and linked to and the more engaged a user is, the better your website will show in the search engines. If you have a generic audience (such as if you sell products through e-commerce to anyone in the UK) then it can take longer to appear in the search results, and you are guaranteed to face tougher competition.
Paid advertising is a great way to generate instant traffic to your website. There are many forms of paid advertising, those targeting people with intent to buy (this is known as search advertising because your advert shows up when people are looking for what you are selling) and there is passive advertising to those people with no intent (such as social media paid advertising and display advertising on Google). All online marketing can be tracked so it is easy to see what is working and what is not, so changes can be made instantly to hone your results and generate a return on investment. Proper tracking using tools like Google Analytics can pinpoint exactly how each campaign is performing and should always be used as part of any marketing campaign. • To read more on this and other subjects, please visit the blog at www.ascensor. co.uk/blog. For more information contact andrew@ascensor.co.uk. Twitter: @andrewjfirth Connect on LinkedIn: andrewjfirth Ascensor are a Digital Agency providing website design, ecommerce and search engine optimisation.
Wanted by
ThePress We are recruiting door-to-door newspaper deliverers in the Heckmondwike & Liversedge areas -----------------Bulk distributors also required to drop off newspapers at pick-up points across the area - own transport required
------------------
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). 2) Call into the office at 31 Branch Road, Batley WF17 5SB and pay by cash, cheque or debit card (30p surcharge). 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. NEW Riser recliner chair, beige colour. 10 months old, too large for room, £125. Buyer to collect. Tel 07873 426740 (Dewsbury). (2442) Kitchen table and two chairs £40 Tel 01924 496267. (2443) Silvercrest floor cleaner £10 Tel 01924 496267. (2443) Instant Pot programmable electric pressure cooker £20 Tel 01924 496267. (2443) Leather three-piece suite comprising of three-seater settee and two armchairs. All fitted with recliners. Excellent condition, £75. Tel 01924 460349. (2444) McCulloch petrol strimmer and petrol hedge trimmer with extras. Used twice. Very good condition, £100 for both. Tel 01924 469537. (2445) BEDROOM Double bed with mattress. Good condition, £30. Tel 01924 404238. (2419) COLLECTIBLE Free pot doll, one leg broken but repairable, pretty face (1945 circa). Tel 07581 573968. (2427) CLOTHING Five men’s pure cotton checked shirts, size large. Very good condition and makes, £12. Tel 07581 573968. (2427) Pro-Sports all in one leather biking suit. Black and red, size M, £60. Buyer to collect. Tel: 07531 532479 (Batley) (2424). Red ladies Flossy shoes size 6.5/40eu. Brand-new, £5. Tel 07581 573968. (2422) DIY Einhell Euromaster small electric welder, £40. Tel 07980 361869. (2439) Seaward PAC 500 Portable Appliance checker, £40. Tel 07980 361869. (2439)
Would suit semi-retired/retired active individuals
124 old (Victorian) tiles, green glaze. From a mill, various shapes, non flat. £40 ono, buyer to collect. Tel 01274 561881 (Bingley). (2425)
Call us on 01924 470296 www.thepressnews.co.uk
Four cylinder door locks with keys (3 x 90mm and 1 x 100mm), £5. Tel 07581 573968. (2422) ELECTRICAL Hoover brand vacuum cleaner. 3 years old, good
working order, £20. Tel 07545 220321. (2436) Clock, suitable for Alzheimer use, £6. Tel: 01924 455921. (2431) Small electric vacuum, with extra filter and full instructions. Suit bungalow or flat, £25. Tel 01924 724680 (Ossett). (2426) Blyss Carolina wall hung electric fire. Curved black glass front. Brand new and boxed, £40 ono. Tel 07740 270660. (2429) ENTERTAINMENT/HOBBIES Blackjack shoe, solid ash with 400 casino playing chips, plus gaming board, £20 ono. Tel 01274 876814. (2437) FURNITURE Wood chest with locks, castors and handles. 3’ long x 2’ deep x 18” wide. Suitable for storage or toys. Good condition, £25 ono. Tel 01274 876814. (2437) Bed settee. Oatmeal colour, as new, £120. Tel 07842 710223. (2435) Bookcase, two shelves, one drawer, £20. Tel: 01924 455921. (2431) Display cabinet, two glass doors and lower cupboard storage, £20. Tel: 01924 455921. (2431) Over mantle mirror arch, window style, £10. Tel: 01924 455921. (2431) Two square coffee tables, £8 each. Matching nest of tables, £15. Tel: 01924 455921. (2431) Black leather two-seater settee and matching armchair. As new £85 Tel 01924 404238. (2419) Hostess trolley, as new (28” L x 18” W) £50 Tel 01924 404238. (2420) Nest of tables, wood with tiled tops £15 Tel 01924 404238. (2420) Round wooden dining table 54” diameter, extendable with matching chairs, in good condition, £49 ono. Tel 01924 462351. (2411) GARDEN Electric lawn mower, 1 year old, good working order (currently selling in Argos S/S catalogue Pg 581 item 8), £20. Tel 07545 220321. (2436) Mountfield lawnmower, little use. Very good condition £80 ono Tel 01924 472330. (2417) Aluminium Greenhouse 8ft x 6ft with auto vents.
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
£1 £2 £3 £4 £5 £7 £9 £11
Buyer to dismantle and remove. £100 Tel 01924 524232. (2418)
rack (adjustable). Bargain at £25. Tel 01274 561881 (Bingley). (2425)
HOUSEHOLD As new approximately 30piece white and gold bone china tea service, £15 ono. Tel 01274 876814. (2437)
Car roof rack carrier. Colour black, carrier size 800mm x 1100mm. Good condition. Needs square roof bars to fit. £30 ono Tel 07761 123722 (2414)
Complete homebrew kit. Includes brew buckets, syphon pump, hydrometer, thermometers, bottle corker, cap top bubbler in fact everything you would need to make your own wine or beer at home. All practically brand-new, only used 3-4 times. Best offer around £60. Tel 01924 495713. (2432)
OUTDOOR/CAMPING Adventuridge electric 30L coolbox. Operates on 12v plug for cigarette lighter and 220-240v plug for mains socket, £20. Tel 01924 423533/07786 652791. (2438)
Wall-mounted swivel TV bracket £10. Tel 07581 573968. (2422) Six UPVC strips/architraves. 5 metres long each x 7mm thick. 4 x 70mm wide and 2 x 95mm wide £6 Tel 01924 477178 (2415) New sewing machine, cost £70, sell £25. Tel 01924 479647. (2395) Set of four plastic drawers, £6. Tel 01924 479647. (2395) Fireplace suite with builtin electric fire, £80. Tel 01274 879707. (2391) Gas fire, Focus HE Slimline SC. Three years old. Serviced, £250. Tel 01924 474062. (2390) KITCHEN/DINING Kitchen breakfast bar (tile top) with two stools, £20. Tel: 01924 455921. (2431) Large white linen tablecloth 106” x 72”. Brand new, £5. Tel 07581 573968. (2427) Bosch ceramic hob, used for 1 week only and still in box 500mm x 560mm, £90 ono. Tel 01924 430088. (2410) MOTORING Medium/large ‘Mont Blanc’ top box and roof
NR Caravan awning, grey and green. Acrylic fabric, carbon fibre poles, pegs, skirt, ground sheet and curtains included. Fits 15ft caravan. VGC, £75 no offers. Tel 07581 573968. (2422) SPORT/EXERCISE Ladies Adidas running trainers, brand new, size 4. Bargain, £7. Tel 07581 573968. (2427) Thomas Taylor De-Luxe Crown Green Bowls. 2-10 full bias, includes Drakes Pride Jack in canvas bag. £35 ono. Tel 01924 724680 (Ossett area). (2426) Set of golf clubs in Dunlop Bag with trolley. All in good condition £50 Tel 01924 493405 (2413) TOYS/CHILDREN’S GOODS Ikea Minnen child’s extendable bed with mattress. Used for grandchildren, in sound condition. £25. Tel 07925 127198. (2434) Large wooden Victorian doll house, £65 ono. Tel 01924 469135. (2428) TRAVEL Large practical suitcase on wheels. Very good condition, £25. Tel 01924 492769. (2423) WANTED Wanted: Manual typewriter, must be in good working order. Tel 07729 518086. (2440)
Classified
ThePress
Friday July 12, 2019
BUTCHERS
Your Local Quality Butcher
5kg Chicken £28 2.5kg Chicken £15 5lb Steak Mince £12.99 See instore for more details
T: 01924 492185
Steve picks up a copy of The Press every Friday, he says it’s a great read, it’s informative, honest and relevant. There are thousands of people locally who think the same.
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
CHARTERED SURVEYER
J. Peel Electrical
Providing 24-hour Care, Respite & Day Care 27 Church Street, Heckmondwike 01924 404122
470296 for more info
Remember folks, not everyone uses social media!
01924 470296
COACH TOURS
CHARTERED SURVEYOR VALUER BUILDING ENGINEER BUILDING SURVEYOR 18 Broadgate, Ossett, Wakefield, WF5 0PU
Tel.Wakefield (01924) 275275 Email: davidghorner1@btconnect.com Fax.Wakefield (01924) 271860
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 851477 www.carolstravel.co.uk
COMPOSITE DOORS AIR/GAS CYLINDERS
AERIAL & SATELLITE
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Steven Clay Composite Doors
u.P.V.C Double Glazing. Large range of quality, affordable composite doors. Many styles & colours Reliable Drivers And A Great Service
Double glazed windows 30 years experience Fully backed by Certass Trust Marked Approved
Your local supplier of Air Products & Calor Gas Cylinders
The Airport Specialists
07778 615829
● Welding ● Cutting ● Helium for balloons ● Industrial gases such as Nitrogen, Oxygen, Helium and Hydrogen
ALL UK AIRPORTS SAME FARES 24/7 TAXIS & MINIBUSES
● Forklift Trucks ● Heating
68-99-99
Cylinder Gas Agent
10% DISCOUNT ON ALL AERIALS WITH THIS ADVERT
Delivery or collection available
MALCOLM’S AERIAL SHOP
80 Town Street, Earlsheaton, WF12 8JL
• SKY TRAINED AUTHORISED ENGINEERS • AERIAL / SKY 2ND ROOM £39 • TELEVISION / PC & LAPTOP REPAIRS Open 7 Days until 8pm - Est 20yrs
FREEPHONE 0800 074 8967 or 01924 450999
The Press – no other local paper can touch us on advertising prices!
AerialVision Established 1980
Providence Mills, Wormald Street, Heckmondwike, WF15 6AR Tel: 01924 403212 Email: george@english-textiles.co.uk
BEDS
01274
www.europrivatehire.com Euro Cars Private Hire Ltd, 387 Tong Street, Bradford, BD4 9RU
CARPENTRY / JOINERY
NICHE JOINERY
Please ring for no obligation quotes Email: s.clay757@gmail.com
COMPUTING
Computer Problems? Sick of Cowboys? MAIN
PC DOCTOR 07976 877 768 23 Years Experience
• No Repair, No Charge • No call out charge • We repair on site
Park House, High Road, Dewsbury
For all your joinery & carpentry needs
4Year
GUARANTEE
Reliable Local Family Firm • Aerial Installations Repairs and Extensions • Sky and FreeSat Work TV Wall Mounting • Burglar Alarms • CCTV Our Engineer has over 30 years experience Neat work, No mess
Tel: 01924 441294 Mob: 07922 017909
Stockists of Leading Brand Beds Family Run Business Open 7 Days 173-175 Bradford Road, Cleckheaton, BD19 3TJ (Next to The Horncastle Pub)
www.junction26beds.co.uk t. 01274 879100
We offer a quality, affordable and professional joinery / carpentry service
• • • • • • • • • • •
Windows Doors (Internal and external) Stairs Kitchens Wardrobes Skirting and architrave Bespoke work undertaken Floors Walls New Build Domestic
Please contact us via telephone to book a free quotation on
07894 878837 Niche.Joinery
CYCLES
HARGREAVES cycles SPECIALISTS
Follow us @ThePressLatest
DRIVES & PATIO SPECIALISTS
E.J.GREENWOOD DRIVEWAYS & PATIO SPECIALISTS
MOUNTAIN - ELECTRIC BMX - ROAD - KIDS ACCESSORIES CLOTHING COMMUTER/LEISURE MAINTENANCE Finance Available Free Delivery
TARMACADAM BLOCK PAVING INDIAN FLAGS etc
Mon: 9:30-6pm, Tues: CLOSED, Wed-Sat: 9:30-6pm, Sunday: CLOSED
FOR FREE ESTIMATES CALL
www.hargreavescycles.co.uk
www.facebook.com/ThePressNews
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
27 Bradford Road, 01924 Dewsbury, WF13 2DU 461283 10mins M62 jn28
Jason
07929 850056
ELECTRICAL
ANYTHING ELECTRICAL
ALARMS, OUTSIDE LIGHTS Electrical Cookers Repaired Supplied & Fitted, No Job Too Small, 35 Years Experience, Same Day Service Available Ring Batley:
0113 285 4563 or 07801 063911
TO ADVERTISE CONTACT OUR SALES TEAM ON 01924 470296
Email:
jpeelelectrical@gmail.com Facebook search
J Peel Electrical
FISH RESTAURANT
FENCING YOU PAY HOW MUCH TO TS FENCING ADVERTISE?? & PROPERTY CALL US ON REPAIRS
Carols DAVID G. HORNER Travel
Steve soon realised he was missing a trick and decided to contact us. He now advertises on a regular basis, and business has never been better!
Contact us on 01924
GARLANDS
Contact
128 Huddersfield Rd, Mirfield
Up until recently however, he’d not given much thought to those people who don’t have social media, prefer not to use it, or simply prefer to pick up a copy of their local newspaper every week.
ELECTRICAL
Residential & Dementia Care Home
Want to advertise in our Classified section? Call 01924 470296 or email advertising@thepressnews.co.uk
Steve is a local joiner, he makes the most of every opportunity social media offers. Steve’s business has picked up since using Facebook. He says it’s easy, it’s instant, and sometimes it gets him work!
CARE HOMES
ALL AREAS OF KIRKLEES & CALDERDALE COVERED
07973 959968
21
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
The Mermaid Fish Restaurant
RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY OPEN 7 DAYS
FRESH FISH, COOKED TO PERFECTION!
TEL: 0113 253 5376 Britannia Road, Morley, Leeds, LS27 0BA
01924 402578
www.themermaidfishrestaurant.co.uk
GARDENING SERVICES
GARAGE DOORS
Green & Tidy Garden Maintenance
• Lawns & Hedges • Regular or One-off tidy • Weeding • Jet washing • Fully Insured
Call Martyn 07703 858245
UP+OVER DOORS fitted, repairs,
remote supply only
from £295 PENSIONERS DISCOUNT AVAILABLE All major debit/credit cards available
01924 850141 07836 723821
GARAGES
DENCROFT GARAGES Concrete Garages & Sheds Dismantle & Bases Garage re-vamps Garage Doors 230 Bradford Rd, Batley Tel: 01924 461996 dencroftgarages.co.uk GARDENING SERVICES
HAIR & BEAUTY
Let Dave Cut Your Grass
T utti F rutti
All gardening & Maintenance work Free estimates 20 yrs experience No job too small Please call 01924 527852 07875 052983
N ails H air B eauty P ackages
• PAMPER PARTIES • WEDDING MAKEUP • PROM • SPECIAL OCCASION
Tel: 01274 864902 Tutti Frutti 141 Birkenshaw Lane Birkenshaw, Bradford BD11 2HD
The MOST affordable advertising with the MOST readers in North Kirklees
Classified
22
ThePress
Want to advertise in our Classified section? Call 01924 470296 or email advertising@thepressnews.co.uk HANDYMAN
General Household DIY
Grass & Hedge Cutting Jet Washing, Fence Painting & Shed Refelting, House & Garden Clearance FREE QUOTES: 07594 215259 HGV TUITION
HOUSE TO LET
BEDSIT FOR RENT Obtain your HGV or PCV Licence With Ease Use The Professionals Over 30 Years Experience All Aspects Of Driving
Tel: 01274 686211 www.atkinslgv.net
Good residential area C/H, D/G, Parking £75 p.w incl bills DSS welcome 07740 991421
YOU PAY HOW MUCH TO ADVERTISE??
HOYLES
TED DENHOLME WAN
Makeovers, Facelifts, Revamps, Repairs, Alterations
Free quotes 01924 506616 www.kitchenbedroom.co.uk MASTER LOCKSMITH
HARFORD’S SECURITY LTD NELSON STREET, DEWSBURY, WF13 1NA
TEL: 01924 467269 FAX: 01924 430800 MASTER LOCKSMITHS ACCESS CONTROL INTRUDER ALARM INSTALLERS WEBSITE: www.harfordssecurity.co.uk
We can come to you Instant Bank Transfer, Cash or Draft Contact Tim Hoyle anytime
01274 832836 • 07786 735544
LLoockcsmaithl
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Emergency Lock Replacement Locks Changed Locks Fitted Snap Safe Cylinders Fitted UPVC Specialised
Police Approved Call Now
07977 127676
MOTOR CARE
Car body repairs Imperial Motor Company 107 Bradford Road, Dewsbury Tel: 01924 461607 or 07860 754984
MOTORCYCLE LESSONS & MORE
A.T BELL PLUMBING & HEATING 10 years guarantee available on selected boilers
PAGEANT, PROM & EVENING WEAR Find us on
PROM, PAGEANT & EVENING WEAR WORLD LEADING DESIGNER DRESSES FROM THE UK AND USA 31 Low Lane, Birstall WF17 9EY
PAINTER & DECORATOR
PAINTING & DECORATING Exterior & Interior Telephone Steve
07884 495530 01924 476432
Tel: 01924 473892 www.misselegance.co.uk info@misselegance.co.uk
PLASTERER
TO ADVERTISE TIM PRYKE CONTACT PLASTERING OUR SALES No Job Too Small Quality TEAM ON Workmanship! Free Quotes 01924 01924 492272 470296 07990 956685 PLUMBING & HEATING
Landlord Servicing & Certificates 11557
Roofing Specialists Est Over 50 Years All Work Fully Guaranteed Tel: 01924 480992 Mobile: 07778 809295 www.competentasphalt.co.uk
PUBS AND CLUBS SCRAP METAL
Millbridge CLUB One of the area’s friendliest clubs.
TOP CLASS TURNS • BINGO - SNOOKER
Low Beer/Lager Prices!
Sat MUSICA MIRFIELD SWING BAND & 13th COLLEGE BIG BAND ★ ★ July GREENHEADTICKETS £5 ★ ★
★
★
★
BINGO EVERY SUNDAY Starts 9pm FIND US ON FACEBOOK 01924 402696 Bennets St, Liversedge, WF15 7ER
SIX LANE ENDS
GOMERSAL CRICKET CLUB FREE • 80-100 FUNCTION people ROOM HIRE • Kitchen use available • DJs, Bands, Entertainment organised • Low drinks prices
Public House Snooker & Pool Table All Sky & BT Sport
LAGER & BITTER FROM ONLY £2.70 A PINT Open 12 noon - 12 midnight
146 Leeds Road Heckmondwike 01924 402764
Tel: 01274 874100 / 07422 510043 Email:
clubsecretary@gomersalcc.com
REMOVALS & CLEARANCES
ROOFING
HARVEYS REMOVALS .COM
SIMPSON DENNIS
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 or 07795 433008 (Office)
All roof repairs. Insurance work Re-roofing, lead and chimney work – Reduction for OAPs All work guaranteed, free estimates Established 25 years Tel Mirfield
11556
Smithies Mill 883-887 Bradford Road Batley, WF17 8NN Phone: 01924 474 384 Fax: 01924 420 199 Email:
info@chemscaffolding.co.uk www.chemscaffolding.co.uk
SELF STORAGE
All Types Of Metal IMMEDIATE PAYMENT
• Copper • Brass • Lead • Aluminium and all types of cable (01924) 469409 14 Heckmondwike Road, Dewsbury, WF13 3PH
WANTED
SCRAP CARS & VANS WANTED Cash paid & free collection Open 7 days a week
07743 134616
S.D Metals Recycling
House Clearances No Job Too Small
Quality WATCHES BOUGHT Foreign Currency All available currencies bought & sold Cheques Cashed All cheques considered CALL ANDREW ON
07980 767167 WINDOW REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE
01924 497776 Mobile 07768 298739
FED UP WITH Est 1990 STEAMY WINDOWS?
Approved by leading insurance companies
We replace Misted-Up Sealed Units Locks | Handles | Hinges Faulty Door Mechanisms
www.simpsondennis-roofing.co.uk
Pointing, guttering and general maintenance work
Any gas appliance serviced £50+VAT then £20+VAT for each of others. Combi boilers fitted with For All 7 year guarantee Your Heating Choose Experience & Plumbing T: 01924 666669 Needs M: 0758 1552797 36 Greenacres Drive, Birstall, WF17 9RA
Providing excellent service since 2006 Fast, Reliable Service & Competitive Rates
SCRAP METAL MERCHANTS
and Much More!
HOME SECURE WINDOW MAINTENANCE T: 01924 412279 M: 07974 700789
ROOFING
CHECK FOR CARBON MONOXIDE
Chem Scaffolding Limited
WILKINSON BROS
(Roofing Services)
RW Roofing & Property Repairs
www.ecoheatingyorkshire.co.uk
COMPETENT ASPHALT Co Ltd Station Road, Bradley, HD2 1UW
Check us out on
Call Tony today for a quote on Mobile: 07831 260466 or 01924 492556
SCAFFOLDING SERVICES
ROOFING
CONCERT ROOM FOR HIRE • PRIVATE PARTIES WELCOME
Telephone
Independent
SUMMER SPECIAL OFFERS ON NEW HIGH EFFICIENCY BOILERS 7 YEAR GUARANTEE SERVICE INCLUDED
MOTORHOMES & CAMPERS TOP PRICES PAID
01924 470296
KITCHENS & BEDROOMS
PLUMBING & HEATING
From a dripping tap, to a full central heating system, bathrooms designed supplied & fitted
MOTORHOMES
CALL US ON
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Friday July 12, 2019
ALL INSURANCE WORK UNDERTAKEN
Find us on
www.repairs4windows.co.uk WINDOW REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE
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
OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE
WINDOWS • DOORS • REPLACEMENT GLASS UNITS • HANDLES • LETTERBOXES • ANTISNAP CYLINDERS • LOCKS & SERVICES
FIND US ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ ThePressNews
Window cleaning services also available
CALL JASON 07954 150983 01924 504216
email: windowsapane@gmail.com www.windowsapane.co.uk
Follow us @ThePressLatest
Friday July 12, 2019
Classified PUBLIC NOTICES
ThePress
23
Want to advertise in our Classified section? Call 01924 470296 or email advertising@ thepressnews.co.uk
24
ThePress
Friday July 12, 2019
FOOTBALL
Ossett unbeaten for Sheff Utd visit OSSETT UNITED head into this weekend’s marquee friendly match with Sheffield United with two wins from two at the start of pre-season. The newly-promoted Premier League club will bring a young side to Ingfield to take on Ossett tomorrow (Saturday, kick-off 3pm). United go into the match on the back of a 2-1 win at Silsden on Wednesday night in their second pre-season friendly. Striker Nick Guest, a new signing from Pontefract Collieries, got them off to the perfect start with a goal after just three minutes, lobbing the ball over stranded goalkeeper Alfie Darke. Guest was twice denied a second goal by Darke but Silsden were the better side for much of the first half, with Aidan Kirby putting a good chance wide and Khurram Shazad denied by United stopper Brett Souter. United swapped round their entire line-up for the second half and looked more dangerous after the break, with Chris Chantler blasting a chance over the bar. However, Silsden got the next goal on the hour mark as the lively Shazad curled an excellent left-footed shot in from the edge of the box to equalise. Tom Greaves saw his strike pushed away after a cross from the
right had hit the crossbar for the visitors, while Laurence Sorhaindo and Ben Wignall were both denied at the other end. Greaves had a tap-in ruled out for offside and Corey Gregory curled just wide before the winning goal came in fortunate circumstances, with Chantler’s cross rolling into the bottom corner untouched. Last Friday, Ossett got their preseason up and running with a 4-2 win at Campion. The home side took an early lead before United took control with three goals in the space of six minutes. Guest showed composure to level the scores on the half-hour mark, and that was quickly followed by a Marko Basic finish after a lay-off from Greaves. Greaves then got the third goal himself, turning in a cross from the right wing. Damian Reeves, a summer capture from Gainsborough Trinity, added a fourth early in the second half after wholesale changes at the break. Campion saw a penalty saved before notching a consolation goal in the final few minutes of the game.
BACK INTO IT: Ossett beat Campion in their first pre-season game
LIVERSEDGE have made a quadruple signing in the past week as they prepare to begin their pre-season schedule. Two players have joined from Swallownest, with brothers Josh and Alex Lill making the move to Clayborn. The pair will be looking to impress at opposite ends of the pitch, with Josh a goalkeeper and Alex a striker. Liversedge have also strengthened at the back with the addition of former Huddersfield Town defender Harry Clibbens. Finally, young Eccleshill United midfielder Jake Thompson has agreed to return to the club. Sedge have also tied down one of their hottest young prospects, with winger Red Bates committing to the team for another season. The club were due to begin their pre-season campaign at Birtley Town this weekend, but the game has been postponed. Their first friendly will instead be on Wednesday night (July 16, kick-off 7.45pm), when they travel to Pontefract Collieries. That will be the first of five warmup matches ahead of the start of their NCEL Premier Division challenge.
PHOTO: John Hirst
MOTORSPORT
Sedge bring in four ahead of first friendly
RACING PREVIEW WITH MIKE SMITH
Ryan extends gap despite crash Perfect opportunity for Jazeel OR MANY racegoers, the John Smith’s Diamond Jubilee Cup will always be the Magnet Cup after the well-known Tadcaster brewery decided to sponsor the race back in 1960, and having stayed loyal to the race ever since this is now the longestrunning association with a flat race in the world. Roger Varian is set to rely on ante-post favourite MOUNTAIN ANGEL in the valuable handicap which looks typically trappy .The five-yearold finished a creditable fifth in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot on his latest start, having won his previous two outings at Epsom. Saturday’s extended 10-furlong showpiece over the Knavesmire has a maximum field of 22 and earlier this week, Varian said: “I think we will just have Mountain Angel. He is in great form. He would be suited by the race. He would like a few showers to come through during the week, just take the sting out the ground.” The Newmarket trainer also had UAE Prince and Fujaira Prince in the mix for the race, but both were removed at the five-day stage. He added: “UAE Prince is likely to go to Goodwood, and Fujaira Prince won’t run.” John Gosden looks to rely on STYLEHUNTER after withdrawing Star Of Bengal, who was prominent in the antepost market. The Newmarket trainer also saddles WEEKENDER, who has picked up minor honours in both visits to York and is likely to be in the mix again in the Group 3 contest at 2.40, with next month’s £1m Ebor very much on the agenda.
F
PULLING CLEAR: Strafford won two races to edge further ahead in the championship PHOTO: Kerry Rowson
RYAN STRAFFORD came away from a big crash with only minor injuries in the fourth round of the Thundersport GP1 superbikes championship. The Mirfield rider picked up two race wins and a second-placed finish to extend his championship lead by two at Leicestershire’s Mallory Park. However, the final race of the weekend didn’t go to plan after an unavoidable collision with local rider George Pyecroft on the home straight at the end of the first lap. Pyecroft’s throttle cable snapped and Ryan, in his slipstream, had no chance of avoiding the slowing machine as he crashed into the rear of the bike. Strafford was thrown out of his bike and slid for over 100 metres along the track, with the chasing pack doing well to avoid him. The race was red flagged as he received treatment at the side of the circuit. Incredibly, after five minutes he stood up and was able to walk to
the ambulance. After an assessment in the medical centre, the only injury he had sustained was a broken little finger in his left hand. “Well that wasn’t the way I wanted to end a great weekend,” Strafford said. “I felt strong in the opening lap and I wanted the win. I’m really grateful to the track side medics who did a great job. “I just need to concentrate on getting myself fit and ready for (the next round at) Donington Park in July.” It certainly took some shine off an otherwise successful race meeting, in which he won both of the Saturday races and took second place in the first ride on Sunday. There had been some drama in Friday’s testing, as Strafford’s gear quickshifter failed in only the second lap of the first session. That ruled him out of action for the rest of the day, with the replacement part arriving in the nick of time at 9am on Saturday morning.
Strafford set the fourthfastest time around the short circuit in Saturday’s qualifying session, with just 0.4 seconds separating the top four. On a hot track, he shot off the start in the first race to climb up to second. By the end of lap two he was ahead of Pyecroft, and he held out to win by just 0.009 secs. It was another two-way battle with Pyecroft in the day’s second race, and Ryan this time recorded a more convincing win as he crossed 1.7 secs ahead. Strafford also set the fastest lap of the day, putting him on pole for Sunday’s action. He did battle with Pyecroft at the front once again in the first race but, after leading for nine of the 10 laps, Strafford saw his rival pass at a corner on the final lap to take the race win. Ryan looked set for another strong finish as the pair went ahead early in the final race, but that unfortunate collision meant he had to settle for a 78-point championship lead.
Leading fancies standing their ground include Charlie Hills’ Royal Hunt Cup winner AFFAAK, Charlie Appleby’s SETTING SAIL and, from Saeed bin Suroor’s stable, DESERT FIRE – while Ralph Beckett’s DOLPHIN VISTA still heads the weights on 9st 10lb. There are no Irish-trained raiders after Joseph and Aidan O’Brien scratched their entries, but I’m looking much closer to home for a couple of each-way outsiders who will need horses to come out. Middelham handler Jedd O’Keeffe has long thought JAZEEL is the perfect type for this race but he had a problem. He wasn’t going to get in until he pulled off a battling victory at Sandown last Friday. It wasn’t pretty and he’d have been third in another stride, but it was job done. A five-pound penalty meant he was within one of making the field at the four-day stage and at last he might get the scenario that will bring out the
best in him. He’s a horse that is crying out for a strong gallop and a typical, stalking, Jamie Spencer ride. He had to set him alight too early at Sandown when it became clear how the race was developing and it’s to the horse’s credit that he got the job done. But he’s better than that. He chased home MOUNTAIN ANGEL at Epsom the time before, conceding track position to that rival as he made headway down the centre of the course with three to run, and it would be no surprise if he reversed that form at the weekend. At the time of writing, AASHEQ needs two to come out of a race which has long been on the radar for Tim Easterby’s charge and a big run is on the cards. He’s had three starts this season, including a winning reappearance at Pontefract, and he’s a strong-travelling horse who races close to the pace and stays further than ten furlongs. The Knaversmire card begins with the Listed City Walls Stakes over 5f and Great Habton-based Easterby can score with COPPER KNIGHT, a three-time course and distance winner over his favourite track. RISE HALL won’t get into the John Smith’s Cup but is another who can get back to winning ways over his optimum trip of a mile at 3.15. CARRIGILL’S NAP: (money back as a free bet if finishes outside top 4): WEEKENDER, Saturday, York, 3.50. AUGUR’S BEST BET: JAZEEL, Saturday, York, 3.50.
ThePress
Friday July 12, 2019
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BOXING
Yates happy with entertaining debut By Jacob Kilbride BATLEY boxer Jordan Yates got his professional career off to a winning start in an entertaining bout with Luke Fash. Taking on the 29-year-old journeyman from Hull, Yates didn’t have it all his own way but put in a solid performance for a 39-37 win. He made an assured start in the first round at the Bradford Hotel, looking composed and relaxed and landing some head shots. His opponent began to trouble in the second as he worked himself into the fight, but Yates countered well off the ropes. The three-time Yorkshire amateur champion remained steady in the third round as well despite Fash looking to threaten further and going for some big shots. Yates looked less comfortable in the final round, attempting to go toe-to-toe rather than defending as his opponent went all-out, but he survived a frantic finish to claim the win. Yates admitted that his debut showing was not perfect, but was pleased overall with his performance. “I thought it was a good, clinical performance,” he said. “From the outset our gameplan was to keep it long, keep him at range and don’t let him get in because we know that his optimum fight is on the inside throwing those big shots. “I felt like I stuck to it. He made
WINNING START: Jordan Yates looks to land a punch (left) and celebrates the decision on his pro debut against Luke Fash in Bradford me work for it, the last round was definitely harder than it should have been but I got through it and I’m happy with that performance. “He knew he’d lost the first two and he needs to knock me out to win, so that was his game and he tried to throw some big shots. Luckily I got out the way of all the big ones, and I managed to get off the ropes and keep putting that jab in his face, and it did work.” The final round was an entertaining one for the crowd and Yates
says he is happy to please, adding that it will all prove to be useful experience as he continues his pro career. “It’s always good to give the crowd what they want. That exciting round got the crowd on their toes a little bit, so it is good to give people what they pay for. “You want to get those rounds in. There’s no taking your opponent out in the first round because you don’t get the rounds and you don’t get the experience, (then) when you
come into a fight when you’re in deep waters, you don’t have the experience. “I’m happy to get those four confident rounds in.” Yates trains at Dicky’s Gym in Batley with the guidance of coaches Mark Hurley and Abe Rayman, and he praised the experience that his team – who are also in the corner of IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington – brings. “I’ve got the utmost respect for both of them, and anything they tell
PHOTOS: Joe Ibbotson
me I believe and listen to,” he said. “I’ve got the best team around me for where I need to be at the moment.” Having a world champion alongside him in the gym has its benefits as well, with Yates getting the opportunity to train with Warrington. “I managed to get a few little drills in and two or three rounds to warm him up for sparring,” he said. “Against someone like that I’ll take anything I can get.”
CRICKET
Batley close in on the leaders Crunch time for HH ahead of Ossett derby clash By Mike Popplewell Cricket correspondent
BATLEY’S promotion challenge from the Bradford League Championship One showed no sign of slowing down as they cruised to a 122-run victory at neighbouring Morley. Owais Hussain (62) and Roheil Hussain (55) put on 122 for their first wicket and, with the ever-reliable Muhammed Shahnawaz collecting a five-wicket haul, there was just no way back for their thirdplaced opponents. The result moved Batley to within just seven points of leaders Bankfoot, ahead of tomorrow’s (Saturday) derby game at home to relegation-threatened Ossett. East Bierley’s hopes of mounting a twin Kirklees title challenge took a knock when they were surprisingly beaten at unpredictable Gomersal. With the home side struggling on 39 for six at one point, this game looked like Bierley’s for the taking but, though they struggled to reach 144 by the close of their innings, the stage was set for Gomersal stalwart Chris Rhodes. Rhodes was a left-arm paceman when he began his career with Gomersal back in the Central Yorkshire League days but his reinvention as a spinner has given him a new lease of life. The homegrown Rhodes has had time away from Oxford Road in his long career but he came back to Gomersal and resolved to play out his career in the more relaxing second team environment. It was during this time that he decided to switch his bowling style and became one of the league’s lead-
ing wicket takers on the 2nd XI circuit. Inevitably efforts were made for him to reconsider first-team cricket and an 8-28 return against Bierley proved just how important his decision to return to the forefront of the battle really was. Though Gomersal are still much too close to the relegation zone for comfort, that 28-run win over East Bierley lifted them 15 points clear of second-bottom Wakefield St Michaels. That was a fine result but there will be no resting on laurels, for tomorrow (Saturday) they have another daunting task at Bankfoot. Bierley are at home to Morley in a fourth v third clash, while bottom club Scholes go to Pudsey Congs
still trailing third-bottom Ossett by 40 points and Hartshead Moor have a mid-table meeting with Baildon. In Championship Two, Asad Mahmood hit 61 off the first 80 runs opening the innings for bottom club Liversedge, but six ducks then followed and 10 wickets fell for the addition of just 23 runs as they slipped to yet another defeat. Promoted Adwalton are also facing a long relegation battle that was not helped by a final-over, two-wicket defeat to Spen Victoria in a 700run scoring fest. Long-serving Peter Jackson hit a massive 155 not out for Spen Vic and he will doubtless be hoping for more of the same at the other promoted Conference club, Jer Lane, at Horton Bank Top tomorrow.
Austin leads Birstall into semis BIRSTALL’S New Zealand-born opener Eric Austin is certainly having a good week. He helped his side maintain a push for promotion from the Bradford League’s Championship Two last weekend, and played a part in securing a place in the Jack Hampshire Cup semifinal. He is also doubtless looking forward to boosting his run tally with a visit to bottom club Liversedge tomorrow (Saturday) as he chases honours on two
DOWN TO FOUR: One of Birstall, Hunslet Nelson, Buttershaw St Pauls and Yeadon will win the cup fronts and celebrates his homeland’s success in reaching the ICC
Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s. Following a typically steady 63 in the 212-run league win over Hopton Mills, Austin then hit a top scoring 48 in a 22run win over Conference side Great Preston in last Sunday’s Jack Hampshire quarter-final tie. The win over Great Preston secured a home clash with Hunslet Nelson in the semi-final on July 21, while in the other tie Buttershaw St Pauls will be at home to Yeadon.
sport@thepressnews.co.uk
THIS coming weekend is a crucial one for Hanging Heaton if they are to maintain hopes of finishing the season with more silverware. A final-over, five-run defeat at the hands of Farsley last weekend left them in fourth place and 39 points behind leaders Woodlands – a situation that would have been considerably worse had the Oakenshaw side not lost their unbeaten record at home to New Farnley. With their Bradford Premier Division title hopes hanging by a thread, skipper Gary Fellows will be looking at Sunday’s upcoming Priestley Cup semi-final as his Hanging Heaton side’s best hopes of trophy success. However, a win at Woodlands remains a daunting prospect despite their surprise slip up last week. It is all in stark contrast to last season, when Fellows and his men carried almost all before them, but the talent remains even if consistency is in short supply. Fellows was in great form himself in the last game, making 97 from 188, but his side fell five runs short of the visitors’ 223 for nine, having been 56 for five, when Tom Chippendale was dismissed off the third ball of the final over. Woodlands also slipped up badly when they were shot out for just 68 by New Farnley, after a 5-15 return from Yorkshire all-rounder Alex Lilley, and went down by eight wickets. So, this is perhaps the best time Hanging Heaton could have to face Woodlands. In the other semi-final, New
JUST SHORT: Skipper Gary Fellows scored 97 for Hanging Heaton but Farsley edged their contest by just five runs Farnley will be at home to Championship One side Baildon. Before that, New Farnley will be a difficult task for Hanging Heaton in the league tomorrow (Saturday), while Woodlands face a visit from unpredictable Methley. Cleckheaton completed a sixwicket win at Townville last week, after bowling them out for 73 with a 6-38 return from Jonathan Whiteoak. They now go into tomorrow’s game at home to Wrenthorpe in sixth place, albeit still 50 points behind Woodlands. Perennial title-chasers Pudsey St Lawrence remain in second place after a two-wicket win over Methley at Little Church Lane. They now go to third-placed Bradford and Bingley tomorrow for a game that is a must win for both sides if they are to gain ground on the leaders.
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ThePress
Friday July 12, 2019
AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE Last-gasp draw with leaders
Late rally sees Maroons climb off bottom of table NCL Division One
SKIRLAUGH DEWSBURY MOOR
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DEWSBURY MOOR climbed off the bottom of the table with victory at Skirlaugh, a third win in four games as their revival continues. They looked consigned to the drop after losing all 10 of their opening matches, but a dramatic turn in form has given them real hope of making an escape. Other results mean that the Maroons remain six points from safety, but confidence will be high after a brilliant late rally secured their first away win of the season. Archie Bruce scored two tries in a man of the match performance, while Bradley Adams and Jamie Samme also notched braces in a superb all-round performance. It was their play-off chasing opponents who made the better start though, racing into a 10-0 lead after just five minutes thanks to tries from Luke Foster and Nathan Slater, along with a Carl Puckering goal. Moor reduced the gap when they got their first points of the afternoon, with Bruce getting the first of his double and Aiden Inseon tagging on the conversion, although Bruce was then sent to the sin bin for kicking out. Puckering hit back with a converted try for the home side, but two scores saw the Maroons pull the scores level at half-time.
DEWSBURY CELTIC WOOLSTON ROVERS
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A LAST-MINUTE try from Jermaine Akaidere saw Dewsbury Celtic hold league leaders Woolston to a draw at Crow Nest Park. A win would have seen fourthplaced Celtic close the gap on their promotion rivals further, but after trailing for much of the contest that point could prove a valuable one. Will Copley had given the home side a 14th-minute lead with his try, but Woolston hit back to take a 16-4 lead into the interval. Justin Becker and Christian Taylor landed their two first-half tries, while Aaron Barber added two conversions and a penalty while Ben Dixon also kicked a penalty. It was at times a feisty first half,
with Celtic having George Senior sin-binned for lashing out and Tom Bottomley after a team warning, while Woolston’s Becker was also shown yellow. It only took Celtic eight minutes at the start of the second half to claw back the half-time deficit thanks to Paul Foulstone and Nathan Waring tries, both converted by Senior. However, Dixon crossed to edge the visitors back in front and that was how it remained until the final few seconds, when Akaidere struck to take a share of the spoils. They couldn’t add the conversion which would have secured victory, leaving them three points off the automatic promotion places ahead of tomorrow’s (Saturday) trip to struggling Oldham St Annes. Celtic will be looking for revenge after a surprise 34-6 defeat to Oldham on home turf earlier in the season.
Boys fight back to close gap ON A RUN: Dewsbury Moor have now won three of their last four matches John Bowness recorded his first try of the campaign before Adams went over to make things allsquare. Like in the first half, Skirlaugh made the better start to the second period, with Puckering landing a penalty to edge them in front before converting a Luke Livingston try to take them to a 24-16 lead. Skirlaugh remained in front heading into the final quarter of the game, albeit with the difference halved after top try-scorer Adams added his second of the game and eighth of the season for Dewsbury. The hosts were also ahead on players when Adams was shown the yellow card for dissent, but Moor
shrugged off that blow and powered to victory regardless. Samme touched down twice while Bruce also added his second try of the contest, and Ineson added the extras to all three efforts to secure the result. The game did end on an unwelcome note with the Maroons’ Caden Wilkinson binned for a headbutt and Skirlaugh’s Kane Larvin sent to the sidelines for striking with two minutes left. Moor have the chance to continue their run of form tomorrow (Saturday) when they travel to Wigan St Patricks, who edged them out 27-18 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
Trojans come up short at Thatto Heath
NCL Division Three
WATERHEAD WARRIORS BATLEY BOYS
THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS 26 THORNHILL TROJANS 6
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BATLEY BOYS moved to within one point of the automatic promotion places with a hard-fought win at Waterhead Warriors. They trailed 14-0 at half-time but made a rousing second-half fightback, with Matt Sheridan leading with a hat-trick and Luke Sheridan scoring the other try plus four goals. Batley had put 50 points past Waterhead in the reverse fixture but found their opposition much tougher
NCL Division Two
62 0
SHAW CROSS fell to the bottom of the league table for the first time after a hammering at West Bowling. The Bradford side ran in 11 unopposed tries, leaving the Sharks with a vital fixture tomorrow (Saturday) at home to the side who overtook them last weekend, Askam. They will need a considerable improvement on their showing against second-placed West Bowling, who ran in a huge score with Louis Fraser leading the way with four tries. Max Trueman grabbed their first points of the afternoon before a Fraser brace, with Joe Hammond also going over to put them 20-0 in front. Shaw Cross had Elliott
TOO LITTLE: Will Gledhill scored Thornhill’s only try in the third minute support of the break to go over, and he converted as well to see Thatto lead 10-6 at the interval. The first score of the second half was from a well-executed set move. From a scrum the move was called and ended with winger Owen Scholes cutting inside and sprinting between the posts for a converted try. Still Thornhill battled well but as the game passed the hour mark it became apparent that Thatto were on course for victory. The killer blow came when Chris Hull drove for the try line, holding off a number of defenders to plant the ball down for a try, converted by Jack Jones. As the game entered its final phase tempers became a little frayed and, following a challenge on Declan Tomlinson, Ratcliffe was
PHOTO: Dave Jewitt
sent to the sin bin for speaking out of turn to the referee. Tomlinson was then subject to another harsh challenge. This time the referee showed him some sympathy and sent Thatto Heath’s Matty Norton to the sin bin. With three minutes left on the clock, Adam Saunders shrugged off the defence to cross for an unconverted try to wrap up the victory. Thornhill stay one point from safety, with eight matches remaining to preserve their Premier Division status. They take on another side in the top half of the league tomorrow (Saturday), when Egremont Rangers travel to Overthorpe Park. The Cumbrian outfit handed the Trojans a harsh lesson when the sides met in April, powering to a 52-10 win.
to crack this time around, failing to score a point in the first half. Billy McDermott registered a brace of tries and Olly Kerr also crossed, with Liam Aspin adding one conversion to the hosts’ tally. However, the Boys were the superior side after the break, with the two Sheridans scoring 12 points apiece to turn the game on its head. Kerr scored a second Warriors try which Aspin converted, but Batley held out for a fourth successive triumph. The Boys are on the road again tomorrow (Saturday), taking on a Hensingham side that they defeated 46-10 at home just two weeks ago.
Sharks sink to the bottom WEST BOWLING SHAW CROSS SHARKS
NCL Premier Division
THORNHILL remain in the relegation zone after being outclassed at play-off chasing Thatto Heath. They took a third-minute lead but failed to score any more points in the game, as Thatto showed their extra class to pick up the two points. With a number of regular faces missing the trip to St Helens the Trojans had to reshuffle, with Casey Johnson moving to stand-off and Nick Mitchell lining up at full-back. Despite that they made the best possible start, with Johnson collecting a high Danny Ratcliffe kick and passing to Scott Green who in turn sent Will Gledhill diving over for a try out wide. Johnson added a brilliant conversion from the touchline – but that would prove to be as good as it got for the strugglers. Thornhill continued to play with enthusiasm but as the half wore on Thatto began to gain a hold on proceedings. At one point they looked to have scored but a brilliant lastditch tackle from Mitchell caused them to spill the ball. It was a mistake which finally saw the Crusaders score the first try of the game. They moved the ball at speed after the ball had been dropped, and good handling resulted in Niall Allen diving over for an unconverted try in the corner. This score seemed to lift the home side as they looked to come back into this game, and a dummy from second-row Connor Dwyer split the defence. Bobbie Goulding was up in
NCL Division Three
Richardson sent to the sin bin for a crusher tackle, and things didn’t get any better a man down as Richard Lumb was the next to go over for the home side. Fraser crossed for a third time before a second try for Lumb, and Harry Williams was also on target to stretch the lead to 38-0 at the break. Nathan Wright became the second Shark of the afternoon to head to the bin when he was shown yellow for a professional foul, and there was no let-up as Brett Greenwood went over and Ben Heald scored another try to take West Bowling up to 50 points. Greenwood then scored his second and the team’s 10th try, before Fraser rounded things off by completing his quadruple. In addition to his own first-half try, man of the match Williams landed nine of the 11 conversion attempts.
Rampant win for Ossett Trinity OSSETT TRINITY Tigers kept up their pursuit of Yorkshire Men’s League Division Two leaders Wyke with a convincing 48-6 win at home to Wibsey Warriors. Ash Berry led the way with a hattrick of tries, with two coming in the first quarter of the game. Jordan Ward and Elliot Schofield added further tries either side of Wibsey’s only points of the match for a 20-6 half-time score. Ossett showed no let-up in the second half, with top-scorer Adam Newby and skipper Marcus Stocks adding to the tally. Ward grabbed his second of the match and Josh Machin snuck over before Berry went the length of the field to complete his treble. The Tigers are back to within two
points of Wyke ahead of a trip to Skirlaugh Bulls tomorrow (Saturday). In Division Three, Birstall Victoria recorded their third win of the season with a 32-8 triumph at home to bottom side Birkenshaw Bluedogs, and are set to go to Wetherby Bulldogs tomorrow. Batley Boys DMR are up to fifth in Division Four after a 22-18 home win over Leeds Akkies, and travel next to Lambwath Lions tomorrow. In the NCL Alliance Division, Dewsbury Moor ‘A’ moved up to third with a 30-22 win at Heworth. Moor are scheduled to face Lock Lane Academy at home tomorrow, while Thornhill Trojans ‘A’ and Dewsbury Celtic ‘A’ also have home ties against Heworth and Normanton Knights respectively.
ThePress
Friday July 12, 2019
27
RUGBY LEAGUE
Rams earn crucial victory Betfred Championship
DEWSBURY RAMS
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BARROW RAIDERS
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Stephen Ibbetson at Tetley’s Stadium THIS WAS billed as a relegation fourpointer and it didn’t disappoint, with twists and turns aplenty before Dewsbury claimed the two league points to climb away from the drop zone. Barrow had won three of their previous five Championship matches to move level with their hosts heading into the game, but a strong second-half showing from the Rams leaves them with more catching up to do to escape a drop to League One. There was joy and relief in equal measure for the Rams when the final hooter sounded, but it didn’t look like it would be such a happy afternoon when a slow start saw them trail by 10 points after as many minutes. Hooker Wartovo Puara got the first try, sneaking over after Alec Susino had managed to offload close to the line. All the attacking pressure was coming from Barrow and when a chip over the top was knocked-on by debutant Conor McGrath, a move straight from the scrum saw Jarrad Stack send Deon Cross clear on the short side. Jamie Dallimore converted the first of those efforts and the half-back was controlling the tempo of the game for the Raiders. Only approaching the 20minute mark did Dewsbury first enjoy a chance to attack the line, and they took the opportunity with both hands as McGrath plucked a cross-field Paul Sykes kick out of the sky and touched down.
MATCH STATS SWINTON LIONS: Jack Hansen Mike Butt Rhodri Lloyd Craig Mullen Matty Ashton Jake Shorrocks Rob Fairclough Gavin Bennion Luke Waterworth Lewis Hatton Jack Wells Frankie Halton Paddy Jones Subs: Billy Brickhill Liam Byrne Samy Kibula Scott Moore Tries: Lloyd (22), Bennion (64), Hatton (70). Goals: Hansen 4/4.
BATLEY BULLDOGS: Dave Scott Niall Walker Sam Smeaton Jack Broadbent Lewis Galbraith Louis Jouffret Danny Yates Tyler Dickinson Alistair Leak James Brown Paul Brearley Alex Bretherton Dane Manning Subs: Adam Gledhill Joe Taira Keenen Tomlinson Michael Ward Tries: Brearley (35), Gledhill (40), Walker (50). Goals: Jouffret 3/4.
8 7 7 8 7 7 8 7 8 7 6 6 7 6 8 7 7
7 7 6 7 8 8 6 7 8 8 7 6 6 7 6 7 8
Referee: T. Grant Half-time: 8-12 Penalties: 7-8 Sin Bin: Manning (4, lifting), Moore (44, dangerous tackle) Man of the match: Rob Fairclough (Swinton) Attendance: 888
The Rams showed some confidence and drive for the first time as they continued to put on pressure. Their other new arrival during the week, the returning Dom Speakman, squirmed under the defence from close range for their second try as Sykes added the conversion to level at 10-10. They couldn’t continue that form through to half-time though, as instead it was the away side who took a slender lead into the interval when Dallimore kicked a penalty goal from 15m out. Again Dewsbury suffered a nightmare start to a half, with Tee Ritson breaking from inside his own 30m and evading the chase of Rob Worrincy to cross within two minutes of the restart.
Another Dallimore penalty, this time for a very harsh high tackle call in front of the posts, took Barrow to a 2010 advantage. However, what followed was a 20minute masterclass as Dewsbury blitzed through their opponents to turn the game, and the wider relegation battle, on its head. Leeds loanee Owen Trout got the first points of their purple patch out wide from Speakman’s assist before Liam Finn and Sykes combined to send Adam Ryder over. Sykes added the conversion to level and put his side in front for the first time on the hour mark with a 30m penalty. Barrow were losing their discipline,
and Speakman provided his second assist to help Sykes celebrate his 450th career appearance with a try. Michael Knowles then went over from a Kyle Trout pass, with Finn landing both goals to make it a three-score lead. That should have been the match but the Rams rarely do things the easy way, and Barrow gave themselves a lifeline with six minutes left on the clock when Ritson dived into the left corner for his second try following consecutive penalties. Those two crucial points were only truly safe with three minutes to go, when on-loan Halifax winger McGrath flew into the corner for his second on the back of fine work from Knowles.
BARROW RAIDERS: Luke Cresswell 6 Tee Ritson 8 Jarrad Stack 7 Stargroth Amean 6 Deon Cross 6 Jamie Dallimore 7 Ben White 6 Josh Johnson 6 Wartovo Puara 7 Alec Susino 7 Jono Smith 6 Danny Morrow 6 Jordan Walne 7 Subs: Ryan Johnston 6 Martin Aspinwall 6 Tom Walker 6 Dan Toal Tries: Puara (4), Cross (9), Ritson (42, 74). Goals: Dallimore 5/6.
Relief for milestone man after ‘tough’ win CAPTAIN Paul Sykes was a relieved man after Dewsbury’s vital win over Barrow in the fight against the drop. The veteran half-back made the 450th appearance of a career which has spanned Bradford, London, Wakefield, Featherstone and his hometown Rams. He has also earned five caps for England and one for Great Britain, along with making five appearances for England ‘A’ The afternoon was a more significant one for the side as a whole though, as Sykes scored a try and three goals to help earn two vital points. “It is a bit of a relief really,”
he said. “It was a tough game as Barrow are a good side. It was a nervy start by us but we hung in there. “Once we had our fair share of the ball we knew we could come away with the spoils and it showed in the end. “Even before their tries we were making easy yards but just not finishing well at the back end of the sets and giving silly penalties away. “(With) a bit of composure on the ball and composure defending we toughed it out. If we had the fair share of the ball on their line we knew we could score points; it was just getting to that place.”
MATCH STATS DEWSBURY RAMS: Joe Martin 7 Rob Worrincy 7 Owen Trout 8 Adam Ryder 7 Conor McGrath 7 Paul Sykes 9 Liam Finn 7 Jode Sheriffe 7 Dom Speakman 8 Dan Igbinedion 6 Dan Waite-Pullan 6 Michael Knowles 7 Kyle Trout 7 Subs: Sam Day 8 Lucas Walshaw 6 Martyn Reilly 6 Tom Garratt 7 Tries: McGrath (19, 77), Speakman (24), O Trout (51), Ryder (54), Sykes (64), Knowles (67). Goals: Sykes 3/5, Finn 3/3.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC: Sykes was man of the match in his 450th game
Referee: J. Smith Half-time: 10-12 Penalties: 8-5 Man of the match: Paul Sykes (Dewsbury) Attendance: 856
Batley back in relegation trouble Betfred Championship
SWINTON LIONS BATLEY BULLDOGS
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at Heywood Road BATLEY slipped closer towards the drop zone as Swinton came back to defeat them in a pulsating game. The Lions overtook their opponents in the league table with the result, and are one of a number of sides picking up form at the bottom end of the ladder at the right time to put pressure on the Bulldogs, who have now lost five league games in a row. Swinton had the best of the early action but failed to take advantage when Batley second-rower Dane Manning was sent to the sin bin with only four minutes gone for lifting Paddy Jones in a tackle. The Bulldogs began to get more involved when James Brown and Lewis Galbraith broke tackles but Louis Jouffret’s grubber to the corner was a shade off the mark. It was Swinton who finally notched the first points as a Rob Fairclough grubber was touched down by Rhodri Lloyd, with Jack Hansen converting. The referee then penalised Dave Scott for a mid-air challenge on Fairclough and Hansen wisely opted for the two points. This didn’t stop the Yorkshire visitors from storming back into things for the remainder of the half. Craig Mullen and Ashton somehow clamped the ball after Galbraith claimed a kick on the Swinton try-line and a rapid-fire movement almost saw Niall Walker go over. Eventually pressure told and Alistair Leak set Paul Brearley up from close
PHOTO: Simon Hall
range, with Jouffret adding the extras. And with just 20 seconds on the clock, Adam Gledhill burst over by the posts for another six-pointer. After Joe Taira was injured in a tackle by Scott Moore, the response was furious and a brawl ensued. Referee Tom Grant binned the Swinton player while Jouffret gladly kicked another couple of points to the Bulldogs’ tally. A ball steal by Galbraith on Jake Shorrocks saw the scales tip even fur-
ther towards Batley. It gave opportunity for another set close to the line, from which Walker scuttled round the edge of the Lions’ defence to score. It looked like Batley were all set to add to their tally when a Fairclough interception from Scott derailed a potential score and gave Swinton impetus. The Lions kept up the pressure with Moore and Lewis Hatton sending Gavin Bennion charging over. The same trio were involved again
LANDMARK: Dane Manning made his 100th appearance for Batley, but couldn’t prevent a disappointing defeat against Swinton soon afterwards. This time it was Hatton applying the finishing touches and, with Hansen’s fourth successful kick, the Lions suddenly held the lead. Batley did get possession in the last five minutes, but both Jack Broadbent and Sam Smeaton lost the ball and the Lions held on for the win.
RAMS HAVE ‘TURNED CORNER’ By Stephen Ibbetson Sports Reporter sport@thepressnews.co.uk
DEWSBURY coach Lee Greenwood believes that his side have “turned a corner” after an upturn in performances. The Rams picked up a crucial win over relegation rivals Barrow last weekend to ease fears of dropping out of the Championship. However, Greenwood thinks that the turning point came a couple of weeks ago, at half-time in their 54-6 defeat at Widnes Vikings in the 1895 Cup quarter-finals. “As crazy as it sounds, I sensed something at half-time at Widnes,” he said. “We were getting beaten heavily, the game was gone, and if I’m being honest it could have gone on to be a cricket score. “I just let the players do what they needed to do. Whether that was sitting in silence staring at each other or having a go at each other, they could do that. “I saw more spirit in the second half at Widnes, we took that into York (a late 24-21 defeat) and we should have won at York last week, and definitely (against Barrow) they turned up and got stuck in. “That’s probably been the frustration of not just myself but the two previous coaches as well, you’re not sure what the lads are going to turn up like. “If they had turned up with the mentality they have had over the last couple of weeks, it would be such a different feeling around the place and I don’t think we’d be anywhere near the league position we’re in.” Dewsbury are still just one place and two points off the relegation zone ahead of tonight’s trip to play-
HAPPY DAYS: Things are looking brighter for Dewsbury boss Lee Greenwood ahead of tonight’s trip to Sheffield Eagles off chasing Sheffield Eagles (Friday, kick-off 7.45pm). However, Greenwood believes that if his side have resolved the mentality issue that he has cited a number of times this season, they will be in no danger. “When the lads turn up like they do everything looks better. It’s strange. When we don’t quite turn up at the races everything looks like we haven’t practiced it and we’re a group of strangers,” he said. “But the last couple of weeks the defence has looked good; as in firsthit contact, aggression, and when
INSPIRATION: Louis Jouffret kicked the drop goal to beat York when the two sides met in the 1895 Cup last month
the other team is shifting the ball as well, we’ve looked comfortable. “Nothing has changed, honestly. I don’t know if the penny’s dropped with the lads or not, but I’ve been telling them there’s a good team hiding in there somewhere. “If they rock up and give it their all for each other, it’s going to be far from perfect but I know they’re good enough to be well away from the bottom of the table. “Hopefully now we’ve turned a corner, last week or maybe at halftime (in the) dressing room at Widnes, maybe that was the minute
we changed. I’m hoping it is, because if we do that we’ll pick up more wins as the season goes on.” The Rams added two players to their squad ahead of the Barrow clash, with hooker Dom Speakman returning to the club after a short spell at Widnes and winger Conor McGrath joining on loan from Halifax. Both enjoyed try-scoring debuts and impressed their boss. “It was out of necessity really, bringing those two in. We obviously want to bring in someone who adds to the group, not just literally to fill
Batley look to ease pressure BATLEY will look to end a five-match losing run and ease any relegation fears when they host York City Knights this weekend. The Bulldogs have failed to pick up any league points since May, and the resurgence of other sides near the foot of the table means that they are now just three points ahead of the drop zone. Their only success in recent weeks has come in the 1895 Cup, when Louis Jouffret’s drop-goal earned
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a shirt,” said Greenwood. “Halifax rate Conor highly. He’s been waiting in the wings, probably not getting the opportunities he wants. “He did a couple of shaky things which is to be expected of somebody who hasn’t played week in and week out at this level, but it was a really good finish to get us back in the game with a high catch, which is one of the positive things that he does. “I thought Dom was outstanding. Robbie (Ward) got injured last week, Sam (Day) has really been struggling. But he didn’t just come in and shuffle the ball about, I thought he was fantastic.” Dewsbury head to South Yorkshire tonight looking to overturn Sheffield, who came out on top 16-13 in a tight, scrappy game at the Tetley’s Stadium earlier in the season. While their opponents still harbour play-off ambitions, Greenwood believes that his team can go into the clash with confidence. “I know the good things are there in the team, it’s just all of them rocking up at the same time, ready to go and ready to work for each other. “We can go to Sheffield with confidence, not just because of (the Barrow performance) but how the lads have turned up. “When you’re losing it’s hard for anyone to believe what you’re saying, because the proof’s not in the pudding and the points you’re getting. “I am confident going into Sheffield that we can give them a good game.” Meanwhile, the club have announced that prop forward Harvey Hallas, who joined ahead of this season from Keighley, has been released from his contract.
them the win at York in golden point extra-time. No York side has won in Batley since 2000 but the Knights will come into Sunday’s clash at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium (kick-off 3pm) as strong favourites, sitting in second place in the Championship table. However, the Bulldogs also pushed the high-flyers close in the reverse league fixture, losing 28-24 at Bootham Crescent. Last week’s 20-18 defeat at Swinton saw them slip to
fourth-bottom, and coach Matt Diskin admitted after the game that his side are now under real pressure with rivals catching up. They will take on York without prop forward Joe Taira, who suffered a knee injury in the Lions loss and is set for a spell on the sidelines. Winger Niall Walker and second-row Paul Brearley could also miss out this weekend after both picked up hamstring injuries at Swinton.
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