ThePress
26
Friday November 28, 2014
RUGBY UNION
CLECK STAY UNBEATEN NATIONAL LEAGUE THREE
CLECKHEATON RUFC BILLINGHAM
24 18
at Moorend
CLECKHEATON extended their unbeaten home record to gain a bonus point win over Billingham on Saturday. There were a significant number of changes from the team selected to play at Sheffield Tigers the previous week. Rob Afoa Peterson, Tom Austin and Lee Queeley were all out with injuries, Sam Wood has resumed his duties with the Huddersfield Giants Academy and four additional players had also ruled themselves out of the fixture. The Moorenders’ opening score came early in the match when Billingham kicked to clear their lines and the ball was fielded close to half-way by Ross Hayden, who showed great feet and pace to race past two defenders for a try in the corner. The same player added the extras from the touchline. The visitors hit back when some risky off-loading managed to stick in the hands and eventually created space on the right flank for Dan Finney to score. Pete Evans added the conversion to level things up. Cleckheaton started to show
FORTRESS MOOREND: Olly Ackroyd hands off a Billingham player as Cleckheaton gain another victory to maintain their unbeaten home run Gerald Christian their dominance in the scrum with front row of Callum Thompson, Ben Thrower and Alex Dawson overpowering their opposition to take the first of what would be several against the head. The visitors found it difficult to clear their 22 and whilst they repelled several Cleckheaton attacks, the home side kept their shape, recycled well and eventually Callum Thompson forced his way over for an unconverted try.
The hosts continued to attack with captain Jack Bickerdike and Martin Woodhead testing the defence with some well-timed upand-unders. A break from Jarrad Toulson also bore promise of another score but Billingham managed to hold firm. As the half drew to a close, a rare lapse in what had been a very well-defended line allowed the visitors’ Evans to dive over in the corner to level matters at 12-
all at the break. The Teesiders took the lead in the second half with a penalty goal from in front of the posts. But Cleckheaton responded well when Jack Seddon broke down the blindside, beat the first line of defence and fed Hayden for his second of the afternoon. The conversion attempt hit the post leaving Cleckheaton with a two point lead. Coach Ian Armitage’s side conceded a penalty goal that put them a point behind and also put the hearts in the mouths of the crowd on the touchline. However, when James Wilson added his weight to a rolling maul and Craig Blackburn and Hayden did the same the momentum looked unstoppable. Billingham illegally pulled down Cleckheaton’s formation and the referee ran to the sticks to award a penalty try. The remaining four minutes seemed to take an age but eventually the whistle sounded for a very satisfying bonus-point win. The win allowed the Moorenders to leapfrog their opponents, who were immediately above them in the league standings before the game started. Cleckheaton now embark on a run in of matches against three of the bottom four sides prior to Christmas.
Buchanan launches testimonial calendar
ON FIRE: Austin Buchanan poses for his 2015 calendar titled ‘men at work’
RUGBY LEAGUE AUSTIN BUCHANAN will launch his testimonial calendar at a special event at the Tetley’s Stadium on Wednesday December 10. Dewsbury Rams will host a party to celebrate the winger’s testimonial year, with free entry from 7.30pm. Fans can see the players “do things you’ve never seen them do before” as they launch the revealing calendar. The calendar titled ‘men at work’ sees the Rams players pose in groups of two and three dressed as workers from different jobs. Buchanan can be seen posing as a fireman at Dewsbury fire station. Calendars will be on sale on the night, providing fans with the chance to buy a great stocking filler.
Mirfield Stags become kings of the Castle RUGBY LEAGUE
MOTORSPORT
Mirfield racer wins prestigious championship MIRFIELD racer Darren Porter clinched the prestigious Luffield Trophy after winning the MG Car Club sprint and hill climb championship. The competition, which has been running for 28 years, sees cars compete in a series of sprint and hill climb races across the country – with the eventual winner decided on their points gained throughout the campaign. Porter, 42, who has lived in Mirfield for over a year, beat 72 competitors to the Group 2 class modified MGF trophy. The racer – who works as an engineer when not on the track – enjoyed a successful season, winning four first in class awards at Angelsey on
both national and international circuits, first and second in the class awards at Harewood Hill climb and first in his class at Silverwood. Competing in 13 of the 25 rounds, after a midseason rebuild following a crash at Loton Park, Porter set new class records at Anglesy, Harewood, Scammonden, Silverstone and Loton Park on his way to the title. Porter said: “The championship has been running for 28 years now and I am very proud to be bringing the Prestigious Luffield Trophy back to Mirfield. “I would like to thank the support from my sponsor this year PFM Packaging Machinery
NEW HOME: Castle Hall Academy Principle shows his support for the Mirfield Stags
BURNING RUBBER: Darren Porter (left) on his way to a new class record on the Harewood course and friends and supporters from my local MGCC club who meet once a month in Roberttown.” The Mirfield racer has
been hill climbing and sprinting cars for several years, starting with a BMW at the Harewood Hillclimb (Leeds).
And for the last three years he has been competing in the MG Car Club, one of the world’s oldest car groups.
Dewsbury MMA fighter aims to crack Brazil nut MIXED MARTIAL ARTS AVT MIXED MARTIAL ARTIST Jay Furness says he is prepared to project a “bit of Yorkshire violence” on his opponent when he travels to Brazil for his next fight. Furness will travel to Brazil on December 13 to take on Nova Uniao’s Glaucio Eliziario. The 27-year-old featherweight – who suffered his first defeat in three years against Poland’s Krzystzof Klaczek in his last bout – returns to the octagon to fight at XFCi 8 in Sao Paulo next month. His upcoming opponent Eliziario trains in one of the biggest MMA gyms in the world at Nova Uniao – which has produced UFC champions at heavyweight, featherweight and bantamweight. Eliziario also trains alongside Jose Aldo, who is rated as one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world. But despite this Furness remains confident he can offer the Brazilian a stern test.
GOLD: AVT’s Andrew Morris (centre) picked up a BJJ gold medal in Madrid He said: “It doesn’t matter who beats him up in training when it’s just me and him in the cage on the night. “Of course he looks a solid fighter and coming out of that camp he will be, but they’ve all got two arms, two legs and a head to go at. “Anyway, I’ve got a right bunch of miscreants and oddballs to train with at AVT, and
there’s high-level fighters amongst them too so I can project a bit of Yorkshire violence to the world. “I believe that at best I can have a good old do with any featherweight outside the UFC and show I am an international-level fighter. “And at worst I’ve amassed a record that makes me look at least worthwhile if I get a kicking. Either way, I’ll celebrate or commiserate on a warm beach with a caipirinha afterwards.” • Meanwhile, fellow AVT coach and fighter Andrew Morris has enjoyed more international success after he picked up a Brazilian Jui Jitsu gold in Madrid. The Dewsbury-trained fighter, who recently returned from a year learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Brazil itself, won all three of his fights by submission on his way to the Madrid BJJ Open title. ‘Moz’ – as he is known by his AVT teammates – also picked up a silver medal in the openweight category.
MIRFIELD STAGS have unveiled a partnership with Castle Hall Academy, which will see the school become the club’s home ground for 2015. The agreement provides the new club with highquality facilities in the heart of Mirfield ahead of the its debut season. The Stags’ partnership with Castle Hall Academy offers training and playing facilities, available for use all year round. A spokesman for the club said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be teaming up with such a well-known institution on the Mirfield map. "The Academy provides us with an ideal playing and training base, both in the short and long term, while allowing us to create future pathways for students to join our junior ranks in the years ahead.” Meanwhile, the club are hosting their official launch evening at The Railway pub in Mirfield next Friday (Dec 5) from 7.30pm. Interested parties are invited to join directors, partners, honorary president Robbie Hunter-Paul and the club’s soon-to-be unveiled head coach and sign up for 2015.
Celtic host girls trials RUGBY LEAGUE
DEWSBURY CELTIC will be looking for new girls to play rugby league at a taster session on Saturday December 6. The club are inviting girls in school years six, seven and eight to Crow Nest Park, Dewsbury, where the session will run from 10.30-11.30am. For further information contact Shane on 075196 60049 or Michelle on 079200 23669.