Alder Grange stars in a different league

Date published: 16 May 2010

Alder Grange stars in a different league

A group of Rawtenstall schoolboys have seen off tough competition to make it to the finals of a North West rugby league tournament – less than a year after taking up the sport.

The Year 9 rugby team at Alder Grange Community and Technology School have already won the Lancashire titles and will now battle it out in the regional finals for the Emerging Schools crown.

Since taking up rugby league last September, Alder Grange has linked up with Salford Reds Rugby League Club, who have provided the students with a series of professional coaching sessions.

Adam Good, PE Teacher at Alder Grange, said: “Our rugby teams have done incredibly well to get so far – rugby league isn’t big in the area and the lads have only been playing since last year.

“The school has really benefited from the link up with Salford Reds. Two of the players have been coming in and sharing their experience and knowledge with the students. The lads have built up some excellent skills in the past few months, and were encouraged to enter this tournament on the back of their coaching.

“The team are all really looking forward to the final – they have worked really hard in preparation.”

The school’s Year 7 team also took part in the competition – finishing in third place in the North West, narrowly missing out on a place in the regional finals.

The Emerging Schools Rugby regional finals take place on Wednesday 16 June at Wigan, where the Alder Grange students will play against Southport school, Birkdale High.

The Emerging Schools programme encourages schools with little or no provision to get involved in sports, in the Year 7,8,9 and 10 age groups.