Origin Rugby League at Spotland Stadium

Action from a Township Origin fixture

Spotland Stadium hosted Origin Rugby League on Sunday prior to Rochdale Hornets League One game against Doncaster.

Players from Pennine, Heywood and Middleton Townships played across two age groups following weeks of training sessions lead by volunteers and foundation coaches.

The teams were joined by Councillor Janet Elmsley, (Pennine – Littleborough Lakeside), Councillor John Blundell (Pennine – Smallbridge and Firgrove) and Councillor Peter Rush (North Heywood) who were representing the councillors who have supported the Township Origin program since the idea was first muted.

In addition the matches were also officiated by referees from the Hopwood Hall rugby academy who are working on their referee qualifications.

In the secondary school match between Pennine and Middleton it was Pennine who ran out eventual 32-16 winners.

In a game that was battered by heavy rainfall and swirling winds both sides had enough to show their class and put on a great show for the healthy crowd.

It was a topsy-turvey game in which Middleton caused problems for the Pennine team which were made up of players from the Milnrow, Newhey, Wardle and Littleborough areas.

Pennine won with a 16 point margin.

In the primary game it was Middleton who took the spoils as they defeated a Heywood side, coached by Ben Bird, by 20-8.

Ben has made the Heywood side his own and has organised regular training sessions at Heywood Sports Village.

Hornets head coach, Alan Kilshaw thinks that the series on the whole was successful. He said: “We are pleased with how successful the program has been in the more untraditional rugby league townships such as Heywood and Middleton but we will continue to work with the clubs in Rochdale and Pennine to make sure it can become as successful as possible.”

The Origin series will continue in October.

Kilshaw added, “I would just like to place on record my thanks to Ben Bird who has been fantastic for us in Heywood and has coached sessions on a voluntary basis.”