Sport In Profile UK Issue 08 | Page 37

old rIshworthians rufc Sidhil is proud to sponsor... Old Rishworthians RUFC ...making it better Sidhil is a major manufacturer of hospital beds based in Halifax, West Yorkshire Promoted to Yorkshire 4 for 2008-09, the 1st XV lost just one game and by Christmas were sitting on top of Yorkshire 4. Only two more defeats in the second half of the season was enough to secure back to back promotions as Yorkshire 4 Champions. The 2009-10 season and promotion to Yorkshire 3 would be a challenge for the squad but again at the half way mark they were in second spot having only lost one game to league leaders Roundhegians. They went on to finish runners up to Roundhegians losing just two more games. The team also had a good cup run to beat Leeds Corinthians in the final to lift the Yorkshire Silver Trophy for the second time in the club’s history. Three back to back promotions and Rishworthians had reached their highest ever league position and were facing a very tough season in Yorkshire 2. Promoted clubs tend to struggle in their first season of Yorkshire 2 and finish relegated back into Yorkshire 3 and it proved to be too big a jump for us. Both Roundhegians and ourselves were relegated back to Yorkshire 3. This was due to several factors, injuries to key players, we struggled in the forwards, the 2nd XV players were not ready for Yorkshire 2 rugby plus Jamie Bloem stood down in November as coach to become a ruby league referee. It was a big blow but we must thank Jamie for 3 successive promotions. Damian Ball ex Hailifax RLFC player took over as Head Coach and in his first season the team finish 7th in Yorkshire 3. In his second season he guided the team to promotion as Champions of Yorkshire 3. In 2012-13 we returned to Yorkshire 2 better prepared with stronger forwards, strength in depth from the 2nd XV and a squad knowing what to expect. We finished the season in tenth position but more work was required to push for a top half finish in Yorkshire 2. Damian Ball gave us 3 seasons of steady progress and consolidation as a Yorkshire 2 club. He stood down at the end of this season and we thank him for having given us Yorkshir H