RRS recently hosted the first ever Rugby League Tag Tournament at Radcliffe Riverside School in Bury.
This involved 4 primary schools in the Radcliffe area of Bury who have received 6 week coaching from Bolton & Bury rugby league Development Officer Alan Kilshaw.
Group photo above with Swinton Lions captain. Martin Moana and SLCM Alan Kilshaw
Each school sent a squad of 12 from there classes to compete in the event
schools involved were St Johns, Radcliffe, Gorsefield and Cams Lane Primary.
All the teams played each other once and then the two teams with the most points
Radcliffe Primary and Cams Lane played off in an exciting final.
Radcliffe edged it with player of the tournament Joe Samuel scoring a hat-trick
of tries to cap a wonderful afternoon off for himself and his school.
This was a mixed competition and was played at a very good standard considering
these pupils hadn’t picked up a rugby ball 6 weeks ago.
Tourament action above - Cams Lane v Radcliffe Primary
RL development officer Alan Kilshaw said “Today was a great success
but it wasn’t just about the 12 kids that were picked from each school
to play it was about the 30 plus kids in each school who have had 6 weeks of
Rugby League coaching and playing the game.
This is just the start of the plans
we have for Bury and there’s many ongoing projects one involves setting
up a local club and I believe the majority of the team will be made up off
the girls and boys we have seen today. I just want to add thanks to Swinton
Lions John Tomasson (Commercial manager) and Martin Moana (club captain) who
came down today and helped run the tournament and donated the medals and prizes”
Medals are handed out by Swinton Lions capt. Martin Moana above
Goresfield Primary Teacher Andy Morris said “All the children have enjoyed all aspects of this training and it is apparent that children with learning difficulties have been included in the activities, Basic rugby league skills and knowledge is much better and I feel some children will be keen to take part in further training , watching and playing the sport.”
Y6 Student Joe Samuel receives his 'Player of the Year' prize from Swinton Lions capt. Martin Moana
© Radcliffe Riverside 2008
