Heath XV-v-Halifax RUFC Magpies:
An excellent Heath RUFC XV entertained the Halifax RUFC Magpies Mixed Ability team at West Vale on the above date — to the great enjoyment of all the players and spectators as both sides committed themselves admirably to the game.
The Magpies have been playing together now for over twelve months during which time their skills have advanced significantly under the guidance of their coach, Stuart Hill, and his support staff of Phil Naylor, ‘Samba’ Michaels and Gareth Hughes — all under the watchful eyes of the RFO Regional Development Officer, Hamish Pratt, and Community Coach, Chris Stone.
The team, which comprises, in part, players with a measure of physical or learning difficulty and, in part, able bodied players, is looking to test their growing abilities against local sides and with an eye to possible participation in a Mixed Ability World Tournament planned for 2015.
Heath Old Boys Association (old boys of the former Heath Grammar School) has very generously made an award of £500 to encourage and develop this initiative and the pictures mark the occasion with the HOBA Vice Chairman/Secretary, Jon Hamer, (the former Bradford Northern RL prop) handing over the cheque to coach Stuart Hill.
Grayham Smith
