Rugby league: Veterans mark Remembrance Weekend with game at Mayfield

The weekend of Remembrance Sunday was marked at Rochdale Mayfield with a veterans masters rugby league game.

Rochdale masters co-ordinator and veteran Carl Abraham brought the event to Mayfield to show support for both the masters’ game and the armed forces veterans.

After the success of the day, Carl aims to make it an annual fixture and hopes the whole of Rochdale will join in and pay their respects to those who served.

Rochdale was well represented with Carl himself taking to the pitch along with Komai Nualamatua, Dave Chrimes, Steve Lett and Ian Sampson.

All five of the Rochdale lads played an important part in the game even Carl who threw in a Joe Montana impression with possibly the world’s most forward pass. As always with the masters game, the match ended in an amicable draw with both sides claiming a moral victory.

 

 

Carl said: “As soon as I heard about the veterans masters, I wanted to get involved and bring the game to the home of Rochdale masters rugby league, the Mayfield Sports Centre.

“Mayfield have been great to us providing us with everything we needed to get the game on. We had a decent crowd attend in good conditions for what was a very entertaining game of rugby and a great opportunity for the veterans to catch up with each other.

“A massive ‘thank you’ goes to Revilo Automotive and Alexander Khan PLC for their support in supplying the two kits. The shirts are available to order via www.stag-sports.com with a percentage of the sale price going to a military charity.”

Mayfield chairman Neil Ramsden said: “The masters phenomenon is a revolution in Rochdale rugby league. This is not a Mayfield side but a true Rochdale side with many of the old Rochdale sides represented.

“What a brilliant way to keep fit, but it's more than just that with the social aspect being just as important to these lads as the on-field heroics.

“We at Mayfield are more than happy to provide our facilities and whatever assistance Carl needs as he pushes toward a bigger and better 2022 season.”

The next Rochdale Masters training session at Mayfield Sports Centre is on Saturday 18 December from 11am until 12noon.

Everyone is welcome to join in regardless of ability. The club will be open from 12 for post-training debrief, anyone who fancies a pint is more than welcome.