The Press - Friday April 19, 2019

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

Friday April 19, 2019

No. 890

Rams prepare for Easter ‘Dogs derby Yobs attack emergency crews & OAP Litter pick heroes!

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REVEALED: TOWN’S NEW RETAIL PLAZA Empty precinct will be revamped in boost to Batley regeneration efforts EXCLUSIVE

By David Bentley AN EMPTY shopping precinct in the heart of Batley is being transformed – and developers are searching for local businesses to make it thrive.

Batley Shopping Centre, on Alfreds’ Way, will re-open in July as ‘Batley Plaza’ with 24 retail and food units following a complete redesign of the 40-year-old site.

It’s hoped the new complex will boost the town’s regeneration efforts.

The currently unoccupied centre, including the adjoining parade of

shops along Commercial Street which houses businesses such as Specsavers and Fultons Foods, has been bought by Z&F Properties Ltd, a development firm based near Wetherby.

Headed by businessman Zahid Iqbal, the company created the purpose-built ‘Bradford Plaza’ shopping complex in Thornbury six years ago and is keen to replicate their success in Batley.

The last business moved out of the old shopping centre in 2014 after it had struggled for years to attract tenants.

The covered walkway to the rear,

FRESH START: Batley Shopping Centre has been closed since 2016 but is being transformed leading from Alfreds’ Way up to Commercial Street, was used as a shortcut by pedestrians but safety issues and anti-social behaviour led to it being closed to the public in 2016.

There were plans to transform parts of the precinct into a ‘cultural learning centre’ and meetings were held by the late MP Jo Cox on how best to transform the site, but the

ideas did not come to fruition. Z&F Properties bought the site from previous owners Tesco in August and began preparatory work in November.

Planning permission for the new Plaza scheme was granted in February and mystery had surrounded the building work that was being carried out – until now.

“You will see a big change, and we’re hoping it will give the town a lift,” said Mr Iqbal. “People are curious and there’s a lot of interest already.”

The new Plaza will boast a cafe and three different sizes of unit – aimed at those just starting out in business, those who are looking for their first premises and established firms wanting to expand.

There will be a revamped entrance

Continued on Page 2

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Deaths BATES DAVID ARTHUR (Retired Barclays Bank Manager, Cleckheaton) On April 6, peacefully,

Friday April 19, 2019

FARROW

aged 86, husband of Gwynneth.

Funeral service will take place at Park Wood Crematorium, Elland, on Wednesday May 1 at 10.30am.

Jean

On 9th April 2019, Jean, wife of the late David, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady & St Paulinus RC Church, Dewsbury on Thursday 2nd May 2019 at 10am, followed by interment at Dewsbury Cemetery.

RIP HARGATE DAVID On April 7, whilst in the safe care of Kirkwood Hospice, aged 71, son of the late Mary and John James. Funeral service will take place at Wakefield Crematorium on Tuesday April 30 at 1pm.

PARKER MARGARET On April 8, peacefully in hospital, of Birstall, formerly of Morley, aged 87, wife of the late Sam. Funeral service will take place at Cottingley Hall Crematorium, Leeds, on Wednesday April 24 at 3pm.

PEARCE JIM

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On April 11, at home, aged 91, husband of Joan.

Funeral service will take place at Park Wood Crematorium, Elland, on Wednesday May 8 at 1.30pm.

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POLLARD ANNE On April 9, peacefully at Ings House Nursing Home, Liversedge, mum of Andrew, David and Steven.

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Plaza boost for Batley place at Huddersfield Crematorium on Friday May 3 at 2pm.

PRICE LESLIE On March 5, suddenly at home in Hightown, aged 66, son of the late Ernest and Lily. Funeral service will take place at Huddersfield Crematorium on Tuesday May 7 at 2pm.

RUDDLESDEN (NEE PETTETT) JOYCE On April 2, in hospital, of Hanging Heaton, aged 90, wife of the late Albert.

Funeral service will take place at Salvation Army Hall, Batley, on Wednesday April 24 at 1.30pm.

SENIOR (NEE TAYLOR) JOYCE On April 7, in hospital, aged 77, wife of the late Raymond. Funeral service will take place at Cottingley Hall Crematorium, Leeds, on Friday April 26 at 3pm.

SHEEN (NEE KELLEY) RENEE On April 4, peacefully in

hospital, of the Radcliffe Nursing Home, formerly of Dewsbury, aged 94, wife of the late Tom. Funeral service will take place at Huddersfield Crematorium on Friday May 3 at 12.30pm.

SKEET EVELYN MAY On April 5, peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family, of Mirfield, aged 84, wife of the late Brian. Funeral service will take place at Huddersfield Crematorium on Saturday April 27 at 9.30am.

SMITH FLORENCE On March 25, peacefully at Ings House Nursing Home, of Heckmondwike, aged 85, wife of the late Harold.

Funeral service will take place at Huddersfield Crematorium on Friday April 26 at 10.30am.

STAKES LESLIE On April 7, peacefully at Pinderfields Hospital, aged 94, husband of the late Mona. Funeral service will take place at Wakefield Crematorium on Monday April 29 at 1.40pm.

and signage on Commercial Street and banners will be going up shortly announcing the launch of the project.

A striking new stairway and lift will also be created on Alfreds’ Way to provide easy access to the retail units from the area around the Tesco and Iceland stores.

The old covered walkway, which is presently being gutted by contractors, will be opened as ‘Phase Two’ of the project next year.

Seven of the 24 ‘Phase One’ units have already been let, and Mr Iqbal is keen to make contact with local businesses to fill the rest.

“I have a retail background and I can understand the needs of retailers,” he said. “We want to make life as easy as possible. We like to bring in young businesses and see them progress through the different size of units we offer. For small businesses, it’s a stress-free way of opening premises.

“We provide a full package of support, all they have to do is find their rent.

“The Plaza will complement what Batley already has to offer and we don’t envisage stores relocating from the high street, we’re aiming to bring new businesses to the town.”

Local leaders were positive and supportive when The Press informed them of new development.

PARLOUR Tony

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Still missed and loved as much as ever Mum, Tim, Sue, Robert, Brian & other relatives

Place your family notices by calling 01924 470296 or visit our office at 31 Branch Road, Batley, WF17 5SB

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Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin said: “I’m a huge advocate for shopping locally so it’s encouraging to see that a space that has sat empty for so long is being brought back to life.

“We live in a time when our high streets are having a hard time, so let’s get behind local businesses and help them thrive for years to come.”

Andrew Marsden, chairman of Batley Business Association, said: “It is exciting and encouraging to hear about the plans for the Alfreds’ Way shopping arcade, and I very much look forward to seeing it restored not just to its former glory, but by the sound of the plans beyond its former glory.

“It will be lovely to see thriving local independent businesses in there once again.

“And this will simply add to the resurgence of our high street, at a time where occupancy levels are at the highest that I can remember for a very long time.

“Indeed you probably have to go back to when Alfreds’ Way was a thriving shopping area to remember when we had so many retail units filled.

“At a time where high streets still face a massive challenge, and at a time where towns around here are still struggling with multiple empty units, Batley has successfully reinvented its high-street economy and its offer to the community.”

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www.thepressnews.co.uk @ThePressLatest /ThePressNews Publisher: Danny Lockwood Editor: David Bentley Reporter: Zoë Shackleton Sports Reporter: Stephen Ibbetson Graphic Designer: Craig Moore Sales Manager: Lucy Tissiman Key Account Manager: Jo Gilbert Senior Sales Executive: Janet Black Office Manager: Angela Hall

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In the first instance, contact the editor, otherwise we will be happy to give details of the Independent Press Standards Organisation.

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Knitting to raise funds A ‘KNIT AND NATTER’ group based in Liversedge have been busy making Easter decorations to raise money for charity.

The group which meets at St Andrew’s Church have knitted chicks, bunnies and baskets and sold them along with Cadbury’s Creme Eggs donated by Tesco Cleckheaton.

They have so far donated £450 to the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

Call The Press newsroom on 01924 470296

ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

Petrol station loses alcohol licence after ‘sting’ exposure

By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter PLAIN-CLOTHED police cadets were used in a ‘sting’ operation to test the purchase of alcohol from a petrol station in Heckmondwike – which led to its 24-hour licence being revoked.

The initiative by West Yorkshire Police aims to target problem sites as part of an ongoing crackdown on sales of alcohol, cigarettes, knives and solvents to under-age children.

The three teenagers, aged 13, 14 and 15, played a part in Kirklees Council licensing chiefs’ decision to rescind the alcohol licence at Beechley Filling Station on Wakefield Road.

Proprietor Hamayan Sajjad was sharply criticised by Coun Carole Pattison, chairman of the council’s

Licensing Panel, for having shown ‘total disrespect for the law’.

The Bradford-based businessman did not attend the meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall to hear the panel’s decision. PC Katie Jagger, partnerships officer for Kirklees Division, said the three teenagers ‘did not look 18’ when they bought a 700ml bottle of WKD on February 19 and none offered a form of identification. But a 19year-old member of staff allowed the sale to go ahead.

When police officers interviewed the counter assistant they discovered he was being paid cashin-hand, was untrained and could not operate the CCTV system.

A week later Trading Standards officers visited the station and bought contraband cigarettes believed to have been smuggled into the UK from the Ukraine. And on March 27, police officers who

visited the garage to discuss the review of the premises’ licence discovered more non-duty cigarettes in plain view on the counter with a further carton stashed underneath.

West Yorkshire Police said in the three months preceding the review application, the filling station had been linked to seven instances of crimes or assaults.

They included hate crime, racial abuse, theft, assault, criminal damage, violence and armed robbery.

In revoking the station’s licence, Coun Pattison said it was one of the worst cases ever to be brought before the panel whilst she had been chairman.

“Mr Sajjad has shown total disrespect for the law,” she said.

“He has shown no respect for this panel and these proceedings, his staff, his customers or the welfare of others. I trust that our

licensing department and the police will be in touch with Bradford licensing to share relevant information and that Trading Standards will be taking action where they can as well.”

Speaking after the ruling, PC Richard Woodhead, licensing officer for Kirklees Division, said: “West Yorkshire police are really pleased with this outcome.

“We need to send a message to the licensed outlets in Kirklees and the Huddersfield area that underage sales will not be tolerated, along with the sale of non dutypaid goods.

“We can confirm that test purchasing from Easter and over the summer period is going to be stepped up in both on- and offlicence premises and any sales will lead to licence reviews and the possibility of having licences revoked.”

Town ‘looks marvellous’ after the big litter-pick

BIRSTALL: Two quad bikes and an off-road bike were seized by Batley & Spen neighbourhood police last Friday.

Officers were responding to reports of nuisance bikers when they found a Kirkleesowned garage which had been used by youths on the Fieldhead Estate to store the bikes.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “These not only cause local residents a nuisance but are time consuming for officers and resources that could be utilised better elsewhere.”

Residents can report incidents via 101 or through www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ report-it.

Amelia’s TV ad role CLECKHEATON: A youngster has hit the television screens starring in a new advert.

Six-year-old Amelia Brown was cast in the new Wynsors World of Shoes advert, which was first broadcast nationally to millions of viewers during the ad break of ITV’s This Morning on Friday, April 5.

Amelia’s mum Beth said: “We’re so proud of Amelia’s achievements and being featured in the Wynsors campaign. This is her first TV advert, so we’re absolutely over the moon for her.”

Trinity hosts fair BATLEY CARR: The Holy Trinity Church and Trinity Centre is hosting a books, arts and crafts fair next month.

It’s free admission on Saturday May 4 (10am-3pm) and there’ll be light refreshments available at the centre on Upper Road.

For more information ring 01924 437331 or email thetrinitycentre@hotmail.com.

DOZENS of volunteers helped clear Mirfield of litter over the weekend.

Organised by Mirfield in Bloom as part of the Keep Britain Tidy initiative, the litter pick featured local organisations, families and friends cleaning streets and roads on Saturday and Sunday.

The Mirfield in Bloom team created an interactive map which was hung in the entrance of the Coop on Huddersfield Road for people to cross off areas they had cleaned.

Mirfield Library and Artisan Bar provided drinks and cakes, while two skips supplied by Kirklees Council were completely filled.

Christine Sykes, of Mirfield in Bloom, said: “The response has been magnificent. Mirfield looks marvellous!”

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Man sentenced for M62 deaths A DRINK-DRIVER who drove the wrong way up a motorway slip road in Cleckheaton has been jailed for more than nine years for causing the deaths of two friends from Thornhill Lees.

Taryl Moxam, 23, from Barlborough in Derbyshire, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to causing the deaths of dad-oftwo Adam Afsar and Jason Wilby by dangerous driving on April 2 last year.

Police were called at 2.30am to a report of a collision at the top of the westbound exit slip road at Chain Bar, junction 26 of the M62.

Mr Afsar, 34, and Mr Wilby, 27, were travelling in a white Skoda Octavia which was hit head-on by a black Vauxhall Insignia driven by Moxam.

Moxam had travelled down nearby Whitehall Road then negotiated the Chain Bar roundabout in the wrong direction, before heading onto

News In Brief Police put brakes on nuisance bikers

CAGED: Taryl Moxam

the motorway, driving the wrong way up the slip road towards oncoming traffic.

Both of the victims died at the scene.

Moxam failed a road-side breath test, with his blood alcohol level double the prescribed limit of 35 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of blood. He also tested positive for cannabis.

Moxam was sentenced to

nine years and four months in prison at Bradford Crown Court yesterday afternoon (Thursday).

Det Sgt Carl Quinn, of the major collision enquiry team, said: “This was a tragic incident in which two men lost their lives.

“The deaths of Mr Afsar and Mr Wilby were completely preventable. Moxam’s actions that day were nothing less than absurd, his senseless decision to get behind the wheel and drive resulted in utter devastation for the families of these two young men, tragically cutting their lives short.

“No sentence will ever be enough for their families, however I hope the result of today’s hearing offers some comfort to Adam and Jason’s loved ones. This upsetting case highlights the dreadful consequences that driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs can have.”

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News In Brief Cars torched in night attack by arsonists RAVENSTHORPE: Two cars were deliberately set on fire and ‘totally written off’ in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Emergency services were called to Crescent Walk to reports of a car fire in a driveway shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

Dewsbury fire station watch commander Jon Sugden said: “They are both gone, total write-offs. One car was a Hyundai i30, marked as a taxi. I wouldn’t like to say what the other car was.

“Both fires were started in the front end of the cars in the engine compartment.”

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed they were treating the fires as arson attacks and anyone with information should contact them via 101, quoting log number 64 of April 17.

Friday April 19, 2019

Pensioner stoned by ‘menace kids’ in allotments rampage

Two arrested after police chase in town

The allotments off Deighton Lane, Healey, where youths smashed shed and greenhouse windows

BATLEY: The driver of a vehicle being pursued by police in a high-speed chase through the town crashed into a parked car.

The incident happened at around 9pm on Thursday evening when the 19-year-old driver and his 16-year-old male passenger failed to stop for officers on Oxford Road in Gomersal.

The driver raced down Dale Lane in Batley in a red Mitsubishi Shogun before crashing on Chaster Street.

The two suspects then fled on foot but were later found and arrested.

West Yorkshire Police said the older male was given an adult caution while the 16year-old was released without charge.

A PENSIONER was attacked by a group of youths while tending to his allotment in Healey on Friday afternoon.

Brian Kellett was at the site off Deighton Lane at around 5pm when he spotted a group of four boys throwing rocks at greenhouses before then taking aim at him.

Now the 69-year-old’s daughter Faye Kellett has spoken out against the attackers, who also

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smashed windows in most of the sheds and greenhouses. She said: “My dad had gone to water the plants and had seen these four kids throwing stones, so he asked them to stop.

“They ran into the car park and started throwing stones at my dad.

“He’s battered and bruised. If it had been one of the older men who go down it could have been a lot worse. They’re just menaces, and they’re only young kids. Breaking windows, they can be replaced but don’t start abusing people and

throwing stuff at them. It’s on a totally different level.

“He’s had two panes of glass broken and a window on his shed.

They’re pensioners, they shouldn’t have to be replacing everything because idiots have broken them.

“I don’t want it to get to the point where nobody wants to go because they’re scared. They shouldn’t have to feel as though they’re going to be attacked doing something they enjoy.”

The youths had already caused significant damage to a number of

the greenhouses – including shattering ‘six or seven panes in one and four in another’ belonging to 76-year-old Brian Waters – before running away.

His granddaughter Lisa Shires said: “He was at the allotment during the day on Thursday and then he went away for a few days and came back on Monday.

“We tried not to tell him while he was away because we didn’t want to spoil what he was doing.

We went and tried to move as much as we could with the shards of glass all over the inside.

“He’s 76 and can’t be pulling them out, it’s dangerous. He was devastated.

“He’s been up there just trying to tidy up. He goes every day, it’s kept him going and it’s like a hobby.”

Lisa said there had been an outpouring of community support since she posted the incident on Facebook, with one man even going up to the allotment site to help with clearing up and planting.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed the incident happened between 4.30pm and 5pm, and anyone with information should contact them via 101 quoting log number 1441 of April 12.

Thousands of children matched with their first-choice school THOUSANDS of children in Kirklees have been successfully matched with their chosen school.

Around 6,800 children will be starting school for the first time or transferring to junior or middle schools in September – and 92 per cent have been allocated a place at their preferred school.

In total, the children of 98.2 per cent of families were given a place at one of the schools stated as a preference on their application.

Jo-Anne Sanders, Kirklees service director for learning and early support, said: “An important priority for the council is to give our children the very best start in life

by making sure every child has the same opportunities and access to good-quality learning.

“This is an excellent starting point for a positive, early education experience and a happy healthy journey to learning.

“Starting school or moving to a different primary school is a big step for every child and I am delighted to see that almost all families were able to secure a place at one of their top three preferences.”

A total of 6,292 families secured a place at their first-preference school, with 317 (4.6 per cent) and 108 (1.6 per cent) gaining places at their second and third preference respectively.

We’re open... from left, Sharon Squires (staff), chief operating officer David Silvester, Kirklees Mayor Gwen Lowe and Kim Leigh (staff)

Bakery shop ‘the best thing since...’

A BUDGET bakery enjoyed a successful launch event in Dewsbury this week. The new Poundbakery store officially opened on Tuesday in the former Grainger Games site.

Kirklees Mayor Gwen Lowe cut the ribbon and customers enjoyed it so much the bakery almost sold

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ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

‘Despicable act’ of beauty spot fly-tipper

By David Spereall Local Democracy Reporter A FLY-TIPPER who advertised an illegal waste disposal service on Facebook, dumped building materials on a beauty spot in what was called a ‘despicable act’.

Gareth Lightowler, 31, of Heckmondwike, left bricks, wood and bags of rubbish at the countryside car park at Smawell Lane in Notton, south of Wakefield.

The waste was traced back to an address, where

enforcement officers were told Lightowler had been advertising his service on social media.

On Facebook, he falsely stated he was ‘fully licensed with all permits’.

He pleaded guilty at Leeds Magistrates’ Court to a breach of a duty of care offence as a broker of waste. He was ordered to pay an £800 fine, compensation of £210, costs of £457 and a victim surcharge of £80.

Wakefield Council, which put the case before the court, said the deputy district judge told

Lightowler the offences were ‘despicable’. Glynn Humphries, the authority’s service director for environment said: “Flytipping is a serious, criminal offence that costs councils vast amounts of money to clean up.

“We do not tolerate this behaviour and we will take action against those responsible.

“It is a blight on our communities and we will use every tool available to identify and take action against those responsible.

“There are many options for people to legal-

‘Despicable’... rubbish dumped by Gareth Lightowler ly and safely dispose of their waste. Be careful who takes your waste away, as it’s the responsi-

bility of all residents to check they are doing so in the right way and that it is legal.”

Yobs start park fires – then attack emergency crews “These actions put an unnecessary drain on emergency resources and take units away from potentially lifethreatening jobs” – POLICE SPOKESMAN

By Steve Martyn

Police and fire brigade vehicles at Wilton Park, Batley

YOUTHS have attacked emergency service crews responding to fires they had started in Batley’s Wilton Park.

The Batley & Spen Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT) said officers had been called out at least three nights in the past week to reports of youths setting fire to

bushes, trees and other foliage at the park on Bradford Road. On Sunday around a dozen separate fires were lit – some of which required the fire service to extinguish.

The youths hurled verbal abuse at officers and firefighters while throwing stones and pieces of tarmac at them and emergency service vehicles.

A spokesman for the NPT said: “These actions put an unnecessary drain on emergency resources and take units away from potentially life-threatening jobs, as well as the other obvious risks.

“If you have any information regarding potential suspects please contact us on batley_spen@westyorkshire. pnn.police.uk.”

News In Brief Concert tribute to pit disaster victims DEWSBURY: Grimethorpe Colliery Band will be performing in Dewsbury Town Hall at a memorial concert in July.

St John’s Masonic Lodge has organised the concert in memory of the 139 men and boys who lost their lives in the Thornhill Coombs Pit Disaster of 1893.

There’ll also be a performance from Skelmanthorpe Male Voice Choir.

Tickets (£20) for the show on Saturday, July 13 (7.30pm), are available from Dewsbury Town Hall (01924 324501) or online at www.kirkleestownhalls.co.uk.

Ramblers’ day out RAMBLERS: The Dewsbury and District Rambling Club is celebrating Easter Monday (April 21) with a coach trip to Carnforth, near Lancaster.

Meeting times are 8am at Sunny Bank Road, Mirfield, 8.20am at Link Road, Dewsbury, and in Batley at 8.30am.

Names should be given to Jen Bamforth or Margaret Chamberlain.

Support group date DEWSBURY: The Dewsbury and District Stoma Support Group is holding its monthly meeting on Thursday (April 25, 7.30pm) in the Oak Room at Dewsbury Hospital’s Oakwell Centre.

The group supports people and their partners or carers who have undergone or are about to go through colorectal surgery and is inviting anyone affected to come along to the meeting.

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LIFE IN BLACK AND WHITE Danny Lockwood

Scary, Orwellian and endemic ILLY old me. All these years I thought we sent our children to school to learn their times-tables and their ABCs; that the Amazon and Nile are long rivers and Henry VIII had six wives. It worked.

My generation emerged from that rudimentary system reasonably equipped to take on the big, wide world.

Look at little old Locky, an asthmatic runt from a back-toback Ravensthorpe terrace with an outside lavvy, sitting here with his own publishing company, living in a posh village in York.

True, Roman Catholic school had a religious hue, but the three Rs came first. In my final year at St Paulinus, 36 out of 39 of us (and they complain about class sizes?) passed our 11+ exam.

And Jeremy Corbyn says testing kids is ruining them?

Sorry, I think 40 years of your socialist undermining of discipline and parental responsibil-

S

ity is the root of today’s problems, matey.

Heaven knows what today’s infants will be equipped to cope with. As soon as they can count their fingers and toes, the screaming Equalisers of the Far Left want to show the boys how to apply lube and make-up, and the girls to insert batteries correctly.

And that’s when they’re not being given another day off to parade with their climate change placards for the TV cameras.

For once, I stand shoulder to shoulder with those Muslim parents furious at the agenda of those who want to fill innocent children’s minds with their sexual propaganda.

But this is about so much more than informing children about the birds and the bees – which even we got in 1969.

This is about surreptitiously nudging them towards the ‘superior’ world of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer (I’m not sure about the difference

there) Intersex (whatever that is) and on and on, ad infinitum. At its root, this is an ideological recruitment campaign for the Far Left and the antisociety zealots.

They may have more sexual peccadilloes than a Soho dungeon and scream louder than its occupants, but the Equalisers really aren’t about equality at all – theirs is just a frenzied attack on moral virtue and on ‘normality’ as

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an acceptable state of being.

No debate allowed, no dissent unpunished – it’s a de facto hijacking of any semblance of free speech or traditional virtues.

It must be resisted, but right now the only signs are of total capitulation.

(At this point, I can picture fingers angrily stabbing keyboards and phone screens as the heavy guns of the LGBT artillery are cranked to aim at Lockwood. That’s how they roll … attack attack attack …. bully into silence).

I ask you – are there any well-rounded adults in 2019 who don’t know gay people, have gay friends and who don’t wish them well at difficult times in their journey?

I’m sure there are some, but for grown-up people it’s a big ‘so what’?

The world has recalibrated – well, the western democratic part of it – and for the better too. Some people will take longer to get there and some belief systems never will. But isn’t that free speech, thought, belief and expression?

But no, instead we have this attack dog, zero tolerance, with the biggest threat being less the LGBT fanatics than our submissive authorities.

And you thought the chairman or chief executive was the boss? Try the diversitymad HR director.

Last week, the brilliant Sir Roger Scruton was criminally, deliberately misquoted by disgraceful Far Left ‘journalist’ George Eaton and within hours the government had fallen over itself in the rush to sack Sir Roger.

No seeking of clarity or explanation, just the herdcharge to condemn and punish. It’s scary, it’s Orwellian and it’s endemic.

ANY sportsmen of south Pacific origin are devout Christians.

Australian rugby star Israel Folau is one such and has had his career summarily terminated by the appeasers for homophobic comments.

‘Folau says Hell awaits gays’ screamed the string-himup headlines. But that’s not what Folau said. In terms lifted from his Old Testament doctrine, he wrote “Warning: Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters. Hell awaits you.”

That’s me and most people I know booked in with Old Nick. But why isn’t the world in uproar? He’s stigmatising burglars, non-believers, habitual tipplers and anyone who’s ever indulged in a spot of extra-curricular slap and tickle.

Most of the adult population will burn according to his strict beliefs. But no, it’s just the gay reference that is seized upon to nail him to his own symbolic cross. It’s the cause celebre-du-jour that trumps all others.

I disagree with Israel Folau.

I think we have a more forgiving God. But I respect his right to believe and speak it just as I respect followers of Islam, despite some of its stricter adherents believing that homosexuals not only belong in hell, but should be despatched forthwith – from

M

the top of the nearest building, or by being stoned.

But do you hear the LGBT fanatics going after them?

Nope. In fact the only thing remotely quietening the LGBT lobby is Islam protesting – as in the current schools row – because that puts them in a very uncomfortable place.

Conservative Islam doesn’t just recite ancient scripture like Israel Folau, it practises it, often horrifically. It is tacitly allowed to be taught in religious schools across England, and right here on our doorsteps.

But a fascinating contradiction arises when ‘Islamophobia’ finds itself sharing the victimhood stage with ‘homophobia’. They are implacably, ideologically opposed, but are both championed by the subversive Far Left.

Both are intent on silencing orthodox secular or Christian voices and bringing down traditional British society, but both are careful not to tread on each other’s toes. So much for conviction, eh?

In their respective efforts to suppress our traditional moral freedoms (which paradoxically empower these haters) an old proverb applies: ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’

And that’s us folks.

Ordinary, tolerant, peaceful, but free-speech-loving people.

The enemy in our own homes.

I disagree with Israel Folau’s statement, but as a symbol of the bigger battle and to borrow another well-worn expression, I will defend to the death his right to express it.

Keystones’ insulting directive T HERE’S a significant religious festival looming, an important period for around one third of the planet’s population. It’s a time of peace and reflection, of thanksgiving and sacrifice, of prayer and love.

Or, if you’re one of the diversity bigots belonging to the appeasers of Kirklees Police, Easter is a time for knocking off and putting your feet up, letting the scrotes of Dewsbury, Batley and Birstall run riot, and preparing for “the big gig” – Ramadan!

If I was to write a headline for Wednesday’s PR announcement from the Kirklees branch of the Boys in Blue, it would read thus: ‘Scaremongering Cops Alarm Citizens Over Non-Existent Racial Threats’.

Let me explain.

Over the Easter weekend, local revellers unwise enough to walk home in the early hours, through the wrong neighbourhoods, will be as prey to roaming cars of ‘fun-loving’ youths of a different ethnic persuasion, as they have for the past 20 years. It’s not likely, because local people know the no-go areas. The lines have long been drawn, with full police complicity.

They don’t walk from Dewsbury town centre to Thornhill Lees as I did several times a week back in the 80s. They’d be sick and tired of getting their teeth kicked out, knowing there won’t be a police car to be seen. Ever.

Well, except at Ramadan it seems.

Ramadan, the Muslim religious festival, begins on May 5th – still more than two weeks away. But Kirklees Police, who couldn’t find a hole in their own string vest, and who are swamped by crimes which they ‘resolve’ mainly by ignoring them, are all over it like a full-face burkha. Zorro, shove your sword up the nearest Black Hole (astronomically

speaking of course), because we’re on the case!

The Kirklees Keystones are increasing “high visibility patrols” around mosques to “offer reassurance to the local community”. They stress there’s no threat but still advise pious celebrants going to early morning prayers to “keep to well lit streets”.

Well, I mean, come on folks – you can’t walk through Savile Town without being jumped by a gang of skinheads these days (and actually, John Wayne and the 7th Cavalry wouldn’t go there without an invite).

Oh and you’ll love this Keystones ‘advice’ to worshippers: “Park safely, lawfully and in well-lit areas”. Well slap my thigh – that will be a first, 3am or not! Please, readers, send me a photo the next time you see a Kirklees traffic warden slapping tickets out for the ‘ad hoc’ parking outside local mosques at Friday prayers!

I give up. This insulting directive, highlighting a problem where one hasn’t existed the past 40 years, is clearly the work of some wet-eared senior officer trying to massage his/hers/its diversity credentials for an arse-crawling step up the promotion ladder.

It both patronises Muslim communities who literally control their own streets, and it explicitly insults everyone else who is automatically painted as a violent, extremist threat.

Once again the police are all of the problem, not even part of the cure.

PS: On second thoughts, we do have recent experience of attacks on a mosque – in Staincliffe, where the new Ahmadiyya mosque was victimised. Oops, except that was allegedly by other local Muslims who consider Ahmadis as apostates. I expect that doesn’t count for the Kirklees Keystones...

ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

Police Easter egg treat step up for hospital kids Ramadan patrols WEST Yorkshire Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be conducting high visibility patrols around places of worship in the run-up to Ramadan.

The religious festival starts on Sunday, May 5, and finishes on Tuesday, June 4.

A spokesman for WYP said: “As we approach Ramadan, West Yorkshire Police in Kirklees are mindful, based on recent events across the globe, that our local Muslim communities may be feeling anxious.

“As part of our regular planning, the local NPT will be conducting high visibility patrols around places of worship.

“This is not in response to any specific threat but to offer reassurance to the local community.”

WYP are reminding people attending night prayers to walk on well-lit streets, or park safely and in well-lit areas.

If they see anything suspicious they are advised to contact police.

YOUNGSTERS in hospital over Easter were treated to something sweet – thanks to The Press and Asda.

We teamed up with the Dewsbury store to deliver dozens of chocolate eggs to kids at the children’s assessment unit at Dewsbury and District Hospital.

There was something for everyone, from Munchies and Maltesers to Smarties and Galaxy.

Among the first to tuck in was five-year-old Darcy Field, who is pictured clutching her Easter Egg.

News In Brief ‘Friday Feast’ for Mayor’s charities

Easter treat... from left, Sharon Kingswood (Asda community champion), Clare Wightman, Katie Field, Julie Anguige (staff at Dewsbury Hospital), The Press’s Jo Gilbert and little Darcy Field.

Fall in staff sickies after Council health overhaul

By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter AN OVERHAUL of health care for Kirklees Council workers has led to staff sickness absences falling to their lowest level for two years.

Senior managers ‘reshaped’ the authority’s existing Employee Health Care Unit to move away from a traditional occupational health service.

In doing so they focused on early intervention and prevention to keep staff ‘healthy, well and in work’.

As well as providing physical and financial support,

they also offered a range of psychological support and a focus on musculoskeletal conditions.

A trial of podiatry directed at manual workers – including refuse teams whose routes can see them walking 10-12 miles a day – showed that more than half of the staff taking part suffered from clinical foot problems.

Within 10 months, the improvements to the unit – described by Deborah Lucas, the council’s head of people services, as ‘a hidden gem’ – had resulted in a marked decrease in sick leave.

In April, 2018, levels were at an all-time high, reaching an average of 12.3 days per annum per employee.

But a steady month-bymonth fall saw them drop to 11.6 days by December, 2018, and reduce even further to 11.1 days by February this year – the lowest level since January 2017.

The success has prompted discussions over how the system can be digitised with the introduction of Skype appointments and telephone assessments to cut labour intensity.

Reporting to the Corporate Scrutiny Panel, Mrs Lucas said: “There

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“We are also looking to modernise and looking at Skype appointments and doing more telephone assessments, which again will make the service much more modern and more efficient. We are very ambitious for the service. It really is a hidden gem that we have at the council.”

BATLEY: A special black-tie dinner will raise funds for the Mayor of Kirklees Gwen Lowe’s chosen charities.

The ‘Mayor's Friday Feast’ is taking place on Friday, May 3 (7pm) at St Mary’s Parochial Hall in Batley and will be Coun Lowe’s final fundraiser before her term of office ends.

There’ll be entertainment from Il Due Voci and a gourmet supper provided by Dewsbury’s The Catering Shed.

To donate prizes for the raffle and auction that will take place on the night, email Wendy Storey on wendy_storey@hotmail.com or call her on 07538 670736. She will arrange to pick up donations before May 3.

Tickets are £20 and can be bought by emailing Kimberley Thirkill at heckyjfc@ hotmail.co.uk or calling 07742 251464 (after 5pm).

All money raised will go to Kirkwood Hospice and the RSPCA.

Flood pub re-opens MIRFIELD: A pub which was forced to close last month because of flooding is re-opening this weekend.

The Ship Inn, on Steanard Lane, was damaged by a weekend of torrential rain in March.

It remained closed until further notice to complete the repairs and make the pub safe for customers and staff.

A post on the pub’s Facebook page said that it will re-open tomorrow (Saturday), in time for the Easter weekend.

‘Crime’ cars seized BIRSTALL: Two cars believed to be involved in local crime which had false registration plates were seized by the Batley & Spen Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT) last week.

The silver Ford was seized in Lowood Lane on Thursday and the silver Citroen in Dark Lane on Thursday.

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ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

We feel cut off after buses were axed I am writing in support of Sandra Pickles’ and Barbara Schiff’s letters in last week’s edition regarding the withdrawal of some local bus services.

Since the ‘Save the 253’ campaign which was picked up by The Press and featured on social media, I have heard numerous people complaining about the demise of bus services around the Mirfield area.

Local towns and villages need to be connected, it enhances community spirit, helps people to socialise, shop, attend hospital, clinic and doctors appointments easily, and join groups and sporting activities.

We don’t all have access to a car, and many can’t afford to pay for regular taxis.

We keep hearing articles on the news about reducing carbon emissions and doing more to boost public transport in order to get more cars off the roads, but it doesn’t appear to be happening round here.

In fact, contrary to what Arriva’s Mr Wells says, buses are declining in Mirfield, cutting people off.

A few years ago we could catch a bus from Mirfield to Halifax, Elland, Wakefield, Cleckheaton, Batley,

No access to services From: Pat Lister, Mirfield I would like to add some detail to the letter from Mrs Barbara Schiff last week, which highlights the difficulties now faced by many Mirfield/Roberttown residents.

The Mirfield community includes school-age children, students, workers, as well as many unemployed jobseekers, the retired, disabled and people with limited mobility. Many are reliant on vital bus services to attend education,work, healthcare, social and

Letter of the Week: Julia Mitchell, via email Gomersal, Birkenshaw, and Bradford.

Now we have to change, twice, sometimes three times for all these destinations.

This of course adds time to journeys, especially if one of the connections is late. Arriva say the new 261 service is an improvement.

How can a bus that only runs to Heckmondwike be an improvement on the 253 which ran from Dewsbury to Bradford?

I understand that from May the 261 is going to run to Cleckheaton on certain journeys – a welcome improvement but not enough, Arriva!

There are parts of Mirfield which have no evening or Sunday services.

The Hub at Heckmondwike, which is where we now have to change buses,

leisure activities.

Since the withdrawal of the 253 and 221 bus services, we can no longer travel directly by bus to Huddersfield, Leeds, the White Rose Centre, Bradford, Brighouse, Halifax, Dewsbury, Cleckheaton, Batley, Birstall or Wakefield, without walking 0.50.75 miles to bus stops in Roberttown or at Old Bank Road, taking the daytime 261 service to Heckmondwike ‘Hub’ or the 261 to the centre of Mirfield and walking to the railway station (pointless as the 261 arrives at Ings Grove with one minute to connect with rail services).

Without a car or a suitable regular and accessible bus service we cannot access any of

is wholly unsuited to the increased amount of buses now stopping there.

Buses are parking in their wrong spot (because there isn’t room in their allocated stop) and people are missing connections because of this.

Again, Arriva has agreed that the Hub is not ideal and should be improved, but surely this should have been thought about and corrected before all the changes?

Recent television and radio programmes have been highlighting how increasing numbers of cars are polluting roads and streets and that more children are suffering from asthma than ever before.

The answer – more improved public transport systems and fewer cars on the roads.

the KAL facilities at Spenborough, Batley, Birstall, Dewsbury, Deighton or Huddersfield.

We cannot access many of the U3A group activities in neighbouring towns. Nor can we plan an evening out for a meal, to the pub, theatre or cinema, to a football match, or go to church or shopping on Sunday.

We cannot access hospital appointments at Dewsbury or Pinderfields Hospitals or physio at Cleckheaton Health Centre or to exercise/rehabilitation via PALs referrals at KAL facilities across Kirklees.

Arriva made a business decision to withdraw these bus services, but the services were

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commissioned and funded by WYCA. It was WYCA’s decision not to re-tender the 253 and 221. It was also their responsibility to monitor bus usage and punctuality, evaluate the results of surveys/consultations with bus users (supposedly conducted by Arriva), decide what replacement bus services are now required and allocate subsidies (‘supported funding’) to ensure people living in deprived areas do not suffer from ‘transport poverty’.

The Bus Plan and Transport Strategy of WYCA states their intention ‘to reduce spend on procuring bus services from £19m in 2017/18 to £15.8m by 2021’.

It also states ‘a target of 25 per cent growth in bus passenger journeys by 2027’.

So I have concluded that it has always been WYCA’s cunning plan to change our bus services and divert passengers through the Heckmondwike Hub or to Mirfield town centre so that every Mirfield passenger now has to take two or more journeys to travel to their ultimate destination (enabling WYCA to achieve their journey targets very quickly and reduce their budgetry spend).

Concerns and questions posed directly to Arriva and latterly to WYCA (and with added pressure from our local councillors and MPs) have failed to get a response.

We have been fobbed off by Arriva who are obviously not interested in running bus services that are not commercially viable, and by WYCA, who say they have fulfilled their legal requirement to provide ‘supported services’ for schools (a 263x twice a day, in term time) and provide a link to extend the 261 service from Heckmondwike to Cleckheaton via the 278; and are examining revised service timetables from

May for the 261 (we fear it will still be unlikely to run after 6.35pm Mon-Sat).

I fear that these proposals will not satisfy the essential needs of our now isolated community.

WYCA do have money to provide a supported bus network, and an obligation to improve connectivity and reduce deprivation in local communities.

So where has the money gone that should be providing a regular, reliable bus service for the socially-excluded, transport-deprived and stranded passengers of Mirfield?

I struggled to find a cafe open and I couldn’t make it to Morrison’s, so had to wait in a very cold, uncomfortable bus shelter just to get home.

It used to be a pleasure to meet friends old and new on these easy journeys, but the pleasures are all slipping away.

Travel used to be a pleasure

Christians everywhere this week re-enact the events of Holy Week, starting with the mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday followed by the solemn commemoration of his Passion on Good Friday. On Saturday we have the Easter Vigil Mass and on Sunday celebrate that Jesus has risen.

This is a powerful witness by the Christian faith of the crucifixion and the glorious resurrection – a time for celebration after the fasting and penitence of Lent.

From: Mrs E Walker, Mirfield Having read other letters of complaint regarding the withdrawal of the 253 and 221 buses, I present my views.

I have attended meetings, added my name to a petition, written to the appropriate people and now a letter to The Press.

I need Dewsbury, as do many more in our area, for banks, my chiropodist, dentist, Dewsbury Town Hall lunchtime concerts and favourite supermarkets.

I am in my 80s, have osteoperosis and need a walking stick. I used to walk to Old Bank if I missed the 253 but now find it very difficult and just about impossible to walk back up.

We were told to use Heckmondwike.

Last Saturday I decided to go to Wakefield and return to Heckmondwike to catch the bus home. I had 40 minutes to wait and it was very cold.

Celebration and thought From: Peter Moreland, Heckmondwike

A real boost for morale From: Judith Greenwood, on behalf of Batley Cemetery Support Group, The volunteers of Batley Cemetery Support Group would like to thank Batley and Birstall Civic Society for their kind words on page 12 of The Press, April 12, 2019.

Continued on page 9

ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

From page 8 BCSG co-operates closely with Bereavement Services and other departments of Kirklees Council to maintain Batley Cemetery as a place of peace and tranquillity.

It is a very welcome boost to the morale of the group and the council’s teams to know that people are comforted by the daffodil planting and the air of respect which we aim to achieve.

We welcome anyone who would like to join our litter picking and gardening teams, please email batleycemetery @live.co.uk for details of our ongoing projects.

Delays are nothing new From: Name and Address Supplied Very sad to read of the delays at Dewsbury Crematorium, but unfortunately this is nothing new.

A year ago my sister’s funeral, at Dewsbury crem, took over three weeks and like Mr Wigmore’s experience, she also had a closed coffin.

At the time I emailed Tracy Brabin and asked why cremations take so long to arrange, unsurprisingly I was fobbed off with the excuse that it was the death registration process that contributed to the delays.

I was told urgent appointments can be arranged for faith reasons.

Bereaved families should not have to wait beyond two weeks at the most for a funer-

al. I can’t believe more deaths occur than they did 20 years ago, both my parents’ funerals were held within a week of their death.

New party missed a trick From: Name and Address Supplied Having watched the launch of the new political party on Betraying British Citizens television (fewer advert breaks), whilst agreeing with the statements by Nigel Farage, I believe the party has missed a vital opportunity.

What I believe they should have concentrated on is the local council elections and called themselves The Political Reformation Party.

When planting a new shoot, it is best to fertilise the soil and root out the contamination to encourage the new growth to flourish!

Did you know about meeting?

From: Christine Hyde, Dewsbury On Monday April 15, Leeds

Healthwatch held a public meeting in the Howland Centre Dewsbury to discuss NHS England’s Long Term Plan for the NHS. Did you know?

I wasn’t invited, and I don’t believe what Quango NHS England says. Why? When Dewsbury Hospital A&E was in the frame, the clinical commissioning group said that their plans in line with NHS England’s diktat, would result in 30 per cent fewer attendances in A&E. In actual fact, according to Mid Yorkshire Hospitals’ board papers, attendance in Dewsbury A&E has increased by 50 per cent over the last two years.

When Healthwatch peddles the NHS England line, that up to 500,000 lives could be saved by prevention strategies, are they talking about additional lives?

Or do these just offset the lives lost to those long ambulance journeys to ‘specialist’ ‘in network’ hospitals too late to treat the sepsis or asthma patient?

Or those for whom a hospital bed is available too late because private patients in Foundation Trust hospitals took them up first? (part of the long-term plan is to leave between 44 to 70 A&E hospitals for England and utilise

the 49 per cent income Foundation Trusts are allowed from private patients).

This plan is to cut £200m from the West Yorkshire NHS spend by 2019 and radically changes patients’ relationships with their GP. The law states that NHS England should ask you, the public, to get involved with planning changed services.

If they do not do that adequately, the public could launch a judicial review in North Kirklees.

There are those who couldn’t care less, but fight for your children’s health services.

Get in touch at w w w. n o r t h k i r k l e e s n h s supportgroup.org.uk

Inference on Snow is wrong From: Kath Stead, liversedge I felt compelled to respond to Alec Suchi in The Press, April 12.

I consider myself to be an intelligent, politically-aware person who could not understand Alec’s perception of the observational comment made

by Jon Snow on Channel Four news recently.

I watch said news pro-

gramme on a regular basis and applaud Jon Snow’s ability, despite his age, to continue to report on current affairs in a professional manner.

I feel that Alec read what he wanted to read into the comment made.

My perception on the comment was that Jon Snow was merely ‘telling it like it is’ and could be forgiven for not observing ‘political correctness’.

I think anyone who is not familiar with Jon’s style of reporting could interpret, quite wrongly, a distainful/ sneering manner.

Interesting times!

From: Alec Suchi, Bradford The world of Progressive politics appears to be embroiled in profound difficulties.

Firstly traditional feminists like Germain Greer and Martina Navratilova have been accused of being “transphobic” by questioning whether men can actually become women. They have both been heavily criticised for intolerance.

Secondly, in schools of mostly Muslim pupils in parts of Birmingham and

9

Manchester, parents have opposed the introduction of LGBT issues together with a non traditional presentation of family life involving samesex couples.

Had the schools involved been largely attended by white Christian pupils any resultant protests by parents would have been condemned by the LGBT community as a manifestation of intolerance and bigotry and the full weight of the law would have been deployed to enforce compliance.

Yet prominent promoters of gay rights such as Owen Jones have remained curiously silent while the events in Manchester and Birmingham unfold.

Jones takes every opportunity to dismiss contemporary society as inherently racist and intolerant and present Muslims as victims of prejudice and discrimination.

Yet he appears reluctant to condemn Muslims for their apparent intolerance as regards same sex relationships.

‘Progressives’ like Jones find themselves in a difficulty entirely of their own making as they have promoted Muslim rights as a means of undermining traditional society, but now find that this same group are themselves opposed to a Liberal-left agenda.

We live in interesting times!

Editor’s note: Several letters have been held over until next week due to a lack of space.

2019 Brochure now available APRIL Tue 23rd Scarborough or Filey or Bridlington £14.00 Thu 25th Ripon Market Day & Harrogate £12.00 Sat 27th Skegness £16.00 Sun 28th Cleethorpes £14.00 MAY Wed 1st Bury Market £10.00 Sat 4th Scarborough or Filey or Bridlington £14.00 Sun 5th Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza £16.00 Mon 6th Scarborough or Whitby £14.00 Sat 11th Bury Market £10.00 Sun 12th Skirlington Market & Bridlington £14.00 Sat 18th Haworth 1940s Day £12.00 Sun 19th Scarborough or Filey or Bridlington £14.00 Wed 22nd Bury Market £10.00 £10.00 Sat 25th Yorkshire Wildlife Park (transport only) Sun 26th Pickering or Whitby £14.00 Mon 27th Morecambe £14.00 Tue 28th Skegness £16.00 Wed 29th Southport £14.00 Thu 30th Hull or The Deep Aquatic Centre (transport only) £14.00 Fri 31st Lake Windermere & Ambleside £16.00 Pick-Up & Drop-Off at: Ossett, Horbury, Wakefield, Mirfield, Heckmondwike, Batley, Dewsbury and Cleckheaton

TEL: 01924 477 230

Telephone lines open Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm (Excluding Bank Holidays)

www.stationcoaches.co.uk www.daytripsbycoach.co.uk

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Motorcycle project wins lottery cash A COMMUNITY group in Birstall has bagged £50,000 to continue its work helping vulnerable children and young people.

Members of the public voted for the Birstall Urban Motorcycle Project for Youth (BUMPY) to win their share of a £3m pot of money from National Lottery funding.

The group was one of three projects in the Yorkshire and Humber region to win the cash as part of the People’s Projects scheme, which gives the public a say on where Lottery money should go in their local area.

The other two winners were DigiBete in Leeds and Newby & Scalby Library & Information Centre in Scarborough.

BUMPY’s money will go towards enabling vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people (aged between eight and 25) with learning, sensory and physical disabilities and their families to experience using offroad vehicles for the first time.

Families will also be able to access life skills workshops, peer support group sessions as well as connect with other local people through an online platform.

The project was crowned as a winner - Manufacturing over 50yrs on last night’s ITV TURKEY BEEF & CHICKEN MINCE Calendar North programme (Thursday).

15kg WORKING DOG FLAKE £10 Joe Ferns, UK fundSPRATS, VENISON STICKS, DRIED CHICKEN ing director at the BITES, FILLETS, HEARTS, PIGS EARS, National Lottery FILLED BONES, NECKS, WINGS, FEET, Community Fund, TRIPE, BEEF HEARTS, LIVER, KIDNEY, said: “We’re really excited to see this TONGUES, TROTTERS, TINS SARDINES 35p, year’s winners use 5L DISINFECTANT KENNEL & STABLE National Lottery CLEANER £2.50, BALES SAWDUST £7 funding to strengthen B L U E H I L L S FA R M S H O P their local communiB I R K E N S H AW, B D 1 1 2 D U ty and support people to lead happier and TEL: 01274 682007 Lic: 49/529/8119A8P/PTF healthier lives.”

PET FOOD – OPEN 7 DAYS

Friday April 19, 2019

CLUB COLLECTS DUKE OF YORK COMMUNITY AWARD FOR SECOND TIME

Club members chat with the Duke of York, right MEMBERS of Mirfield and District Over-50s Club have been given the royal seal of approval – again!

The club has been presented with the Duke of York’s Community Initiative award for the second time, and chairman Roy Parry was handed the certificate by HRH Prince Andrew himself at an

event in Catterick. There are around 70 members from Mirfield and surrounding areas who meet weekly for social activities at the Zion Baptist Church Hall on Water Royd Lane. They first received the Community Initiative Award in 2013.

The award is presented to projects and clubs based in

Yorkshire that have shown value to their community, are well-run and an inspiration to others.

Mirfield and District Over50s Club’s application was closely scrutinised by officials and the award means they can use the royal logo on their literature and correspondence, and access funding,

support, mentoring and networking if needed.

Formed in 1997, the selffunded club has regular guest speakers, presentations and musical groups, outings and parties.

Meetings are on Fridays from 2pm to 4pm and anyone from the Mirfield area can attend.

LOL! 2 many NHS acronyms rile councillors

By David Spereall Local Democracy Reporter CHANGES will be made to an NHS report after it was criticised – for being difficult to read.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Dewsbury and District Hospital, released a draft of its annual quality account report earlier this month.

The report offers a statistical breakdown of the trust’s performance over the

last 12 months, across several aspects of patient care.

But the trust has been asked by councillors to reduce the number of acronyms in the 97-page report, which they said were meaningless to anyone outside the medical profession.

CQUINS and WYUC are among the terms used, with the chair of Wakefield’s health scrutiny committee, Coun Betty Rhodes, suggesting that members of the

public would struggle to make sense of it. Speaking at a committee meeting on Thursday, fellow councillor Kevin Swift told the trust’s director of nursing, David Melia: “I know you’ve got a national template but then there’s the question of, ‘who’s it actually aimed at?’

“The one thing that does jump out is the sheer number of acronyms.

“If you were to check a glossary every time you came across a term you did-

n’t know, you’d be checking five or six times a page.

“Even though I know it’s tedious for the professionals, it would probably be better to err on the side of writing things out in full.”

Mr Melia acknowledged the concerns and said the report did read ‘like a Scrabble board’.

The trust said that changes would be made to the report’s final version before it is published in several weeks’ time.

Friday April 19, 2019

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Friday April 19, 2019

Rival election candidates in debate event A SECOND local elections hustings event in Batley was held at the Al-Hikmah Centre on Wednesday evening.

Around 40 people attended the meeting to hear from candidates contesting both Batley wards.

Coun Habiban Zaman (Lab, Batley East) was joined by rival Conservative Keiron Gavaghan, and for Batley West Labour’s Yusra Hussain attended alongside Paul Young (Conservative) and the Green party’s Martin Pelan.

Organised by the Indian Muslim Welfare Society (IMWS), the hustings was chaired by committee member Yunus Lunat.

Each candidate gave a two-

minute introduction before answering questions on subjects ranging from community cohesion to Islamophobia and new housing developments.

Mohamed Laher, chairman of the community affairs committee for the IMWS, said: “Local issues are important to the community and IMWS gave the public an opportunity to air their views to potential councillors of what they want from their councillor.

“We need more of these types of events after the election so that the community remains informed if the elected councillors are meeting the pledges they made.”

News In Brief TINGLEY: The Village Hotel is hosting an Easter extravaganza on Sunday (April 21).

Tickets (adults £14.95, children aged three-12 £11) include a three-course carvery, mini disco and a goodie bag for each child. Under-threes go free.

Doors open from 10.30am and lunch will be served at noon. The party finishes at around 2pm.

To book tickets call 0113

3236160 (option 3), email leedssouthhub@villagehotels.co.uk, or visit www.village-hotels.co.uk.

BATLEY: The Royal Voluntary Service’s Lunch Club runs at Batley Older People’s Centre on Upper Commercial Street from 11.30am to 1pm on Thursday (April 25).

Booking is required. For details call 01924 446100.

Songsational... back, from left, Lisa Cockroft, Patrick Stephen, Adam Schewstschuck-Hoyle, Jenny Nixon, Richard Wayman and Gareth Jones; front, from left, Melanie Stephen, Chris Hall and Jane Griffin

A Songsational fundraiser THE Songsational group are returning to Batley Town Hall on Saturday, April 27, to perform their annual fundraising show.

This is the ninth year that they have put together an evening of entertainment to raise money for the Mayor of Kirklees’ officials charities,

which this year are Kirkwood Hospice and the RSPCA. Show director Melanie Stephen said: “We have had great fun rehearsing our 2019 show; it is such a varied programme full of song, dance and comedy, with music from

Broadway, film, rock and pop.

“It promises to be an evening of fabulousness for only £8.”

The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets can be bought from Kirklees Box Office on 01924 324501 or online at www.kirklees townhalls.co.uk.

Time for young traders to set out their stalls KIRKLEES COUNCIL is hoping to find the best young market trader in the district.

Officials are working with the National Market Traders Federation and other market operators across the country to find ‘England’s Young Market Trader of the Year’.

Operators of traditional retail markets across England are working togeth-

er to offer trading opportunities and business support to entrepreneurs aged between 16 and 30.

It is a collaborative approach to promote market trading and encourage the next generation to trade on traditional markets like Dewsbury’s.

There’s a local heat taking place on the Young People’s Market in Huddersfield on

Saturday, May 25, where two young traders will be chosen to compete at the Yorkshire and Humber regional heat on Thursday, August 1 in York.

The best young traders will go through to the final round later in the year.

Karl Battersby, strategic director of economy and infrastructure at Kirklees, said: “This is a fantastic ini-

tiative that we’re delighted to be supporting.

“We’re really proud of our markets throughout Kirklees and this is a great way of encouraging future generations of traders to set out their stalls.”

Anyone wishing to trade at the local heat in May can contact Kirklees Markets on 01484 225930 or by email on markets@kirklees.gov.uk.

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new Mill Valley venture Advertising Feature THE OWNERS of a brewery tap in Cleckheaton have taken over a new site just up the road.

Steve Hemingway and his wife Wendy, who own the thriving Mill Valley Brewery at Woodroyd Mills off South Parade, are now also at the helm of The Brew House in Hightown, Liversedge.

While the Mill Valley will still be open as normal, Steve and Wendy’s new venture will see more ales added to an already extensive range.

Steve started his brewing journey in 2015, and now taking over the new Brew House he has been able to triple the capacity of brewing – meaning much more ale!

Based on Halifax Road, the Brew House premises has an intimate pub setting for customers to sample the array of real ales,

continental lagers and beers, while at the back there’s a huge brewing space.

The former Heights WMC had been sympathetically converted into a bar by Partners Brewery before it was shuttered last year.

Steve and his wife Wendy re-opened The Brew House at the start of April and already they’ve seen a good number of customers through the door.

And they are welcoming everybody to come and soak up the atmosphere and try some of their Mill Valley ales, including Fudge!, Mill Blonde, Looking Through The Window, and Luddite. They also plan to have at least two guest beers on at a time, meaning there’s something for everyone.

The Brew House is currently open on Thursdays (4.30pm-10.30pm), Fridays (4pm11pm), Saturdays (1pm-11pm) and Sundays (1pm-9pm) – so there’s no excuse not to pop down at the weekend.

ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

Village Hotel Leeds South Capitol Boulevard West, Tingley, Leeds, LS27 0TS

0113 323 6160

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Friday April 19, 2019

News In Brief Teen robbed at knifepoint MIRFIELD: A teenager was robbed at knifepoint by a gang of youths in a Mirfield park on Saturday night.

The 17-year-old boy was in Ings Grove Park at around 11pm when he was approached by the group, who stole his bag, phone, wallet and speaker.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed detectives are investigating the incident and said: “If anyone was in the area and believes they may have witnessed something relevant or has information about those responsible, they are asked to call Kirklees District CID via 101, quoting crime reference 13190192111.”

£4,000 lift-off for air cadets CLECKHEATON: An air cadets squadron has bagged £4,000 courtesy of Tesco Cleckheaton.

Spen Valley Air Cadets came out on top in the recent Bags of Help scheme – which funds local projects via community grants.

Runners-up were Cleckheaton Folk Festival (winners of £2,000) and Wyke Wanderers Junior Football Club (winners of £1,000).

Voting for the next round is open now and can be done in the store on Northgate.

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WHAT’S NEW AT EASTER SUNDAY FUNDAY

Year of Music project launch

By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter

Kirklees contribution to year of culture

A VISIONARY new music project is expected to emerge from a partnership between groups, festivals, the University of Huddersfield and Kirklees Council.

Kirklees Year of Music 2023 was officially launched at the university on Thursday (April 11), with live performances from a string of local artists including acclaimed vocalist Pat Fulgoni, Big Wave, South Asian arts group Manasamitra and DJ NikNak. Conceived as Kirklees’ contribution

to the Leeds City Region’s year of culture programme, it aims to deliver a world-class music offer in the borough that concludes in a ‘year of music’ in 2023. It has resulted in the establishment of a number of groups. One brings together the district’s music festivals and another links up the classical music organisations.

Work is now under way to support the music sector to define what a world class music offer is, what it looks like, and how to get there by 2023. Over the next four years, Kirklees will be developed as an

emerging music destination, a community music audit will be completed to gather information about the diverse community music in the district and, via consultation with the music sector, a Kirklees music brand will be created.

The council and the university are working together with music organisations, including festivals, as well as independent venues, a record shop and a label as part of a Music Group to deliver the project.

Karl Battersby, director for economy and infrastructure at Kirklees

Council, said: “We have a rich musical heritage that we must celebrate and promote as much as we can. “This vision is about celebrating who we are as a diverse and wonderful community. We all make Kirklees a place of music, a place that loves music.

“Whether you are in a choir or a band, if you are a composer or an educator, perhaps you run a commercial venue, record label, rehearsal room, or even a record shop, you might manage a studio or a music charity – whatever you do, this is your Year of Music.”

Information on the festivals and plans for 2023 will be updated regularly at www.creativekirklees.com.

Patients spending extra night in hospital – waiting for meds

By David Spereall Local Democracy Reporter SOME NHS patients have been forced to spend an extra night in hospital because of delays in obtaining medication to take home.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Dewsbury and District Hospital, admitted that the problem had affected several patients in recent months.

It comes as the Trust tries to reduce issues connected with bedblocking, where patients fit enough to go home end up remaining in hospital.

The problem was raised at a health scrutiny committee last Thursday.

The Trust’s director for nursing, David Melia, could not say how

many occasions a patient had been forced to stay an extra night in recent months, but said: “It is a problem and we do acknowledge that.”

He added: “Very often it isn’t an issue with the pharmacy department, it’s often a delay with the takehome prescription being written out.

“Often, the decision to discharge will happen on a ward round and the doctor won’t stop to write the prescription there and then.

“They will wait to the end of the round, which can be several hours later.”

Mr Melia said a number of initiatives had been tried out to deal with the issue, including employing junior doctors to write out medication notes for patients after they’ve been

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told they can go home. The situation is also complicated by the Trust’s policy of not discharging anyone from the hospital after 8pm unless they have consent, and waits for ambulances to take some patients home.

Mr Melia added: “In some places we’ve had junior doctors go on a ward round as well, and when a patient is told they can go home, they will then absent themselves from the next patient and write out the prescription.

“That’s been successful on some occasions.

“We’re not always 100 per cent successful in predicting when patients are going to go home, so that can make things difficult.”

Police respond to speeding complaints BATLEY & SPEN Neighbourhood Police officers were on the lookout for speeding vehicles in Liversedge last week.

They were responding to numerous complaints from members of the public regarding driving along Bradford Road.

Last Thursday afternoon over 70 vehicles were monitored, with police having to stop four for excessive speed. The highest recorded speed was 39mph in the 30mph zone.

Family fun day for a great cause Advertising Feature HERE’S something for everyone at Mirfield’s Saville Arms pub this Easter Sunday.

The big charity event is raising money for the town’s Royal British Legion branch – and anything that’s raised on the day will be doubled by Barclays Bank.

The pub will also be introducing its brand-new Summer bottle bar which both kids and adults can enjoy – with gin and bottles for the grown-ups and ‘slushies’ and ice-creams for the youngsters.

And while the adults are wetting their appetites with the new bar, children can enjoy endless fun on the bouncy castle, or take part in the egg and spoon race, Easter egg hunt, apple bobbing plus loads more.

There’ll be burgers and hot dogs to feed the family, and the older lot can have their own fun by competing in the timed pool challenge – where the winner receives a gallon of draught beer.

It all starts at 2pm, and entertainment will be on

T

from 7pm until around 9pm. If you donate to the raffle you could be in with a chance of winning cash prizes, vouchers for William Hill, and prizes donated by Spice of Bengal, Beau Beauty, Haigh’s Farm Shop and much more.

All money raised on the day will go to the Royal British Legion, and there’ll be representatives attending.

So, if you need something to do this Easter – pop down to The Saville Arms for a day not to be missed.

ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

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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.

Excitement was building ahead of historic Tests N THE past two weeks I have mentioned the England cricket tour of Australia in the autumn/winter of 1932-33, but with the new cricket season almost upon us I want to focus on our national summer sport and backtrack a little to look at the build-up to this tour.

There was no Dewsbury fixture during this summer, despite the Savile Ground being a popular venue for the county and a regular treat for the district’s cricket fans since 1867, however there was no shortage of excitement in June 1932.

Being Essex raised of Yorkshire stock (my distant Heckmondwike cousin Alfred Firth played one game for Yorkshire in the 19th century), the game at Leyton against Essex was read about with mixed feelings.

Huddersfield’s Percy Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe went out to bat that day and managed to compile a world record opening partnership of 555 runs.

But, in this era of Yorkshire cricketing supremacy, there was more to come 10 days later when Gomersal’s Wilf Barber, standing in for the injured Holmes, hit 162

I

runs in a 346-run stand with Maurice Leyland (189) against Middlesex at Sheffield.

Cleckheaton-born Barber had played for Gomersal as a young teenager and had taken time breaking into the Yorkshire side, but with Holmes’s uncertain fitness he took his chance to make his mark in 1932.

That innings against Middlesex was the high point of Barber’s season, but his hopes of helping Yorkshire to victory in that game were thwarted by a surprising obstacle for Joe Hulme, a rightwinger for Huddersfield Town in the 1938 Cup Final at Wembley, hit a second-innings century for Middlesex to secure his

side a draw.

Any international ambitions that Wilf Barber may have harboured were not to be realised that year, however, while Leyland made the touring squad for Australia, Barber missed out despite scoring over 1,000 runs that summer.

He did later go on to play for England, the district’s only local-born Test player, but he was to end his career still playing into his 50s in the obscurity of league cricket with the likes of Lidget Green and Mirfield.

Yorkshire teammates Leyland, Sutcliffe, Hedley Verity and Bill Bowes, were set to set sail into a truly tempestuous cricketing sea.

Australia had a man

who was probably the best in the world at that time, and arguably the greatest ever, and England skipper Douglas Jardine devised a plan to restrict his incredible ability to seemingly score runs at will.

Jardine decided that bowlers directing a sharply rising ball on the line of the body rather than the stumps would force the batsmen to defend themselves first and think about scoring second.

Then, with fielders in a circle on that side of the ground, there would be an increased chance of giving them a catch. Of course, there was also an increased chance of the batsmen being hit and hurt – and so it was!

There was no hint of the controversy to follow when the tour began.

Jardine’s master plan was to be kept under wraps.

In fact, on Armistice Day 1932 the England squad joined in the commemorations at Parliament House in Melbourne before the start of the tourists’ warm-up game with Victoria, and the following day the Yorkshire Observer carried a front-page cartoon depicting Jardine nursing his squad by leaving out several key players.

COUNCIL ELECTIONS: THE CANDIDATES IN NORTH KIRKLEES THE four main political parties in Kirklees are each fielding a full slate of candidates as more than 100 election hopefuls go head-to-head for 23 seats across the borough.

But Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens must also contend with candidates from UKIP in a third of district wards.

There will also be a showing from Independents (4), Democrats and Veterans Party (2), Batley Borough Independents – Heavy Woollen District (1), and Dewsbury Borough Independents – Heavy Woollen District (1).

Voters go to the polls on Thursday May 2.

Here’s a guide to who is standing in North Kirklees.

BATLEY EAST Keiron Gavaghan: Conservative James Hansford: Green Party Clare Kane: Liberal Democrats Habiban Zaman: Labour *Seat currently held by Labour’s Habiban Zaman.

BATLEY WEST Paul Halloran: Batley Borough Independents – Heavy Woollen District Yusra Hussain: Labour Christopher Kane: Liberal Democrats Martin Pelan: Green Party

Paul Young: Conservative *Seat currently held by Labour’s Marielle O’Neill, who is stepping down.

BIRSTALL AND BIRKENSHAW Charlotte Goodwin: Conservative Christopher Green: Green Party Catherine Pinder: Labour Louise Walsh: Liberal Democrats *Seat formerly held by Robert Light, a former Conservative group leader, who stepped down last year.

CLECKHEATON Khalid Patel: Labour Andrew Pinnock: Liberal Democrats Madeline Poutney: Conservative Linda Simmons: Green Party *Seat currently held by the Liberal Democrats’ Andrew Pinnock.

DEWSBURY EAST Eric Firth: Labour Sean Guy: Conservative Dennis Hullock: Liberal Democrats Aleks Lukic: Dewsbury Borough Independents – Heavy Woollen District Gideon Barry: Green Party *Seat currently held by Labour’s Eric Firth.

DEWSBURY SOUTH Marnie Cope: Green Party Nosheen Dad: Labour Bernard Disken: Liberal Democrats Charlie Reid: Conservative *Seat currently held by Labour’s Nosheen Dad. DEWSBURY WEST Jon Bloom: Liberal Democrats Simon Cope: Green Party Farmida Ishaq: Conservative

Back in Europe the Yorkshire Observer headlines announced that Britain had recognised a German claim for equal access to instruments of war, succeeding Article 5 of the Treaty of Versailles that had limited Germany’s armament stock.

Ironically the move was heralded as a step toward a lasting peace in the world but, let’s face it, it is pretty pointless elaborating on those plans given the situation in the world just over six years later.

Meanwhile back in ‘Oz’, Douglas Jardine was on the point of being branded a wicked wizard. The match in Melbourne against Victoria passed off without undue conflict, but that was only the calm before the storm.

Gubby Allen, later to become a leading establishment figure, was opposed to Jardine’s plans and refused to adopt them but, despite his protestations Jardine was undeterred as he prepared his full-strength team to face an Australian Select XI – and unleash his ‘Bodyline’ theory on the unsuspecting Aussies.

It seemed both cricket and the world at large were on the brink of warfare!

Canal trips at Trust’s open event MIRFIELD-BASED Safe Anchor Trust are holding their first open weekend of 2019 over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Free boat trips will run on Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10am to 4pm each day, starting and finishing at Shepley Bridge Marina.

The trips, lasting around 50 minutes, travel along the Calder & Hebble Navigation through Mirfield and onto the River Calder before turning for the return journey.

Trips operate on a first-come first-served basis but as there is a boat departing every 20 minutes or so there is usually never too long to wait.

Safe Anchor Trust have two boats that are suitable for wheelchair users or those with mobility issues.

In addition to boat trips, a large model railway will be running and the cafe open serving hot and cold refreshments.

The trust is a charity operated entirely by volunteers – no charge is made for the boat trips but all donations are very gratefully received.

Join the Collegians for Calamity fun DEWSBURY Collegians Amateur Operatic Society are on the hunt for people to take part in their next major production, Calamity Jane.

The group urgently needs both men and women to make up the chorus and for small principal roles.

The performance is being staged at Dewsbury Town Hall from Wednesday June 12 to Saturday June 16 and rehearsals are underway.

To join in the fun, contact Kirstie Firth on 07977 761785 or Noel Rigg on 01924 466659.

Tickets for the show, priced at £13 (balcony) and £12 (stalls, £10 concessions), are available from the Collegians’ ticket line 01924 492742 or the Town Halls box office 01484 225755. You can also get tickets from Dewsbury Town Hall.

join us at

Creative Craft Centre for our

p day yarn shalol th ings woolly

Darren O’Donovan: Labour *Seat currently held by Labour’s Darren O’Donovan.

HECKMONDWIKE Aafaq Butt: Labour Alan Freeman: Green Party Helen Gavaghan: Conservative Alan Girvan: Independent Josie Pugsley: Liberal Democrat *Seat currently held by Labour’s David Sheard, a former leader of Kirklees Council, who is stepping down.

LIVERSEDGE AND GOMERSAL Lisa Holmes: Conservative Jude McKaig: Labour David Snee: Liberal Democrats Nicholas Whittingham: Green Party *Seat currently held by the Conservatives’ Lisa Holmes.

MIRFIELD Stephen Bird: Liberal Democrats Keiron Dunn: Labour Kath Taylor: Conservatives Catherine Whittingham: Green Party *Seat currently held by the Conservatives’ Kath Taylor.

a celebration of saturday 27th april • Giveaways • Goodie Bags worth over £20 (for the first 5 customers spending over £30)

• Spend over £20 and get FREE coffee vouchers for our café Café open • All Day Knit & Natter Group all day for delicious • Demonstrations throughout homemamde meals, yummy treats & the day freshly ground coffee all welcome at Wesley Chambers, Union Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1AJ 01924 469500 (Look for the Yarn Bombed Bike!)

For details of our workshops & events please see www.facebook.com/creativecraftcentre

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Friday April 19, 2019

MEET THE TEAM 2019 is Slimming World’s Golden Anniversary ... half a century of life-changing weight loss I'm Claire and I joined Slimming World over seven years ago.

Just after joining I discovered I was pregnant. As Slimming World is safe to follow through pregnancy, I kept going every week. I lost the pregnancy weight in seven weeks and felt great.

After this I continued to lose weight. It wasn't easy or fast and I worked full time and then had three kids under five, but with the support of the group I got to target. I felt like I'd got my life back.

When I turned 40 I started running as I had a silly dream to run a marathon. Last year at 43 I ran my fourth marathon at York and so far I've raised over £1,000 for a local kids' football club, including buying a defibrillator.

I'm passionate about enabling people to start their own journey and I became a consultant in January 2017, running the Mirfield Wednesday group. Last year the opportunity came to look after the Monday group I originally attended as a member, so I couldn't turn it down. I am just about to relaunch this group as the permanent consultant on Monday April 22.

Life is hectic as I work full-time as a nurse but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Hi, I’m Debra and I run the Saturday morning groups in Mirfield.

I first joined Slimming World about a year after having my first child, and it wasn’t just pregnancy weight I wanted to lose.

My days as a new mum had become one coffee morning after another, and there was always a piece of cake involved! I was nervous walking into group that first time but there was no need, the consultant was lovely and the members welcomed me with open arms.

Over the next few years I struggled with my weight but always came back to Slimming World, where I knew there was the perfect plan waiting for me.

And it worked, every time. So what are you waiting for?

Make some time for you, join one of our warm and friendly groups and learn how to lose weight and still enjoy the foods you love. The kettle’s always on!

I’m Faye and I run the Staincliffe Group.

I joined Slimming World as I’d been struggling to lose weight on my own and knew I needed help.

I found that and more at Slimming World and lost 4st 3lb in seven months.

As a consultant I love helping people see that nothing is impossible, no dream too big or small and providing that all important support and care that people need to lose weight and achieve their weight loss dreams.

Please come and join us at Staincliffe Cricket Club on Mondays at 5.30pm and 7.30pm (open Bank Holidays).

Hi, Kathryn Cooke here.

I run two very friendly, supportive, successful groups at Roberttown Community Centre on Wednesdays and on Thursdays at Millbridge WMC, Liversedge.

I am Slimming World’s Top Target Consultant 2019 and I have 36 years of experience of helping members to lose weight easily and successfully, and then to maintain their target weight and feel good about themselves.

We’d love you to join us to lose weight while enjoying lots of delicious food and never being hungry.

Looking forward to supporting you to achieve your goal weight.

Hi I’m Lucy. In September 2014 I took my new baby along to a baby massage group. I thoroughly enjoyed this special time, until I was handed a photograph of me and my baby. I’d been in denial about how I looked.

As a child I was very active; playing a variety of sports. I never had a weight problem.

Fast forward a few years and that first picture is where I found myself.

When that photo was handed to me, it wiped the smile off my face. If I didn’t do something I wouldn’t be able to keep up with my young family. I told myself I’d join Slimming World, but whilst I was thinking about it I made every excuse under the sun.

I wouldn’t have time with a new baby, I needed to get the holiday/Christmas out of the way, I told myself. Six months after that photo was taken, in January 2015, I joined Slimming world for the first time. I went along to group and found the plan too good to be true. I went on to lose three and a half stone.

After my success, it spurred me on to wanting to help others achieve their dreams and so became a Slimming World consultant. I have been a consultant for three years and have helped many people reach their target weight.

I'm Lyn and I run the Hanging Heaton and W e s t e r t o n Methodist Church groups.

I lost two stone on my journey, which has its ups and downs.

Since opening my award-winning group in Hanging Heaton in December 2015, we have got a fantastic 25 members to target, most of which still attend.

My dream is to help more people feel empowered and in charge of their own dreams.

“My group has been my rock” My name is Lynne Asquith, I am 58 and live in Batley with my husband Kevin. I have a daughter Emma and a beautiful granddaughter Minnie. In 1987 I decided to join Slimming World and it took me six months to lose four stone, encouraged by my group and my mum.

The support from them both was incredible, which inspired me to become a slimming world consultant myself.

When mum passed away suddenly in 1994 I sought comfort in food and by the turn of the millennium I had increased my weight to 18st 4lbs.

I was still helping my members to slim but somehow I had lost sight of myself.

Thinking how much my mum would have wanted me not to be so unhappy, I rejoined Slimming World as a member and was welcomed back with open arms. With my group's support I reached my target weight in 2004 and I am still in my 10st target range, which gives me lots of energy to run round after my little grandaughter Minnie, my inspiration not to give up in a hurry. If my story has inspired you to join Slimming World, then please come along to one of my classes at Batley Town Hall or Shaw Cross Boys Club.

Hi I’m Paul, and I run the Hunsworth group and the Saturday morning Cleckheaton group.

I have struggled with my weight all my life. I have tried every pill, potion, shake and starvation diet going.

But I gave up dieting eight years ago when I discovered Slimming World’s amazing Food Optimising plan.

I understand the pain and misery of wanting to lose weight. Come and lose weight with a room full of friends you’ve yet to meet, eating all your favourite foods, with a few key changes.

Come and join us and be your own success story.

Hi I’m Sue. I joined Slimming World 25 years ago and quickly got to my target weight. I worked in banking but was given the opportunity to be a Slimming World consultant alongside my full-time work.

I wouldn't have imagined at the time that I would still be doing the most rewarding job of helping members achieve their dream weight for nearly 20 years.

In that myself and my groups have helped people of all ages, pregnant members and members with health issues such as diabetes or immobility.

It's a career I love with a passion, not only supporting members, but the fun side of things, and that feeling every week that you never know what food ideas members are going to be sharing next.

The social side of the group is amazing to see, and there is a real buzz especially when members reach an award, lose another stone, go down a clothes size or reach their goal weight.

Here's to the next 20 years.

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Easter? It’s coil humpin’ time!

WORLD COAL CARRYING CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDREDS of competitors are set to take part in the 56th World Coal Carrying Championships.

H

South Ossett Baptist Church Tuesday 9am & 11am Wednesday 9am, 3pm, 5pm & 7pm

Christ Church, South Ossett Saturday 8am & 10am

Gawthorpe Darby & Joan Club Thursday 5pm & 7pm

Primrose Hall, Horbury Monday 3.30pm, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Friday 7.30am, 9.30am & 11.30am

Holy Trinity School Tuesday & Thursday 5pm & 7pm

Phone Jade 07825 433400

The annual event, on Easter Monday, sees men and women lug sacks of coal through Gawthorpe and Ossett.

It has become a fixture in many diaries as thousands of spectators are expected to line the streets for a day of fun on April 22.

The adult races see the men carry a 50kg bag of coal and women a 20kg sack, starting from the Royal Oak Pub on Owl Lane, Ossett, and walking, running or staggering 1,110 metres to the finish line at the Maypole Green in Gawthorpe.

Youngsters can take part in the children’s fun runs between 10.30am and 11am with categories for boys and girls aged five to seven, eight to 10, and 11 to 14.

Entries are limited to 30 children per race and each runner gets a goodie bag, t-shirt and medal.

Hopefully the weather will be better than last year!

There are also races for male veterans and a chance of pocketing a cash prize for the winner.

Winners of the men’s race will bag £750, and the women will get £500 for finishing first. The prize money will be more than doubled if either can break the existing world record, which has been verified by the Guinness Book of World Records.

BBC sports presenter Mike Bushell has helped boost numbers by filming a piece about the event which will be screened tomorrow (Saturday).

The coal race has become a perma-

nent Easter fixture since its inception in Gawthorpe in 1963, and now attracts competitors from as far away as the USA, New Zealand and Norway.

Duncan Smith, one of the organisers, said: “We have people come back year after year, some doing it for fun, or others who want to beat their own time. There’s a lot of camaraderie.”

The day kicks of at 10.15am with the kids’ race and all information can be found on the Gawthorpe Coal Race official Facebook page or at www.gawthorpemaypole.org.uk.

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Perfect place to A friendly, welcoming retail experience shop & have fun OSSETT is a thriving little town that’s full of surprises, where the shopping experience will always leave you wanting to come back for more. It’s got it all on your doorstep!

The busy pedestrianised town centre is clean, bright and airy and boasts a Victorian street theme based around its impressive old Town Hall.

Whatever your needs, the chances are that Ossett has it. There’s the convenience and choice of the supermarkets alongside those special, individual retailers who deliver the personal touch every day.

Ossett caters for the everyday needs of a family but also has specialist shops for those hard-to-find items and services for the man or woman who has everything.

It’s the perfect place to find that perfect gift.

Several years ago the town centre underwent a massive improvement scheme with much of the town centre re-paved – so when the sun shines why not rest a while on one of the Victorian-style benches which encircle the precinct?

Getting into Ossett has never been a problem. There are regular bus services from all the surrounding towns and plenty of car parking, some of it free.

Ossett is particularly busy on Tuesdays and Fridays – market days – when people come from miles around for a bargain or two.

With the market right in the heart of the town, outside the Town Hall, there is a light, airy feel yet around the stalls there is that familiar hustle and bustle that people love and come back time and time again for.

Ossett has a clean, well-kept town centre and there is always a warm, friendly welcome from the shops and businesses.

Ossett also boasts lots of cafes, restaurants and pubs where weary shoppers can rest and relax. People can even sit out al fresco-style and watch the rest of the world go by.

With its own summer gala, beer festival and real ale breweries, it’s a fun place to be. If you haven’t been lately, then Ossett is well worth a visit, this great little town will surprise you.

ALTHOUGH Horbury is the size of many towns, it has always had something of a village feel.

All the positive aspects of community life remain in Horbury, along with one of the most diverse and satisfying shopping experiences around.

There are many good reasons to visit Horbury, where the environment is welcoming and friendly and car parking is free.

Horbury really is a town with a difference. Why not come along and find out for yourself?

Horbury provides plenty of free parking and has a host

of facilities to offer from small and exclusive gift shops, tasty local butchers and greengrocers, designer clothes, shoes and handbags, art shops, travel agents, jewellers, traditional bakeries and many many more wonderful retail experiences, there is plenty to do and see in Horbury.

VEHICLE REPAIR CENTRE We pride ourselves in covering ALL aspects of car reapirs and servicing from a simple same day service to major overhauls of your vehicle.

We are a small independent company offering dealer level service but at a fraction of the cost.

No job is too big, no job is too small. Anything from a simple bulb change to a full engine rebuild.

WHAT WE DO:

MOT • SERVICING • 24HR BREAKDOWN & RECOVERY • DIAGNOSTICS • REPAIRS Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-3pm, Sunday CLOSED We all need a day off to recharge our batteries, but call us on 24hr mobile if you have an emergency

CONTACT: Unit F, Hoyle Head Mills, Dewsbury, WF12 8JJ

TEL: 01924 464120 / 07778 547185 (24hr) Robert Bates - Qualified Vehicle Technician (Level 3 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Competence 501/0017/8)

Established in 2016, Pro-Lec Solutions Ltd set the goal of becoming a leading name in the electrical industry. We firmly believe that with quality workmanship, fair prices and a personal approach we will reach our goal.

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS High end shop fitting Pub refurbishments LED lighting installs / upgrade New build housing Gym remodels Office new / refurbishments Contact info: Office – 01924 276761 Mobile: Tom Ribka 07570 590230 Nick Gannon 07399 010587 Email: tom@pro-lecsolutionltd.co.uk nick@pro-lecsolutionltd.co.uk

www.pro-lecsolutionltd.co.uk PRO-LEC SOLUTIONS LTD, 4 SPA STREET, SPRINGFIELD MILL, OSSETT, WF5 0HW

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Friday April 19, 2019

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

SATURDAY APRIL 27 GILDERSOME AND TONG Starts at 10.30am at Moorland Road above Drighlington Library (BD11 1JZ, SE223285) 7.5 miles – moderate Contact: Norma 01274 685343 or 07951 413012 nleppingwell@outlook.com

SATURDAY MAY 4 THORNHILL 4 NIL Starts at 10.30am at Flat Top Inn Thornhill Edge WF12 0HD (SE251180). Park below pub, not in pub car park.

8 miles – moderate Contact: Eddie and Andrea 01924 470091

It couldn’t fail Mikron drop anchor for wartime adventure to be a winner Review by Malcolm Haigh BATLEY Gilbert and Sullivan Society marked their 70th anniversary with a thrilling and magnetic production of The Pirates of Penzance.

The show, containing some of the bestknown G&S musical numbers, was exploited in every positive way by this talented group to thrill their audiences.

They had characters who could project words and voices with real impact and whose acting abilities kept members of the audience in constant anticipation and obvious appreciation.

It was a tremendous start for the new production team, headed by producer Jeremy Shoesmith and musical director Adam Boniface.

Exploiting their talented acting and stunning voices the sizeable cast kept its audience continuously occupied and delighted by the superb ways in which they portrayed this delightful musical.

The story centres on one young man who is apprenticed to a band of proud pirates and experiences lots of new adventures, including the tremendous test of meeting his firstever romantic woman.

Leon Waksberg reveals this delightful character and is helped immensely by Ann Likeman – a piratical maid of all work – and other characters portrayed by Malcolm Parkinson, David Parker, Robert Thurman and many others.

The show was quick to seize the attention of the audience and fed it with delightful talented acting and singing throughout the performance.

There was music and dramatic acting aplenty and the expertise of so many stage experienced players that the show could not fail to be a winner, with the drama and singing so well supported by a talented orchestra.

Other characters were played by Edwin Kirkwood, Carol Parkinson, Bex Barker, Stephanie Roe and Rita Jno-Baptiste.

The talented chorus was made up of Fi Baker, Liz Blount, Simon Bray, Helen Carbutt, Marilyn Cooper, Jennifer Day, David Hall, Lyndsey Hall, Tracey Hook, Tony Johnson, Debbie Moores, Steve Roe, Lee Stone, Kath Thurman.

THE West Yorkshire Brass Band will perform an evening concert of light music at Ebenezer Methodist Church on Saturday April 27.

The concert, at the church on High Street, starts at 7.30pm and entry on the door is £7 (£2 children) including refreshments.

YOU can dance the night away at Millbridge WMC, with music from Eddie Martell and the Ronnie Bottomley Quartet on the third Tuesday of every month. You can listen and dance to songs from the swing era and the Great American Songbook.

The music at Millbridge club, on Bennett Street in Liversedge, starts at 8.15pm, and admission is £3.50.

Call 01924 402696 for more details.

THERE’S free live music and dancing every Sunday afternoon at Batley Central Club, with the well-known Reg Hargreaves Trio playing at the venue from 1.15pm to around 3.30pm.

A variety of guest singers perform each week.

The bar is open and the club on Bradford Road in Batley, wants to encourage as many people as possible to come down and enjoy the afternoon’s entertainment.

THE AWARD-WINNING Mikron Theatre Company returns to the Leggers Inn in Dewsbury on Tuesday April 23.

Their latest theatrical offering is All Hands On Deck, one of two plays touring for the 2019 season.

Set in World War Two, the show navigates a love story between the Royal Navy and their loyal ‘Jenny Wrens’.

Marsden-based Mikron always go down a storm in Dewsbury, delighting audiences with their informative and musically jampacked shows.

New WRNS recruits Ginger and Lily are look-

Elizabeth Robin and Rachel Benson star in All Hands On Deck Photo: Peter Boyd

ing for wartime adventure.

Lily wants to serve on dry land, but Ginger is desperate to serve at sea – and the sailors can’t believe their luck!

The show pays tribute to

all those wartime women who pushed the door to opportunity firmly open.

Playwright and former Mikron actor, Vashti Maclachlan, who penned last year’s ‘Revolting

Women’, has had a great time steering the ship on All Hands On Deck.

“It’s been a pleasure to write again for Mikron in its 48th year and an honour to shine a spotlight on the tireless women who gave their all to shape a Women’s Royal Navy Service fit for the future,” she said.

Marianne McNamara, Mikron’s artistic director, explained why the Wrens show means a lot to many Mikron followers.

“I’ve always been interested in the Wrens,” she said. “They’ve been suggested as an interesting subject matter by a num-

ber of audience members who were related to Wrens.

“There are plenty plays about the war but not that many that explore women’s contributions to the war. It’s been fascinating to research their story and to celebrate their endeavours.”

All Hands On Deck drops anchor at the Leggers Inn, on Savile Town Wharf, Mill Street East, at 7.30pm on Tuesday April 23.

A cash collection will be taken.

For details call 01924 502846 or email manager.leggers@gmail. com.

Ordinary, everyday extraordinary people ARTS ORGANISATION Creative Scene is launching a season of shows in North Kirklees pubs and social clubs about the world we live in.

The first, next week, is a performance by award-winning theatre maker Daniel Bye of Tiny Heroes – a theatre gig with music and songs.

People are also being encouraged to nominate their own local hero.

The show will be performed in pubs in Mirfield and Cleckheaton thanks to Creative Scene, which brings arts and culture to the district with Arts Council funding.

Director Nancy Barrett said: “‘We The People’ is the title for a new season of shows about the world we live in – and the people that fight to change it.

“From everyday heroes, to Luddite leaders, drag kings to modern-day saints, we will be asking questions about what makes a hero these days, how do you speak truth to power, and what happens when you express your true self.”

Tiny Heroes tells real stories of everyday activism, agitation and standing up to be the change you want to see.

Songs in the show were written

by Boff Whalley, from Leeds band Chumbawamba, famous for their hit song Tub Thumping.

It is a story about heroes – not just the famous heroes but those ordinary, everyday people who do extraordinary things, but rarely win medals or recognition.

Daniel Bye, writer and performer of Tiny Heroes, who will star alongside Victoria Brazier, said: “When people think about heroism, they tend to think of people pulling people out of burning buildings, or maybe a

Elizabeth Robin and Rachel Benson star in All Hands On Deck Photo: Peter Boyd

war story.”

Audiences can join in and nominate their own local hero organisers are inviting people to visit www.facebook.com/ CreativeScene.uk and to let them know who they think is a hero and why.

The most inspirational story will win two free tickets for the show.

Nancy added: “We are interested in smaller acts of heroism, the

things that people do every day – people volunteering in a hospice, or running a marathon for charity.

“We will be asking – what is a hero, anyway?”

Tiny Heroes will be performed at The Navigation Tavern in Mirfield on Wednesday April 24

and Cleckheaton’s Mill Valley Brewery Tap, on Thursday April 25 (both venues 7.30pm).

All tickets are £6. To book, visit www.creativescene.org.uk.

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Marketplace Turn your unwanted items

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 Gas fire, Focus HE Slimline SC. Three years old. Serviced, £250. Tel 01924 474062. (2390) Small beech-coloured dropleaf dining table, £50 Tel 01274 873707.

(2391) Fireplace suite with built-in electric fire, £80. Tel 01274 879707.

(2391) Hostess trolley. Good working condition, £40.

Tel 01274 876997.

(2392) Caravan lean-to porch awning. Excellent condition plus new carpet, £140 ono. Tel: 0113 3238837/ 07929 121433 (Rothwell area).

(2393) Solid Mahogany TV/DVD unit. Excellent condition, £45 ono Tel 0113 3238837/ 07929 121433 (Rothwell area).

(2393) BEDROOM 5ft pale grey unholstered headboard and matching bed base with two integral storage drawers. Bargain at £30, no offers. Tel 07925 127198. (2385) Double bed frame includes headboard and mattress, £70 ono.

Collection only. Tel 07894 577256 (Birstall). (2381) 2 x single memory foam mattresses. 5cm thick x 180cm L x 55cm W. £45 each. Tel 01924 496377.

(2371) Chair bed to make into single size bed. Includes blankets etc. In good condition, £30 ono, Tel 01274 811232, (2372) CLOTHING Two pairs of Hotter sandals size 7, one salmon pink, one rose gold. £25 each. Tel 07564 739087.

(2368) Gents Barbour breathable coat, size large. Dark green colour. Hardly worn and in excellent condition, £100 ono. Tel 01924 497679. (2366) DIY Metal toolbox, red with keys. Four drawers. Full of engineering tools, £90. Tel 01924 430088. (2377) Electric Skill saw 1350 watts with 180 diameter blade, £45. Tel 01924 430088. (2377) Belt and disc sander, £40.

Tel 01924 430088. (2377) ELECTRONIC Toshiba 28” widescreen television with remote control. Excellent working condition. Can deliver locally. £50. Tel 01924 471758 (2369) Bush personal CD player plus headphones. Only used once, £20. Tel 07564 739087. (2368) FURNITURE Cream leather three-piece suite (two-seater sofa), £40. Buyer to collect. Tel 01924 455921. (2379) Schreiber wardrobe unit in teak. Comprising two wardrobes and centre dressing table with light fitting. Complete with dressing table stool. 9ft W x 6ft H x 1ft 9ins deep. £50 ono. Tel 01924 518776. (2384) Mahogany corner TV unit, glass lead effect doors.

Shelves for DVDs, Sky box etc. Good condition, £15.

Tel 01924 404846. (2374) Solid wood, small folding occasional table. 13ins square x 17ins high, £10.

Tel 07564 739087. (2368) Faux leather chaise longue, beige colour. Like new, £50. Tel 01924 453932. (2361) GARDEN Outdoor round wooden table, seats six. Also four white plastic chairs with seat pads. £50 the lot.

Buyer to collect. Tel 01924 479297. (2378) HOUSEHOLD Fan palm plants for sale.

Various sizes, prices from £10 to £250. Tel 07866 019737. (2383) Mahogany effect pendulum wall clock, plastic.

Very good condition, £10.

Tel 01924 404846. (2374) Homebrew Kit includes 4 x 25/35ltr buckets, dispensing taps, syphon pump, filler tube and valve, hydrometer, thermometer, bottle corker and bottle capper, shrink cap tool, caps, corks, bubblers, stirring utensils, half steriliser and many other items. Paid over £160, sell for £95 ono. Tel 07486 636196 collection only. (2365) Brother Industrial sewing machine on new flatbed table. Good working condition, £200 ono. Tel 07510 323053 (after 3pm). (2359) KITCHEN/DINING

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

George Foreman grilling machine. Like new, hardly used, £10. Tel 01924 477122. (2356)

and puppies. Size 46” x 52” x 30”. Cost £90, sell £35. Tel 07522 540908.

(2380)

MISCELLANEOUS Rope 25mm diameter, approx 50 metres long. £20. Tel 01924 430088.

(2377)

Indoor small rabbit/ guinea pig cage, includes feeding dishes and bedroom. Size 100cm L x 50cm W x 33cm H. £10.

Tel 01924 468509. (2360)

MOBILITY Disability aid – kidneyshaped over armchair dining table. As new, cost £120, will accept £50. Tel 07931 003053. (2357) Commode – fold-up, as new plus raised toilet seat. Cost £100, sell for offers within reason. Tel 07522 540908. (2375) MOTORING Halfords side opening roof box. 240 litre capacity.

Includes all keys and fittings. Very good condition, £50. Tel 07746 114664.

(2382) Reliant Robin spare parts for sale. Various items from clutch cables to gearboxes, starters, doors, bumpers etc. Tel 07414 297858 for more details. (2362) OUTDOOR/CAMPING 6kg calor propane cylinder with valve, £10. Tel 01924 430088. (2377) Motorhome awning.

Kampa Air Motor Rally Pro390. Used twice, £450.

Tel 07754 890433. (2367 Aqua roll water carrier for fresh water, £25. Tel 07754 890433 (2367) Wastemaster waste water carrier, £25. Tel 07754 890433. (2367) Calor gas bottle 13kg, half full, £15. Tel 07754 890433. (2367) PET GOODS Strong mesh cage, has wooden floor which can be used as lid instead.

Suitable for rabbits/ guinea pigs, used for bitch

SPORT/EXERCISE MD Golf Driver, newly gripped. £25. Tel 07505 115934. (2388) Archery equipment, hardly used. Compound Bow Hoyt XT 2000 and approx.

60 arrows, £300. Tel 01924 502612/07941 883465. (2389) Shogun Trailbreaker gents’ mountain bike, bright green, 18 gears. Good condition £50. Tel 07974 967055. (2376) Peugeot ladies’ drop handle racing-style bike.

White/red stripes, 10 gears, circa 1988, £40. Tel 07974 967055. (2376) TOYS/CHILDREN’S GOODS Tommee Tippee complete feeding set, Brand new, unopened. Includes steriliser, bottle warmer, 8 bottles, powder dispensers plus more. RRP £60, sell £40. Tel 07938 597738.

(2386) Mothercare red stroller, rain cover & shopping net.

Hardly used, £25. Tel 07974 967055. (2376) Britax Prince child’s car seat 9-18kgs. Excellent condition, £30. Tel 07974 967055. (2376) 2 x Kids E scooters.

Electric scooter with seats. One pink, one blue, £25 each. Tel 07754 890433. (2367) WANTED Wanted: Manual typewriter, must be in good working order. Tel 07729 518086. (2373)

Friday April 19, 2019

Classified

ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

Want to advertise in our Classified section?

Call 01924 470296 or email advertising@thepressnews.co.uk

BEDS

BUTCHERS

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

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!

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.

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.

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

470296 for more info

Remember folks, not everyone uses social media!

AIR/GAS CYLINDERS

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CARE HOMES

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

GARLANDS Residential & Dementia Care Home

Providing 24-hour Care, Respite & Day Care

CHARTERED SURVEYER

18 Broadgate, Ossett, Wakefield, WF5 0PU Tel.Wakefield (01924) 275275 Email: davidghorner1@btconnect.com Fax.Wakefield (01924) 271860

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

Supporting Visit us for Breast all your Cancer motoring needs Care

MOTs, Servicing, Repairs, Tyres, Batteries, Exhausts Hi-Q Gold Award for customer service and Retail Tyre Centre of the Year finalist Hi Q, 499 Huddersfield Road, Ravensthorpe, WF13 3JW Tel: 01924 468210 www.hiqonline.co.uk

COMPUTING

Computer Problems?

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07976 877 768 23 Years Experience

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CYCLES

DINING OUT

HARGREAVES cycles

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T 01924 474777 01924 422218 www.banglalounge yorkshire.co.uk

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ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

Sawyer relishing battle

FLASHBACK: Batley Bulldogs last won at the Tetley’s Stadium in 2016, when Alex Brown (above) – now with Dewsbury – was one of the scorers in a 44-30 classic which featured 13 tries and three yellow cards ‘EAGERLY-FOUGHT’: Dewsbury Rams chairman Mark Sawyer is expecting an entertaining derby clash DEWSBURY chairman Mark Sawyer is anticipating a tough battle in tonight’s Heavy Woollen derby.

The first league meeting of the season between the Rams and Batley Bulldogs comes in the traditional Good Friday slot, with a 7pm kick-off.

It is Dewsbury who have home advantage, and Sawyer expects both sides to be up for the clash.

“We’ve been playing reasonably well all season and Batley’s win against Widnes will give them faith so it should be an eagerly-fought battle,” he said.

“It’s very important for both sides to get the two points.

“It’s the first competitive match of the season between the two teams, so it will be eagerly

awaited and hopefully, if the weather is okay, there will be a decent crowd there following the team.”

The match will again be played in the evening, and the Rams chief hopes that the late kick-off time will enable more people to enjoy the game.

“In the last year or two we’ve reverted to the evening kick-off, traditionally it’s always around that time,” he said.

“As time has gone on, a lot of people work on Good Friday so the reason we have it at 7 o’clock is to give them the opportunity to come as well.”

Sawyer also praised the start that Dewsbury have made to the season under new coach Lee Greenwood, despite only picking

up two wins so far.

“We haven’t always got the results but we’ve played reasonably well in every match maybe bar one,” he said.

The Rams will be missing a number of players for the derby match-up, including Cameron Leeming.

The centre was involved in a nasty clash of heads with Thatto Heath’s Ben Heyes in last week’s Challenge Cup tie between the two teams.

The match was delayed by 25 minutes as both players were taken off the field. After going to hospital, Leeming is now recovering at home.

They are also set to be without a number of loan players over the Easter period, with back-rower

Chris Annakin involved at parent club Wakefield Trinity while prop Owen Harrison is likewise at Hull KR. Owen Trout is back at Leeds Rhinos, along with Muizz Mustapha, and both made their debuts for the Super League club last week after their loan spells at Dewsbury came to an end.

However, the Rams have bolstered their options this week with the signing of loose forward Ellis Robson on an initial onemonth loan deal from Warrington Wolves.

The 20-year-old made two appearances in a recent spell at fellow Championship side Rochdale Hornets, and has now been added to the Rams’ pack for the busy Easter run of fixtures.

HEAD-TO-HEAD LAST TEN MEETINGS:

42-22

23-20

C. SHIELD, 19/8/18

CHAMP, 22/7/18

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18-10

BASH, 27/5/18

CHAMP, 30/3/18

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CHAMP, 9/7/17

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CUP R5, 23/4/17

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ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

Ezmuve the match sponsor LOCAL estate agents Ezmuve will be the main match sponsor for tonight’s Good Friday derby between Dewsbury Rams and Batley Bulldogs.

Ezmuve are hoping to produce a number of fanstyle clappers to give out to young supporters on the night as well as handing out sweets throughout the evening.

The company also plan to stage a fun egg and spoon

race as part of the Easter theme for the game.

The race will be held on the 3G pitch and the club are encouraging families to enjoy the event, which begins at 6pm ahead of the 7pm kick-off. Rams media manager Steven Downes commented: “It is fantastic to have local company Ezmuve on board with the club and sponsoring our local derby with Batley on Good Friday.”

Winner takes all...

JUST ONE point separates the two Heavy Woollen rivals in the table ahead of today’s derby clash.

Dewsbury Rams have the slight advantage over Batley Bulldogs thanks to an extra draw, with the sides picking up two Championship wins apiece so far this season, but a win for either team will ensure not only bragging rights but superiority in the table as well.

Toronto Wolfpack Toulouse Olympique York City Knights Sheffield Eagles Leigh Centurions Bradford Bulls Halifax Featherstone Rovers DEWSBURY RAMS BATLEY BULLDOGS Barrow Raiders Swinton Lions Rochdale Hornets Widnes Vikings

P 9 9 8 8 9 9 9 9 8 9 9 9 7 8

W D L 8 0 1 7 0 2 6 0 2 6 0 2 5 0 4 5 0 4 5 0 4 4 0 5 2 1 5 2 0 7 1 1 7 1 0 8 1 0 6 6 0 2

F 276 264 199 220 229 154 205 226 154 134 132 163 84 239

A 117 126 188 159 166 145 256 186 176 246 287 287 270 140

Dif 159 138 81 61 63 9 -51 40 -22 -106 -156 -134 -186 99

Pts 16 14 12 12 10 10 10 8 5 4 3 2 2 0

*Widnes Vikings deducted 12 points for act of administration

31

Bulldogs’ injuries mount BATLEY BULLDOGS face growing injury worries ahead of today’s Heavy Woollen derby with Dewsbury Rams.

A lean squad will be tested as the Bulldogs face three matches in the space of nine days, beginning with the crunch Good Friday match at the Tetley’s Stadium.

Their biggest concern is that of half-back Danny Yates, who picked up an ankle injury in last weekend’s Challenge Cup defeat to Doncaster and is expected to be out for around six weeks.

Coach Matt Diskin is likely to hand a recall to Dom Brambani, who hasn’t played in any of the last four league matches.

Keenen Tomlinson will be out for several weeks after picking up a knock in the win over Widnes, with the centre joining prop Tyler D i c k i n s o n (thumb) on the injury list.

Diskin a l s o

LANDMARK: Bulldogs centre Sam Smeaton (right) is set to make the 200th appearance of his career in the Heavy Woollen derby

SHORT ON NUMBERS: Batley will be without a number of players, including Danny Yates, in tonight’s derby reported further concerns for Alistair Leak (eye) and back rower Alex Bretherton (calf) after t h e

Doncaster loss, although Leak has been included in the squad for the Dewsbury clash along with fellow hooker Reiss Butterworth on

dual registraton from Huddersfield Giants.

The coach admits that “going into the Easter period we are short on numbers,” but says they are still capable of a good performance if they sort out what they did wrong in their previous game.

“Firstly we have to assess and review that crap that we dished up (against the Dons) and learn the lessons very quickly,” he said.

“You can see glimpses of the quality that we have got when you look at the performance (in beating Widnes), and then you can see the glimpses of the poor performances that we can dish up as well. We’ve got to stop them occurring as regularly as they are doing.”

Diskin believes that recent form is irrelevant when these big derby days come around, and says neither side come into the match as favourites.

“It’s pretty balanced, I don’t think you can call it either way,” said the coach.

“You look at the last three years since I’ve been here at Batley, form goes out of the book in these derbies and it’ll be the same again this week.

“We go to Dewsbury and that pitch forgives a lot of sins, it’s small and compact and sometimes you can do all the game prep in the world but because it’s so small it kind of takes it away from us.

“We’ll have to roll our sleeves up and get dirty this week to get a win.”

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32

ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

BOXING

CRICKET

Hanging Heaton prepare to defend Heavy Woollen Cup

By Mike Popplewell Cricket correspondent sport@thepressnews.co.uk

BOXING CLEVER: Amaar Akbar, wearing his silver medal, with his coaches

PHOTOS: Andy Chubb

Dewsbury ace Akbar makes national final DEWSBURY BOXER Amaar Akbar reached the finals of the England Boxing National Amateur Championships last weekend.

Though the 18-year-old ultimately lost out on the top prize to Sam Noakes of Kent, his progression to the finals in his first year in senior competition, and just four years after taking up the sport, has marked him out as one to watch.

Bradford College student Akbar beat the number one seed Isaac Milburn on his way to the finals, which were held at Manchester Central Convention Complex.

While disappointed not to get the title, the teenager described making the final as a “big thing” in his first year since stepping up from the youth ranks.

“I’ve only had 30 bouts and been boxing four years,” said Akbar, who had a huge following at the Manchester competition.

“I won two national titles in my first two years and also Yorkshire titles, but then I had a tough time of it as a youth and even though I knew I could win things, it

BATTLE: Amaar Akbar lost to Sam Noakes in the England Boxing National Amateur Championships final

SOLLY SPORTS Heavy Woollen Cup holders Hanging Heaton were the prime movers in opening up the competition to include clubs outside the old Central Yorkshire and Huddersfield Leagues – and for many years it was not only the oldest cup competition in England but arguably the most prestigious.

However, from a purely enthusiastic neutral point of view this year’s competition has a bit of a ‘downgraded’ look about it.

For the first time since Bradford League involvement, the competition actually kicks off the new season in the district, with the Heavy Woollen Cup preceding next week’s opening league fixtures.

Although this does put Bradford League clubs at a disadvantage against Huddersfield League sides, who will have already played a league game, it is the absence of great HW Cup names like Batley, Liversedge, Mirfield, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton and Morley, as well as Hopton Mills, Scholes, Hartshead Moor and East Bierley that see it diminished as a Heavy Woollen District competition.

This year it seems particularly devoid of both traditional Heavy Woollen competitors as well as former finalists like Baildon, Pudsey Congs and Kirkheaton. So, we are left with Hanging Heaton, Gomersal, Ossett, Crossbank Methodists, Woodlands and Birstall with first-round games on Sunday and Spen Victoria with a bye to round two.

Ossett, at home to Huddersfield League side Shepley, and Oakenshaw-based Woodlands, who take on a Hoylandswaine side who have

been losing finalists for the past three years, are the only two games being played in the district.

That leaves Hanging Heaton facing a trip to Shelley, Gomersal are at Elland, Birstall go to Townville in an all-Bradford League tie, and Conference side Crossbank face a daunting task at Premier Division side New Farnley.

The remaining ties are as follows: Farsley v Wrenthorpe, Elsecar v Scholes (Hudd), Barkisland v Raistrick, Methley v Wickersley Old Village, Treeton v Cawthorne.

The following sides received byes: Spen Victoria, Barnsley Woolley Miners, Buttershaw St Pauls, South Kirkby and Whittley Hall.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS: Nick Connelly scored a century in last year’s Heavy Woollen Cup final triumph (right), and Hanging Heaton begin their defence of the crown this year with a trip to Shelley

didn’t quite work out that way.

“This year things have come right.

“I think the headguards coming off as a senior has helped me because you can see more shots coming.”

Mally McIver, boxing coach at Bradford College, said: “Getting to the final is a hugely impressive achievement for someone who has only been boxing four years and has only just stepped up to the senior level.

“Amaar definitely has an exciting future. He is one to watch.”

The light welterweight trains at his father’s Warrior Breed gym in Dewsbury and is studying a Level 3 Sports course at Bradford College, which boasts some notable former students.

These include Nicola Adams OBE – the first woman to win an Olympic boxing gold medal – and Team GB’s ‘Hurricane’ Harris Akbar (no relation) who is aiming to represent Great Britain in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo having won a silver medal in the European Under 22 championship in Russia last month.

MOTORSPORT

Strafford begins defence of title RYAN STRAFFORD got the defence of his Thundersport GP1 title up and running with a good opening weekend, claiming four second-place finishes at Brands Hatch.

In the opening round of the season, the Mirfield racer was up against it as he was joined on the grid by

RIVALS: Ryan Strafford briefly leads Craig Neve at Brands Hatch PHOTO: Kerry Rawson

accomplished Classic TT rider Craig Neve.

Neve came home first in all four races but as he won’t be competing in every race, Strafford could be satisfied to come second each time.

He was pushing strongly for the lead in the first race, but was comfortably ahead of the rest of the field overall to bag 80 championship points.

“I was pushing very hard in the opening laps to run the pace of Neve. I lost the front end a couple of times on the fast left handers so I had to back it off and think of the long-term championship,” said Strafford after the races.

“Brands Hatch has never been a circuit that suits my style of riding. Collecting the points and living to fight another day was a tactical move I had to make.”

The second round of the championship is at Snetterton on April 27-28, and Strafford is looking to challenge his rival even more next time on a circuit where he is stronger.

He declared: “Craig and I have unfinished business there. The gloves are off!”

RACING PREVIEW WITH MIKE SMITH

Who will take Queen’s Cup crown?

USSELBURGH’S Queen’s Cup Stakes is still a relatively new addition to the staying handicap division, having been added in 2017 with the intention of being a precursor for horses aimed at major staying prizes such as the York Ebor later in the year.

Valuable prizes on offer at Lingfield, Newcastle and Kempton this week mean that working out who will take their chance here is something of a puzzle – and 29 entries remained at the five-day stage with the maximum field size being 16. But tomorrow’s (Saturday) contest still looks like it will be the most competitive renewal yet with £100,000 on offer.

PIPES OF PEACE holds entries at all four tracks. He’s yet to run over anything further than a mile and a half, but he has done well since joining Seamus Durack towards the end of last year, and would arrive here on a good mark if taking his chance.

Far more likely to run though is the unbeaten four-year-old OUTBOX, the 4/1 favourite with Carrigill’s. Unraced as a two-year-old he looks a pattern horse in the making having showed smart form in just three starts last season, completing a hat-trick in a valuable conditions race at Newbury last October.

Archie Watson won this race last year with BRANDON CASTLE, who can score over the hurdles in the 3.25 at Plumpton on Sunday, and he has the current second favourite this time around in the form of ULSTER who will be one of the main threats

M

here off a mark in the low-90s.

Mark Johnston is a regular at Musselburgh, and with a strike rate of 20 per cent from 251 runners over the past 5 seasons it comes as no surprise that he has five entered at this stage including the tough front running AUSTRIAN SCHOOL who looks like he will need 2m or more to be seen at his best this season.

In typical Johnston fashion AUSTRIAN SCHOOL was a busy boy as a three-year-old last term, making 11 starts, and he generally held his form well, finishing third in a listed contest on his final outing at Ascot last October.

ELEGIAC was equally as busy last season, and arrives here in good form having won a listed race at Nottingham recently. A 6lb penalty for

that makes life tougher, though, and he would need to overturn last year’s Newbury form with OUTBOX. Yorkshire-born trainer William Haggas has a decent record when heading to this corner of Scotland and his POLITICISE is one to watch for the Royal Mile at 2.25.

Over at Haydock, trainer Alan King has two to pick from in the Challenger Staying Chase including SALMANAZAR who has slipped down the weights and could end a threeyear losing streak. In the Staying Chase Series Final at 2.40 the Venetia Williams trained UHLAN BUTE will relish the likely quick ground, beaten by a neck on good ground at Ludlow to subsequent Kim Muir runner-up Kilfilum Cross. Nicky Henderson’s DREAM DU GRAND VAL can build on his progress under top weight in the opener at 2.05.

Monday’s Irish Grand National is the feature of the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse and master trainer Gordon Elliott could keep the weights down for some of his more interesting runners if he runs THE STORYTELLER off a mark of 160.That would leave the door wide open for NOBLE ENDEAVOUR on 10st 12lb despite being rated as high as 148.

CARRIGILL’S NAP (money back as a free bet if finishes outside top 4): THE PADDY PIE, Saturday, Haydock, 2.40.

AUGUR’S BEST BET: NOBLE ENDEAVOUR (e/w), Monday, Fairyhouse, 5.00.

ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

33

RUGBY UNION

Cleck seal survival with final-day masterclass North One East Division

CLECKHEATON RUFC MALTON AND NORTON

49 26

CLECKHEATON preserved their North One East status with a six-try defeat of Malton and Norton at a windswept Moorend on the final day of the season.

With four points between themselves and the final relegation spot, Cleck needed a win to make sure of maintaining their place in the league.

And that was exactly what they got as a top performance, particularly in the second half, carried them home.

Cleckheaton made two changes from the previous week’s defeat at Percy Park, as Ollie Depledge returned after injury, and Brad Marsden resumed at flanker with Mike Swetman and Tom Austin dropping to the bench.

Cleckheaton opened the scoring after just four minutes, as a catch and drive at a lineout was moved some 20 metres and hooker Ben Thrower was on hand to score his

second try of the season. Breakwell added the goal to make it 7-0.

Cleckheaton looked to have doubled the lead but a Malton hand knocked on. However, from the scrum five metres out, Seddon and Bickerdike combined for Matt Piper to cross for his eighth try of the season, and Breakwell added another goal to for a 14-0 lead after just eight minutes.

Malton bounced back with a try of their own, after a tap penalty and some indifferent tackling saw fullback Bell cross under the posts and Inman converted.

Marsden, Carley and Seddon were prominent in securing any loose ball and when Piper and Breakwell put centre Depledge into space he powered across the line for an unconverted try to extend their lead to 19-7.

Breakwell failed to clear to touch when his kick was charged down moments later though, and centre Tom Foan touched down for a converted try.

Breakwell then added two routine penalty goals to steady Cleck nerves, although a swift break out of defence from Freddie Lockwood

HAPPY ENDING: Danny Booth flies in for Cleck’s final try of the year saw number eight Sam Triffit over.

Another penalty for the home side at the end of the half then made it 28-21 at the break, and it looked like it would be a nervous second half as Cleck sought to keep hold of the slender lead. In the end, it proved to be far more comfortable and enjoyable.

They scored two tries in the first 10 minutes following the restart,

PHOTO: Gerald Christian

with the first coming when the impressive Breakwell popped a short pass to skipper Piper who drove over for his second try of the game.

It didn’t take long for the next score, a catch and drive set up with Marsden securing the ball before the backs added a bit of momentum and Breakwell burrowed his way over the try line for his first try

for the club.

The tries kept on coming.

Breakwell floated a cross kick to the right wing, Booth leapt above the defence and gathered the ball on the full before gleefully touching down under the posts for his 16th of the season. The kick was good and Cleck led 49-21 on 67 minutes.

Malton got their bonus point try on 71 minutes as, after the Cleck defence repelled several phases, eventually the ball got to prop Hughes who crossed the line.

Jamie Rounthwaite was sin binned on 74 minutes but Cleck couldn’t take further advantage and the referee blew for time.

Incidentally, that late Malton bonus point ensured that Cleckheaton would finish in 11th rather than 10th place, with their opponents staying ahead of them in the league table.

The season had begun with a 56-5 hammering to the same opponents, reflecting what has been a topsyturvy year for the club.

However, they can go into the summer break relieved after preserving their sixth-tier status for another campaign.

FOOTBALL

Greaves the hat-trick hero Evo-Stik East Division

OSSETT UNITED MARSKE UNITED

4 0

TOM GREAVES struck a hattrick to help Ossett United record an emphatic victory over Marske United and move closer to guaranteeing a play-off place.

The win came four days after their historic West Riding County Cup success, but they showed no signs of a hangover from that triumph as they continued their impressive league form.

United made two changes from that defeat of Guiseley in the final as Marko Basic and Shiraz Khan were promoted to the starting line-up, and manager Andy Welsh praised their impact and the attitude of the whole team.

“Talking to the players at Thursday training, I said our

biggest enemy today would be complacency from Tuesday night,” he said after the game.

“It was really important that we kept turning the screw in the league. We needed to freshen things up and the two of them came in and were absolutely outstanding.

It’s a really positive end to a history-making week for the club.”

Marske displayed their threat early on, with goalkeeper Brett Souter having to make stops to keep out both Craig Gott and Glen Butterworth.

Opposite stopper Robert Dean had a very eventful afternoon, although his first contribution was a good one as he kept out Khan with his legs when the forward had been sent on goal.

However, Dean gifted Ossett the chance to open the scoring when he conceded a

penalty, and despite diving the right way, there was too much power in Greaves’s spot-kick to keep it out.

Just four minutes later it went from bad to worse for the Marske number one, as he spilled a free-kick to present Greaves with a tap in to make it 2-0.

That’s how it stayed until half-time, but more misfortune was to come for the luckless goalie early in the second half.

Dean punched a cross straight to United midfielder Corey Gregory, and he headed in to end any hopes of a second-half comeback.

The visitors did still fashion some opportunities though, with Souter making a good stop to keep out Matty Waters before Adam Wheatley’s header from the resulting corner was blocked on the line.

However, another error

HEAVY WOOLLEN FOOTBALL

Linthwaite top ahead of climax WITH ONLY one game left to play, Linthwaite hit the top of the Heavy Woollen Sunday League Premier Division for the first time this season after they hammered bottom side Cock of the North 14-1.

Linthwaite are equal on points with Mirfield Town but have a superior goal difference after Mirfield could only win 2-1 at Wellington Westgate.

Walkers Hounds are three points behind the top two, but significantly have a game in hand.

In a mid-table battle, Andrew Wojciechowski hit four goals as Clifton Rangers won 5-1 at AFC Chickenley. William Tolley netted the other.

Championship runners-up Birstall Cricket Club suffered a shock 4-3 defeat at Clifton Rangers Athletic.

A brace from Johnny Beverley and a Joe Lyttle strike accounted for Birstall’s goals but Clifton earned the three points through strikes from Chris Rouse, Nathan Wood, Luke Briggs and Jack Hewitt.

Kristian Angus bagged four goals as Overthorpe Sports Club recorded an 8-2 win at Clifton Rangers Reserves.

Elliot Brooke hit a brace for Overthorpe who also scored through Jason Fiels and an Andy Bates penalty.

Finally, Dominic Harris and Niall St Hilaire scored as Wire Works beat Snowdon 2-1.

meant another goal. This time David Hillerby was the culprit, missing a clearance which sent Greaves racing through to complete his treble.

“It was a very professional performance from the lads,” said a modest hat-trick hero.

“We had a job to do and we did it.”

GOOD TIMES: A delighted Tom Greaves celebrates his third goal after beating Marske goalkeeper Robert Dean, who endured a torrid PHOTO: John Hirst afternoon

Sedge hit nine in midweek rout NCEL Premier Division

LIVERSEDGE FC 9 HALL ROAD RANGERS 1 LIVERSEDGE hit top gear with a nine-goal thumping of relegationthreatened Hall Road Rangers on Tuesday night.

Plenty has changed for both clubs since Hall Road won the reverse fixture 4-1 back in September, as Liversedge suffered a long winless run.

It’s been some turnaround for the Clayborners, who have now won eight of their past nine matches in all competitions.

Red Bates started off the rout

after six minutes, and Tom Jackson soon added a second to put them well in control of the game.

Brandon Kane made it three from the penalty spot with just over a quarter of the tie played before Joe Walton made it four on the verge of half-time with his 24th goal of the season.

There was no-let up for the visitors in the second half, as Tariq Richards scored the first two goals of his treble in the space of four minutes.

Rilwan Olaoson then managed to bag his own brace inside just three minutes, with the second coming from the penalty spot to make it 80 with more than 25 minutes

still to play.

Rangers claimed some form of consolation when Kieron Walker netted for them, but the final say still went to Sedge as Richards completed his hat-trick with four minutes left.

Mid-table Liversedge have only two games remaining of the league season, starting with an away trip tomorrow (Saturday, kick-off 3pm) to Barton Town, who they beat 1-0 thanks to Danny Farrar’s goal only 11 days previously.

They then finish the campaign by welcoming Knaresborough to Clayborn the following weekend, before an NCEL League Cup semifinal tie with Swallownest.

Quick goals end great winning run NCEL Premier Division

ECCLESHILL UNITED LIVERSEDGE FC TWO GOALS and a red card in the space of three second-half minutes saw Liversedge slip to a first defeat since February last weekend.

Star striker Joe Walton had given them the lead mid-way through the first half, muscling past his marker

2 1

and heading in a set-piece delivery, but Eccleshill had their chances as well with Khurram Shazad smacking the bar from close range and Chris Lever seeing an effort blocked from even closer.

The home side’s dominance only told when two quick goals after the hour mark turned the game around.

Antony Brown levelled the scores from the penalty spot, after a trip from Adimar Neves which earned him a

straight red card.

Just moments later things got even worse as Sedge’s Aaron Fell attempted a sliding challenge and put the ball into his own net to edge the hosts in front.

With the man disadvantage they were unable to claw their way back into the game, coming closest when Alfie Raw struck an effort which went narrowly wide after beating several players.

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ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE

Late slump keeps Trojans at bottom of the division NCL Premier Division

THORNHILL TROJANS LOCK LANE

22 32

A HAT-TRICK of tries from Lock Lane full-back Tom Sowerby saw Thornhill Trojans suffer a third defeat in a row and remain bottom of the table.

They battled hard throughout and were in the lead until the final 20 minutes, but a late slump saw two much-needed league points slip through their fingers.

The Trojans reshuffled for this game and welcomed back Danny Ratcliffe, with Liam Morley moved to full-back and George Woodcock out on the wing.

These changes looked to have given them a boost and for long periods they gave Lock Lane a run for their money, with Morley particularly looking impressive.

However, he was overshadowed by his opposite number one, who opened the scoring with the first of his treble. A pass just inside Thornhill’s half of the field put Sowerby away on a run, and Nathan Fozzard converted.

But there was no panic at this stage and the Trojans began to take control of the game.

First Danny Ratcliffe took the ball in the middle of the field and, with a deft shrug of the shoulders, he opted to go alone and powered towards the try line.

They maintained the momentum and continued to push towards the Lock Lane line, with Jake Wilson surging forward and twisting over for another try.

Woodcock converted both efforts to put them 12-6 up.

However, the sides went into the break level. A missed tackle allowed Lane to make progress and although Woodcock pulled off a fantastic last-ditch tackle, a quick playthe-ball saw Sowerby plunge over

FEATHERSTONE LIONS 26 DEWSBURY MOOR 6 DEWSBURY MOOR remain pointless at the bottom of the table after Danny Thompson led Featherstone Lions to victory.

The Maroons, who have now lost five out of five following promotion, were not helped by the dismissal of Caden Wilkinson in the first

NCL Division Two

BARROW ISLAND SHAW CROSS SHARKS

46 18

HEAD COACH Mark Barlow felt his Shaw Cross Sharks side had gone “a game too far” after a heavy defeat at Barrow Island.

Playing the last match of a run of five on the road, they only trailed by six points at the break before finding the going much tougher in the second half.

“I think it was probably a game too far.

We’ve played five away games on the bounce against five good teams,” said Barlow.

The Sharks had Andrew Tillotson to thank for a superb defensive effort to prevent Adam Jackson from grounding early on, but Barrow got through a few minutes later when Peter Rimmer benefitted from the unpredictable bounce of the ball on a very uneven surface to open the scoring.

Jackson added the first of seven conversions.

Shaw Cross responded with their best spell of the match, with Luke Hudson held up and a drop out earned before a Barrow knock on gave them another set on the line and Smith charged over, with Barker converting the first of his three.

The visitors were dealt a huge blow when Aiden Chandler, chosen as captain for the afternoon, had to go off with a nasty cut to the head, but they took the lead in the 28th minute when half-back Lumb went on a dazzling run to go over.

They were looking much the better side at that point but two tries in the final seven minutes of the half put them behind at the break. Jake Stockdale ran through for the first of them to level things up, before Ian Irvine slipped the ball to Dan White to go over with two minutes remaining.

Barrow built pressure at the start of the second half and added to their lead when Ben Garner shifted inside and found a big gap to score, before the same man was slipped through for his second minutes later.

Stockdale then ran in for his second on the end of an Irvine break on the hour mark, and just two minutes later Sam Jones sped clear of tired defence to make it 4212.

The Sharks recovered to enjoy a better spell as Hudson and Matthew West were both held up, but it was from a Barrow attack that they scored their only try of the second half as Barker intercepted and raced the length of the field.

The last word went to the hosts though, as Cameron Currie went in at the corner.

Celtic run ended Boys into play-offs NCL Division Three FAMILY AFFAIR: Danny was one of three Ratcliffes to score in Thornhill’s defeat for a try which Fozzard converted.

Early in the second half, Thornhill restored their lead when Jake Ratcliffe made a raid on the try line.

He tried to offload the ball close to the line, and when it appeared to be lost the referee waved back-toone and awarded the try, converted

by Woodcock.

The awarding of this try angered Lock Lane and from this point they seemed to raise their game.

A try from Luke Trigg was welcomed by cheers from the visiting supporters, although the conversion attempt bounced off one of the posts to keep the Trojans narrowly in front.

However, their defence was left

exposed when Lane worked the ball out wide and Craig Savage scrambled over for a try.

An offload in the tackle close to the Thornhill try line then provided enough space for Sowerby to go over and complete his treble at the side of the posts. James Woods this time converted.

The game was finally taken beyond Thornhill when Savage shrugged off would-be tacklers to go over for his try which Woods converted.

Things got worse when Wilson was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle, but the home side still had the final say when a kick forward from Casey Johnson was pounced on by Sam Ratcliffe.

Losing run continues for Moor

NCL Division One

‘Game too far’ for defeated Sharks

TOUGH: Moor’s poor start went on with a defeat to Featherstone Lions half, while Brad Adams also saw red in a tempestuous tie.

The deadlock was broken on 18 minutes by the Lions with a Ben Mawson try as Ian Jackson landed the conversion.

The home side then had Joe Fox, along with Moor’s Joe Bowness, sin-binned for fighting, with Wilkinson sent off for punching.

Despite the disadvantage, a Luke Adamson try and

Aiden Ineson goal saw Moor level going into the break.

However, they found the going tough in the second period as tries from Gavin Williamson, Gaz Gale, Jack Ellam and Scott Glassell, plus two Jackson conversions, saw the Lions comfortably home.

Moor ended the game with 11 men with Adams sent off with 10 minutes to go for punching.

NCL Division Three

DEWSBURY CELTIC OLDHAM ST ANNES

34 6

DEWSBURY CELTIC’S four-match winning run was brought to an end as Oldham St Annes comfortably came away with the two points.

John Deakin took the man of the match for Saints and opened his side’s account with a sixth-minute try, which was converted by Luke Skilling.

Skilling added a penalty midway through the half and was then on target to convert a Callum Fletcher try nine minutes from the break.

Five minutes into the second half Skilling extended the lead to 16-0 with another penalty.

A Billy Yarrow try and Charlie Heaton conversion got Celtic back in the game, but Oldham pushed on and scored three further tries to seal victory.

Matt Whitehead went in for a brace, with another from Kendal Davies two minutes from time, and Skilling improved all three.

BATLEY BOYS MILLOM

26 16

BATLEY BOYS go into Easter in the play-off places after extending their unbeaten run to five with a home win over Millom.

The first half was settled purely by penalties.

Ross Brookes landed two for Millom and in between Adam Bingham also stepped up for a penalty double as the sides went into the break level.

Millom took a 14-4 lead with two tries in seven minutes as Hanley Dawson and Noah Roberts went in, and Brookes landed one conversion.

A Matt Shields try and Bingham conversion then brought the Boys back to within two points.

The visitors continued their momentum with two Owen West tries in as many minutes and Bingham added one conversion for a 20-16 lead. Josh O’Sullivan then scored a Boys try, goaled by Bingham, which sealed the win.

Six local players Landmark exchange make Yorkshire squad for Origin THERE WILL be strong representation from the Heavy Woollen district in this weekend’s England Lions Youth Origin competition.

Six players from teams in the area are in the Yorkshire squad, which will take on Cumbria and Lancashire in a round-robin event.

Dewsbury Moor’s Jonathan Diskin and George Hirst have made the squad, while Shaw Cross Sharks also have a pair in Callum Burden and Eoin Bowie.

Charlie Heaton of Dewsbury Celtic and Thornhill Trojans’ Brad Llewellyn are also in the 20-man squad.

The tournament will begin at 12noon tomorrow (Saturday) at Leigh Miners Rangers, and can be watched live on the England Lions RL Facebook page.

Players from this competition will then be picked to form the England Under-19s Community Lions squad for the Home Nations series later this year.

Send your news and photos to: sport@thepressnews.co.uk

Tel: 01924 470296

SHAW CROSS SHARKS are celebrating their 50th French exchange this week.

The ground-breaking tours began in 1970 when Shaw Cross arranged to send a team to Villeneuve-sur-Lot, which is considered to be the birthplace of French rugby league.

This has continued every year since, with Shaw Cross and Villeneuve sending sides across on alternating years, and it is estimated that around 2,000 young players have now taken part in total.

Under-14 and under-16 French tourists are currently in Dewsbury, and played matches against Batley Boys Under-14s and North Leeds Leopards Under16s respectively yesterday.

They meet Shaw Cross sides in two matches on Easter Sunday from 3.30pm.

The first tour was arranged by the late Alan Lancaster, the Shaw Cross chairman, and secretary Douglas Hird.

Hird, now 88, explained how the exchange came about.

“In 1970, we decided we’d like to play the French at rugby league,” he said.

“Alan and I were both connected with the Boys Club Association and it was brought up at their meetings and Alan and I were

given the task of making some contact with the French Rugby League to see if this was possible, which we did.

“We took the first team over there in 1970, which was only one team of under-17s.

“We went by train to London, across on the ferry, and then on the train from Paris right down to Villeneuve in the south west of France, and the exchange was started.

“We played two or three matches, stayed a week with them, we all stayed with French families, and that was the inauguration of the exchange.

“The following year they came back and we did the same at this end, and instead of one team we decided to take two teams, and also instead of going on the train we filled a bus up. The journey was a bit longer by bus than by train, but it was an interesting journey. Everybody bonded on the bus.

“We now go by plane – it takes an hour and a half to get to France these days. It used to take a day and a half!

“It’s incredible that it’s lasted so long and so many people have really enjoyed it, and we found that everyone was keen to go back again. We’ve made many friends.”

ThePress

Friday April 19, 2019

35

RUGBY LEAGUE

Dewsbury avoid amateur upset Coral Challenge Cup

THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS 10

DEWSBURY RAMS

36

at Crusader Park DEWSBURY RAMS secured their place in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup, overcoming a valiant performance from Thatto Heath Crusaders.

The last remaining amateur side in the competition had beaten semi-professional opposition in North Wales Crusaders in the previous round, and proved themselves tough opposition for the Rams as well.

After going into the break level at 1010, the Championship outfit displayed enough of their class in the second period to progress without ever hitting top gear.

Thatto really impressed in the first half but it looked in the opening minutes as though the nerves would get to them, dropping the ball with their first two touches from the kick-off. They were punished on the second occasion as, after Robbie Ward was held up next to the post, Andy Gabriel sped through a gap to open Dewsbury’s account.

More pressure was to follow before the home side began to find their feet.

Jamie Tracey fired the first warning of their threat but was unable to make the pass following a break, but the loose forward was more accurate with a grubber kick which Matty Norton managed to pick up and touch down.

Thatto’s forwards were growing in confidence but the Rams responded with another good spell of their own, and after a strong break down the left from Adam Ryder, the play was switched and Gabriel found Rob Worrincy to muscle into the corner.

Finn added the first of his four goals.

They weren’t having things all their

MATCH STATS DONCASTER: Kieran Buchanan Sam Doherty Jason Tali Menzie Yere Matty Chrimes Kyle Kesik Jordie Hughes Ryan Boyle Callum Ogden Russ Spears Connor Bower Charlie Patterson-Lund Brad Foster Subs: Connor Scott Stefanos Bastas Elliot Townsend Kieron Lawton Tries: Bower (37), Yere (58), Doherty (65).

Goals: Edges 2/3.

7 7 7 7 6 8 7 8 6 7 7 6 6 7 6 6 -

BATLEY BULLDOGS: Dave Scott 6 Wayne Reittie 6 Sam Smeaton 5 Paul Brearley 5 Johnny Campbell 6 Louis Jouffret 5 Danny Yates 6 Adam Gledhill 6 Alistair Leak 6 Tom Lillycrop 6 Jack Downs 6 Alex Bretherton 5 Dane Manning 5 Subs: Toby Everett 6 Lewis Galbraith 6 Joe Taira 5 Michael Ward 7 Tries: Ward (48), Campbell (53).

Goals: Scott 2/2.

Referee: B Pearson Half-time: 6-0 Penalties: 9-9 Man of the match: Kyle Kesik (Doncaster) Attendance: 539

own way though and it took only three minutes for the Crusaders to respond again. Gabriel came up with an error as his foot strayed into touch in the process of claiming Bobbie Goulding’s teasing kick, and with that gifted possession Mike Stark pushed his way through and Goulding added the extras to draw back level.

It was the Rams who remained under pressure but after surviving numerous repeat sets to see out the half, it took only 65 seconds of the second period for them to regain the lead. Niall Allen failed to catch Knowles’s kick with Worrincy sniffing down his neck, and Lucas Walshaw was in the right place to benefit and score.

They remained on the front foot and established a two-score lead for the first time when debutant Harvey Whiteley found Samy Kibula from dummy half to go through from close range.

Thatto Heath were still very much in the tie as the hour mark passed and at one point enjoyed three consecutive sets attacking the Dewsbury line, but they couldn’t find a way over and the contest was effectively settled with the next try when Liam Mackay’s welltimed offload sent Ryder sprinting away and into the left corner.

Dewsbury looked to press home the advantage of their extra fitness in the closing stages. Tom Garratt was held up by a mass of defenders as he sought

a try but it was second time lucky on their next attack as, following Cameron Leeming’s initial break down the left, Finn and Knowles combined to send the prop in.

However, the game was to be concluded on a less positive note as a clash of heads between Leeming and Thatto fullback Ben Heyes left both in trouble. It took 15 minutes for the pair to both be stretchered off the field and a further 12 before play restarted for the final six minutes.

The life had gone from the contest by that point but Dewsbury were still able to extend their lead on the final hooter, with Ward breaking from inside his own half and running in to finish.

Ryder relief to get through DEWSBURY RAMS centre Adam Ryder admits the side faced a tough challenge against Thatto Heath in the Challenge Cup. The Rams came out on top 36-10, but it was level at 10-10 before the Championship side were able to pull away from their amateur opponents in the second half.

Thatto put in a determined effort in front of the BBC cameras, and Ryder was relieved to see Dewsbury make it through.

“It was a tough first half and to go in at 10-all, they were enthusiastic and we knew we needed to pick it up a little bit which we did second half,” he said.

“The scoreline shows it was harder than what it says, Thatto Heath gave us a tough game. They didn’t give up, even after the stoppage (for the injuries to Ben Heyes and Cameron

CONFIDENCE: Adam Ryder is happy ahead of the Batley clash

Leeming) they kept coming at us.

“A couple of mistakes on their part probably made it a bit easier in the second half, the message was run hard and complete our sets and go step for step, and our fitness should be more than theirs.

“We haven’t thrown it about that much this season so I think that was also the message from Lee (Greenwood), to see what we can do with the ball in hand. Instead of going up the middle and attacking on the edges.

“We have got a tough few weeks coming up with Batley on Friday, and Leigh on Monday, and this builds our confidence going into their games.

“It was very important to get a result and fair play to Thatto Heath.

They didn’t just roll over, they didn’t just want to be a part of it they wanted to give us a game.

“They have a nice clubhouse and pitch and have a good atmosphere here, we have enjoyed it.”

MATCH STATS THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS: Ben Heyes 8 Adam Saunders 8 Corey Lee 7 Matty Norton 7 Niall Allen 6 Josh Crahan 6 Bobbie Goulding 7 Andy Lee 7 Lewis Foster 6 Mike Stark 7 Adam Prendergast 6 Connor Dwyer 7 Jamie Tracey 7 Subs: Connor Dutton 6 Adam Heskey 6 Max Dudley 6 Brad Ashurst 7 Tries: Norton (17), Stark (27).

Goals: Goulding 1/2.

DEWSBURY RAMS: Andy Gabriel 8 Rob Worrincy 7 Lucas Walshaw 7 Adam Ryder 8 Cameron Leeming 7 Michael Knowles 8 Liam Finn 7 Jode Sheriffe 6 Robbie Ward 7 Jordan Andrade 6 Danny King 6 Samy Kibula 7 Tom Garratt 7 Subs: Harvey Whiteley 7 Liam Mackay 6 Callum Field 7 Toby Richardson 7 Tries: Gabriel (3), Worrincy (23), Walshaw (42), Kibula (53), Ryder (66), Garratt (71), Ward (80).

Goals: Finn 4/7.

Referee: C Worsley Half-time: 10-10 Penalties: 6-4 Man of the match: Andy Gabriel (Dewsbury) Attendance: 1,000 (est)

Bulldogs left with tail between their legs Coral Challenge Cup

DONCASTER 16 BATLEY BULLDOGS 12 Stephen Ibbetson at Keepmoat Stadium BATLEY BULLDOGS were on the wrong end of one of the surprise results of the fifth round as they were dumped out of the Challenge Cup at League One side Doncaster.

Both sides played below their best but while the Dons managed to do enough despite the absence of a number of key players through injury, Batley produced a terrible performance with ball in hand just seven days after defeating fulltime outfit Widnes Vikings in the Championship.

Connor Bower scored the only try of the opening period three minutes before the break and despite a Batley revival early in the second half, Menzie Yere and Sam Doherty touched down while Joe Taira was in the sin bin to wrap up the victory.

The first half was played at a very low tempo, although it was the hosts who had the best of the few early scoring chances. After Dane Manning was penalised for some afters on Kyle Kesik on the floor, Kesik sent a grubber to the right and Bower could have taken the ball on the line, but

he failed to claim it.

Doherty then had a chance to squeeze into the right corner a few minutes later, but the Batley defence managed to take him into touch before he could dot the ball down.

The game had almost reached the half-hour mark before the Bulldogs came even remotely close to going over.

After Danny Yates had to be withdrawn through injury, his replacement Lewis Galbraith came very close to scoring when he was squeezed out of play in the corner.

Instead it was Doncaster who took a lead into the break with a try three minutes before time. Jordie Hedges sent a kick into the air and Bower made up for his error at the start of the half by claiming the ball this time around to touch down. Hedges added the conversion and the League One side led 6-0.

The second half started at no greater tempo than the first, but the Bulldogs had received sufficient inspiration at halftime to improve their clinical edge and scored twice in the space of five minutes to turn the game around.

The first came after a Doncaster kick in behind bounced kindly for Wayne Reittie and he made good ground, before the ball was moved inside and Taira slipped

CRUCIAL: Doncaster winger Sam Doherty evades Lewis Galbraith to score the match-winning try Michael Ward under the posts.

A knock on by the hosts was then punished for Batley’s second, with makeshift full-back Johnny Campbell dropping the ball to Reittie to barge over.

Original full-back Dave Scott – now playing in the halves in the absence of Yates – added both goals to make it 12-6.

However, they made things more difficult for themselves when Taira was sent to the sin

bin for a high tackle on Kesik.

They were punished immediately as Yere, making his first appearance for the club after joining on loan from Sheffield Eagles, forced his way over on the left, although Hedges couldn’t convert so they remained two points behind.

And they were again made to pay for a high tackle when Galbraith was penalised, with Doncaster attacking to the

PHOTO: Simon Hall

right as Jason Tali gave the ball to Doherty to dive into the corner. Hedges this time managed to convert from the touchline to give them a four-point lead with 15 minutes to go.

Batley were given plenty of ball as the clock ticked down but it kept slipping from their hands time and again, and Doncaster were hardly threatened in the final minutes as they held on for the win.

Rams to face Halifax for quarter-final spot

WE ARE STAYING UP: Ben Thrower touches down for a try as Cleckheaton RUFC ensured survival in the North One East division with a final-day win over Malton and Norton at Moorend PHOTO: Gerald Christian REPORT: P33

Diskin blasts Batley after shock Cup exit

By Stephen Ibbetson Sports Reporter sport@thepressnews.co.uk

BATLEY coach Matt Diskin said that his side “should be ashamed” of their performance after they were dumped out of the Challenge Cup last weekend.

They face a crucial Easter period with tonight’s Good Friday derby clash with Dewsbury Rams followed by a home tie against fellow strugglers Swinton Lions on Easter Monday.

However, they go into that run with confidence at a low point after the loss to League One Doncaster in the cup, which came just a week after their magnificent triumph over Widnes Vikings in the

Championship.

“We should be ashamed of what we’ve dished up there. As a group we’re really disappointed with that, that’s a poor showing from us,” said the Bulldogs boss after the defeat.

“We’ll have to go away and assess but we prepared really well. I think there’s a level of arrogance in our changing room that’s underestimated a League One club but Doncaster have some fantastic pedigree.

“When you give a team of any quality the amount of ball that we handed over to them and have the lack of respect for the ball that we did, you don’t deserve to win a game of rugby.

“We weren’t direct with the ball and there was a lot of dropped ball when we hit the line. It was just a really poor showing with the ball in hand.”

They had threatened a comeback when they recovered from a 6-0 halftime deficit to lead 12-6, but were unable to continue that through the second half.

“We talked all week about playing at a high intensity that Doncaster aren’t used to playing in the division below,” Diskin added.

“We didn’t really demonstrate that other than the first 10-15 minutes of the second half. We played quick, pushed through the line, got some good play-the-balls and got a couple of nice tries.

“Then after that we just lost our way again, and that might be that arrogance from our point of view as well, that we’re not willing to stay with the plan long enough whereas if you look at last week (against Widnes) we did it from minute one to minute 80.”

DEWSBURY RAMS will take on fellow Championship side Halifax for a place in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals after the sixth round draw took place this week.

The two sides will play at the Tetley’s Stadium on Friday, May 10, with an 8pm kick-off.

It will be the second time that the Rams have faced Halifax this season, after suffering a disappointing 26-0 defeat in a mudbath at The Shay in March’s league clash.

Dewsbury will aim to make the last eight of the Challenge Cup for the first time since 2000, and chairman Mark Sawyer says that a run in the competition would be a big lift for the fans.

He said: “We’ve had a couple of fortunate draws, but Halifax is going to be a tough one. Either of us could get through to the last eight, which is fair going for the non-Super League clubs. “(We’ve got) home advantage, so we’ve got to go into that and put a stamp in that defeat at Halifax in the league earlier in the season.

“It’s a lift for the fans and it’s good for the club.”

They made the sixth round after defeating amateur opposition for the second time running, following up the home win over West Hull with a hard-fought win at Thatto Heath Crusaders last weekend.

Coach Lee Greenwood was happy to come away with the victory in what proved a tough challenge, pulling away in the second half after the sides went into the break level on the scoreboard.

“I think we did well in the second half. It was never going to be easy coming here, Thatto are a good team,” he said.

“We needed to work hard to make it comfortable in the end. I would have liked us to bring that in the first half to make it a game where for 60-65 minutes we could just enjoy ourselves, but fair play to Thatto.

“We scored early from one or two of their mistakes, they deservedly went in level at half-time, we needed to ramp it up in the second half

and I thought we did that and came away with the win.

“We probably weren’t direct enough in the first half, and tried to play too much, where as in the second half we were more direct and played a little bit too quick for Thatto in the middle. We scored a few early tires in the second half and then took the game away from them.”

The Rams boss also commented on the occasion as a whole, crediting Thatto as well as his players for dealing with the challenges that were put in their way.

“We worked with Thatto Heath to get the game on here and it’s been

HAPPY: Getting the win at Thatto Heath was all that mattered for Rams head coach Lee Greenwood a good day for the club with a big crowd watching and we have got through so everyone is happy,” he said.

“When you come to an amateur ground some people aren’t used to it. There aren’t any stands, there are small changing rooms, and you walk up little bankings with a load of kids giving you a load of lip so it’s all a bit different.

“We weren’t quite at it 100 per cent, we had a word with them at half time and they stepped it up a gear. In a way winning was all that mattered and getting through to the next round.”

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