Swashbuckling back rower Liam O’Leary has been named as the winner of the John Crawshaw Butchers Man of Steel award for November after a string of impressive performances during the Month. His ability to carry the ball, gain valuable metres after contact, plus a great work rate in defence has seen O’Leary edge out evergreen forward Ricky ‘rooney’ James & veteran playmaker Ricky Christopherson for the trophy. With no game at the weekend, the walking wounded at Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby have been using the time to help their rehab from injury. Young flyer Tom Kerr looks to have shaken his recent hamstring pull off & is set to be available, whilst Club Captain, that man Adam Frith is a doubt for next weekend s fixture against the students of Leeds Medics & Dentists as he struggles with a soft tissue injury on his ankle joint. More serious news for the Club is the knee injury suffered by talismanic back rower Pete Newton, which will now require surgery to repair a damaged ACL & a premature end to a promising season for the unfortunate flanker. This week’s Round 9 clash at Coal Pit Lane will kick off at 2.15pm on Saturday, & the free scoring students are fresh from a 116points hammering of basement club Knaresborough at the weekend. Stocksbridge will then visit the East Coast to face Hessle RUFC under the Humber Bridge, before returning home to face old foes Thornensians in Round 11 on 16th December, designated as the Christmas Jumper fixture, with a prize for the best festive jumper on view. Off the field the Clubhouse has announced all day opening for Members on Christmas Day, so come along & celebrate.
Swritten by Andrew Tyers.
