Rochdale Hornets Sporting Foundation out and about in local schools

Rochdale Hornets Sporting Foundation with Limehurst Lions u7s

Rochdale Hornets signed off their season at the Crown Oil Arena with a hard-fought victory over Dewsbury Rams, but for the Hornets Foundation, the most important part of the year is beginning.

The Foundation has been back in schools all over Rochdale and Heywood, spreading rugby league to children across the borough by providing taster sessions in the basics of the sport, from core skills such as gripping, passing, catching and carrying to more complex skills such as tag rugby and game scenarios.

Vsits have been paid to Little Heaton Primary School, St Mark's, St Michael's, St Luke's, Harwood Park and Sacred Heart RC in the last week or so, and the primary schools programmes will continue throughout the autumn term.

Stars of the future played in curtain raisers before the Hornets versus Dewsbury game at the Crown Oil Arena last Sunday.

First up, Orrell St James overcome Waterhead in the Under 12s before an Under 7s game between Pilkington Recs and Limehurst Lions. The children dusted themselves down and accompanied the Hornets and Dewsbury players onto the field as mascots.

A Foundation spokesperson said: "The two matches were played in a great spirit and the players were a credit to themselves and their clubs.

"We would also like to put on record our gratitude congratulations to Alzheimer's Research UK, which was named as Rochdale Boroughwide Housing's chosen charity for the next two years.

"We were shortlisted and pulled up short this time, but we would still like to thank RBH for considering us and wish the very best to them and to Alzheimer's Research UK. 

"This week we will be continuing our work in schools."