Its been very quiet on here for the last few weeks.
How do ppl think the league is turning out.
Any shocks at what teams are doing well or not so well.
Another hard set of games this weekens hopefully no more 24-0

Enjoying it so far, good to see the overwhelmingly majority of games have been played and, as you say, hopefully last week's 24-0 results won't become too common.

Culcheth obviously look the team to beat - not see Little Hulton yet and Woolston were a good young side.

Most games have been competitive and its shaping up well.

Enjoying it here also! Very topsy-turvy, one week we've got 40+ lads and are fielding 2 sides, the next week we're struggling for 17. All down to work, injuries and holidays.

Culcheth topping the table, but I've personally felt other sides were stronger. Certainly a competitive division, I think Ashton's loss at Little Hulton is the only blow-out score so far? We let ourselves down badly with 2 very poor performances (I didn't play in either

), but turned it around well with a good win at Crosfields last week.

Gutted about the weekend - we had a cracking double-header lined up: Broncos A vs Hindley B followed by Broncos 1sts vs Hindley A. Hindley B pulled out on Thursday and we couldn't find a replacement, and then our pitch was waterlogged (literally had ducks on it when I went to check!) and Hindley's were also underwater so we couldn't switch. Managed to get about 20 lads down for a run out and took it out on each other instead.



Our division seems pretty good for fixture completion, but the summer leagues were always going to take take to settle in.

And as soon as I say that Ashton A have conceded, can't raise a side.



Think we're looking for another opponent but it's getting a bit late...

Ashton A have been playing summer/winter rugby now for over 2 years so its perhaps not surprising the lads are tired & probably a bit bored with the constant train/play scenario. This weekend there's 16 lads not available leaving 10 confirmed, so not much choice really. Seems to be a similar story around other clubs as well. Due to a freak run of injuries in the 1st team, 5 key players have been in that team since October and although replacing them has been a challenge, we're getting there. Numbers are actually very healthy just coincidental everything's seemed to fall on one weekend. We wont be playing next week either because we've got a massive club fund raising day and the flexibility in rearranging fixtures hasn't been as forthcoming as we were led to believe & thought we'd agreed before the season started. We'll be more than ready for 14th, we've got Fitton Hill I think.
As a club we took the view that this 1st summer season would be a real mess through the leagues and so its proving to be but it'll hopefully settle down next year. For us we'll have a very good group of 18's moving up with another good set following on from them. Add to that we've just got a massive grant for renovation work on the clubhouse & changing rooms and another one hopefully not far away for pitch remediation, floodlight pitch and training area, we're not too despondent about missing a few A team fixtures this early in the piece.

Not having a go mate, completely understand and it was good of you to let us know early - at the end of the day we're all amateurs and injuries, work, holidays, etc can't be helped and all take priority.

We were in a similar place last summer - a few years non-stop winter & summer had taken its toll and we were more than ready for a rest, having the winter off was a god-send!

Looks like we've a game up at Burnley & Pendle now, but from having 40-odd lads available last week we're down to probably 18. Half of our pack seem to work one-on, one-off Saturdays in sync with each other, and it doesn't help that several are going to the Stone Roses gig at Heaton Park!!

Looks like alot of teams in the summer league are having the same problems. Always 10 times harder for a 2nd team to put the same side out everyweek, but i think even most 1st team are having the same probs and this is why some 2nds team are struggling.
Was always going to be hard in the first summer season, also heard a few summer teams are pulling out and going to winter not sure if its true or who the teams are.
We have been lucky this season at LH we have had good numbers well apart from the culcheth game at the start of the season, we have had a srtong team week in and week out but the last 2 weeks have been hard for us, lost 4 players out to the Hindley game with bad injuries, we had a mix team last week against ashton but a massive game and test for us tomorrow at woolston. Cant wait

Cronus: Didn't take it as having a go mate, I know its frustrating when teams concede so wanted to give you and everyone the full picture.

Should be a decent game up at Pendle, we always enjoyed going up there in the old summer league. Brian Foleys been doing a great job up there and really had his lads well drilled last season, good set of lads to if he's kept them together.

LHreds: We were gutted we couldn't bring a stronger team to you last week because your another team we've always had good games with. We played you in our very 1st ever summer game a couple of years ago and the lads always remember that.

There's a few summer teams struggling and some big names too. Golborne have sadly gone back to winter and there's rumours theres another premier league team giving it strong consideration.

FWIW I think Woolston will win this league again, good team. But keep an eye on Portico, now their new signings have settled they'll be difficult to beat.

Well our A team travelled up to Burnley & Pendle for a hastily arranged fixture and won 26-22 (I think). With the late change we ended up with a healthy mix of 1sts and A players. I've got an ear infection so didn't play and spent the day shopping & in the garden. Yay.

Seems we were never in real risk of losing and went ahead about 26-10 before letting B & P back in at the death with a few late tries. Apparently the ref told our club sec he stopped penalising them after about an hour to make it more interesting!!

Always good to get a win.

So how's everyone looking for tomorrow with the great British summer piddling down?

Our game vs Wigan Bulldogs has apparently been switched to Wigan. Anyone know how pitches are bearing up over that way?

Crosfields 'A' v Culcheth Eagles due to be played tonight will be off, Waterlogged Pitches

Wigan Bulldogs 14 - 22 Bury Broncos
(game switched to Wigan)

First time we've beaten the Bulldogs since we both played our first league games in 2008. Went with a decent squad and were probably the better team throughout. Some stupid decisions nearly cost us very dearly - players flying out the line, trying to go wide & getting put into touch, forcing the pass - but we held on. Our defence was awesome at times and we were never behind on the scoreboard, just need to be more intelligent with the ball in hand.

As always, a close game against the Bulldogs, played in good spirit. Their 9 and 7 were dangerous off the scoot.

Quiet on here again!

Anyway, Woolston 42-24 Bury.

Actually pretty pleased with this result. Travelled with only 4 recognised forwards and 24 lads missing (about 10 missing from the 1st team) and gave a decent account of ourselves against a much, much bigger Woolston squad containing half the team that beat Irlam in the cup final a few months ago. And I was ill & shouldn't have played



A terrible first 5 mins saw us concede 2 quick tries but we picked our game up and I think we were only 6 behind at half time, my guess would be about 20-14 or something. Woolston kept rolling their big lads on and our undersized pack struggled, we conceded a few soft tries to kill ourselves off. After a bit of niggle they started throwing arms, fists & elbows but we didn't rise to it. The ref & touch judges were about 15, ref did his best but was intimidated a lot by the home team & crowd.

All in all, a decent game, enjoyed it, our lads did themselves proud.

I thought it was a good game yesterday at Woolston. There was always a danger of it becoming a bit of a runaway after those 2 tries before Bury had touched the ball but those 2 gifted tries brought Bury back into it and from there it was a great game. Late tries made it look like it was easy for Woolston but it wasn't.

Good luck for the rest of the season Cronus!

Time of the week. Who you think will win



Bury Broncos vs. Portico Vine
Crosfields vs. Hindley A
Culcheth Eagles vs. Ashton Bears A
Little Hulton Reds vs. Bolton Mets
Wigan Bulldogs vs. Fitton Hill
Woolston Rovers A vs. Chester Gladiators

I think all the home teams will win apart from Bury. Nothing against Bury i just think Portico are the team to beat at the min

NEW PLAYERS WANTED

Leyland Warriors are looking to recruit more players at Open Age level. As some of our results show from earlier this season, we have some quality lads on board but just need more numbers.

Long story short, due to a combination of several players travelling on gap years, emigrating, working weekends, long term injuries and so on, we are struggling for numbers. Very frustrating, especially given as all of our junior teams are flourishing in the change of season.

If you are without a club, or looking for a change of scenery, PM me for more details.

You're not on your own pal! Our juniors are going great but open age is a blooming nightmare! We have a long list of names but trying to get the bodies is another matter!

Our downfall is two things really. Firstly a young team, several of whom are backpacking their way round Aus and a few more spending the whole summer in Napa! Second, no U18s team come through for 2 years. Fast forward 18 months and we'll be fine!

Finally had some players back, others were on their Saturday off work and put in a great performance.

Little Hulton 18 - 27 Bury Broncos

Blew them away in the first half, 20-0 at half time, probably our best performance in a few years. We said at half time we'd need to stay switched because the ref would try and bring them back into it and that's what happened. Their first try was in touch and he piggybacked them down the field several times on loads of petty penalties, inevitably leading to a couple more tries, but credit to our lads we held on and put in a great shift.

Finished with no fit subs and a few running on injuries, proud of the lads today and good to get back to winning ways.

Bury 68 - 18 Bolton



Belting performance! And with 4 first-choice forwards and a few first-choice backs missing. Played a perfect game against a bigger Bolton pack - moved the ball about and hit good lines through the gaps. Credit where it's due, Bolton have been struggling for numbers but they turned up and kept going (mind you, they always get numbers for the big derby

), but we were never in danger of losing. Some great running from a few lads today. Our biggest ever win and margin.

Can't say much more than that! Now to celebrate!

holding 2nd spot in league but whats happened last two weeks?

Culcheth have got first sorted, I'm guessing Portico will push on to take 2nd unless they've any lads who go back to winter clubs or Woolston come good again?

After that, going to be a battle. Lots of clubs in the mix. 2 points separating 5 clubs from 4th to 9th!

Thats a lot of (24 players) players missing mate, was it because of injuries?

we've a lot of lads who've shown an interest in playing from week in week out players to guys who are coaching our juniors to Union lads who want a go to a few lads from winter RL teams who want a game to lads who've played for us in the past and only want the odd run out (such as if their Mrs is away!)...it creates a long list (must be 60ish on the full list!).

what we have found is that every second week we have the same group of regulars who are unavailable because their shift patterns are in sync. Combine that with some regulars being on holiday, some are injured and also the club enforcing rules on being paid up (no pay, no play) and it means we can have lots unavailable. we also tend to only use the occasionals for the 2nd team as it's not fair on those who train if we bring people in when suddenly short.

so, any given week 20 - 30 can be unavailable...and if they happen to be regulars as opposed to the occasionals it causes an issue. for Woolston away we had to pull in people who'd only played the odd game and a player from our last winter season who had retired to become a referee. this weekend will be other way i suspect, 30+ available and pressure from players to get an A Team game arranged!

Part of the 'hard sell' for summer rugby was that fixtures could be rearranged and played mid-week so freeing up the weekend. Well that's another great idea they had that doesn't work! Out of seven attempts I have only had one taker - and that was for us to travel away. Much easier to refuse and claim an easy 2 pts.

Bury 54-22 Wigan Bulldogs

Another superb result, after having never beaten Wigan since we both first entered NWC in 2008, we've finally done the double over them. Went 18-6 up, Wigan pulled it back to 18-18, then we drew clear with a bit of a blitz in the second half, including a few length of the field efforts. After being a close game we won comfortably in the end. Good game played in good spirit. Wigan have clearly lost players from last season, but they kept going.

122 points in 2 games now, granted we've faced weakened teams but you've still got to score 'em!

In other results - Portico 100-12 Bolton, and Hindley & Woolston both conceded.