Hollinwood stalwart: Time to rally troops

FRED HALLIWELL . . . optimistic despite no-shows

HOLLINWOOD Amateur Rugby League Club have issued a rallying call before their final game of the year.

The Fields New Road outfit failed to raise a team for the first time this season for the trip to Wakefield-based leaders Hanging Heaton.

Hollinwood's no-show - they only had eight players - resulted in a two-point deduction and 30-0 scoreline against them. They now sit bottom of the Pennine League Division Two.

'SIGNED ON'

Secretary Fred Halliwell said: "It's very frustrating.

"We've got 38 players registered. Some of them signed on, never to be seen again.

"One of the problems, like other clubs, is the players' lack of interest in training.

"This season we've been unable to raise a complete side with substitutes on more than occasion, but we've still been able to match the opposition several times until late on. That's when fitness tells and opponents pull away.

"Fitness is one of the most important means of winning matches. Last week we had one player training on Tuesday and five on Thursday."

Halliwell said he had no option but to call off last week's fixture against the high-fliers.

He went on: "The Pennine League brought in a new rule this season where, if you were short of players, teams were able to ask the opposition for loans on match days.

"I called Hanging Heaton, but I was told they only had 17 men available.

"I wasn't prepared to travel with only eight players. They are top of the table and didn't want to put my players through what could have been a really bad experience, so I bit the bullet.

"As a club we appreciate players have injuries, families and other commitments, especially in the run up to Christmas, but several players have registered and then disappeared."

Halliwell's task now is to get a team together for Saturday's home game against Wakefield City, who sit one place above them in the table.

He added: "We are hoping to be able to rally enough troops to fulfil the final fixture prior to Christmas break.

'FAMILY'

"We can then enjoy a few weeks off with family, rest and recuperate before starting again in the new year."

As for a man who eats and sleeps rugby league, how did Halliwell fill up his time on Saturday afternoon?

"The wife was away, so I put on the telly and watched rugby union. It wasn't a bad game, but it's not rugby league!"