Northern Rail Cup News

Northern Rail Cup Semi Finals Man of the Match Awards

Man of the Match - Doncaster
Doncaster's Corey Lawrie and Ian Hall from Northern wait for the cue from the Sky Sport's director to make the trophy presentation

Man of the Match - Salford
Northern Rail head of marketing Ian Hall presenting the man of the match trophy to Salford's John Wilshire, who had an outstanding game at full back

 

Northern Rail Cup Quarter Finals Man of the Match Awards

Man of the Match - Salford City Reds
Northern Rail head of marketing Ian Hall presents the trophy to Richie Myler for his pivotal role in Salford City Reds win at Featherstone

Man of the Match - Doncaster
Having beaten Rochdale Hornets, Doncaster's man of the match Kyle Briggs receives his award from Northern Rail director Jamie Ross

Man of the Match - Batley Bulldogs
Jo North, Northern Rail commercial director with Batley Bulldogs scrum half Paul Mennell who shone in the win against Oldham

 

Momentum Tour

The 'Momentum Tour' is a great addition to Northern's extensive educational programme.

Northern's Youth and Community Liaison Manager and players from clubs competing in the Northern Rail Cup have been visiting schools to highlight to young children the dangers of playing near railway lines and to inspire them into the sport.

So far Northern has teamed up with Dewsbury Rams (Carlton Junior and Infants School), Sheffield Eagles (Silkstone Primary School), Gateshead Thunder (Dunn Street School), Batley Bulldogs (Brown Hill St Saviours Primary), Salford City Reds (Hope High School), Workington Town (Stainburn School), Whitehaven (Jericho Primary School) and Rochdale Hornets (Matthew Moss High School).

Carlton Junior and Infants School   Dunn Street School   Matthew Moss High School   Silkstone Primary School  

Chris Leech, Youth and Community Liaison Manager for Northern said: "It's been an absolute pleasure to work with these clubs, many of which have a pro-active community programme engaging children of all ages

The ‘Momentum Tour’ also stopped shoppers in their tracks at MetroCentre, one of Europe’s largest shopping centres.  Gateshead Thunder players teamed-up with Northern staff to encourage  visitors to the stand to win free Northern Rail Cup  match tickets and rail travel.

Thunder coach Dave Woods said: “It was a great way to profile Rugby League in partnership with one of the sport’s key sponsors.”   

Metro Center   Metro Centerl  

Pupils in Featherstone and Batley received a big treat when they got a chance to see the Northern Rail Cup during its current tour of schools.

The tour which took in Stockingate Mill CE Primary, Grove Lea Primary and All Saints Primary all in the Featherstone area and St Mary's Catholic Primary school in Batley, involved a Q&A session before the children were encouraged to enter a competition to design a poster to promote their local club's Northern Rail Cup Quarter Final game.

Two winners from Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be invited to go to the games with their family and will have their design turned into a poster for presenting to them on the pitch at half time.

Commenting on the visit to St Mary's school, Batley Bulldogs' head coach Gary Thornton said: "The club is delighted to be given the opportunity to come into school and it is a great way to profile Rugby League in partnership with one of the sport's main sponsors."

Featherstone Rovers development manager, Kevin Hobbs was equally supportive: "The children were so excited to see the Northern Rail Cup and couldn't wait to start designing their posters."

Grove Lea School Pupils with the Northern Rail Cup   All Saints School Pupils with the Northern Rail Cup   St Marys Batley School Pupils with the Northern Rail Cup   Stockingate Mill School Pupils with the Northern Rail Cup  

 

Player of the Round Awards 2008

Awarded for outstanding performances in the Northern Rail Cup Group games

Round One
Daniel Russell  (Gateshead Thunder) v York City Knights

Wizard of Oz:  Thunder’s Australian half back Daniel Russell

Wizard of Oz: Thunder’s Australian half back Daniel Russell.

Round Two
Francis Maloney (Batley Bulldogs) v Dewsbury Rams

Bulldog Spirit:  Batley stand off Francis Maloney with Northern communications manager Officer Clare Conlin

Bulldog Spirit: Batley stand off Francis Maloney with Northern communications manager Officer Clare Conlin.

Round Three
Will Cartledge (Keighley Cougars) v Workington

Mum’s the Word : Cougars’ back rower Will Cartledge with Mother’s Day competition winners, the Fairburn family

Mum’s the Word : Cougars’ back rower Will Cartledge with Mother’s Day competition winners, the Fairburn family.

Round Four
Dene Miller (London Skolars) v Sheffield Eagles

Dazzling Dene: Skolars’ star man centre Dene Miller

Dazzling Dene: Skolars’ star man centre Dene Miller.

Round Five
Paul Handforth (Featherstone Rovers) v Dewsbury Rams

Wild Rover: Rovers’ scrum half Paul Handforth with mother in law and Northern travel advisor Jean Agar

Wild Rover: Rovers’ scrum half Paul Handforth with mother in law and Northern travel advisor Jean Agar.

Round Six
Dan Ratcliffe (York City Knights) v Batley Bulldogs

Danny Boy:  Full back Dan Ratcliffe and York City Knights' chairman Roger Dixon

Danny Boy: Full back Dan Ratcliffe and York City Knights' chairman Roger Dixon.

Rugby League World Northern Rail Cup Player of the Month Award

Awarded to the top performing National League player in the Northern Rail Cup Group games

February
Graham Holroyd (Halifax)

Talk of the Town: Halifax stand off Graham Holroyd with club chairman Michael Steele

Talk of the Town: Halifax stand off Graham Holroyd with club chairman Michael Steele .

 


Semi Final Draw

Richard Allan Northern Rail head of communications joins the Sky Sports presenters Eddie Hemmings and Mike (Stevo) Stephenson to make to Northern Rail Cup semi final draw.


Steve Butcher, Craig Spence and Phil Clarke ready for the producer's cue to commence the draw.

Quarter Final Draw

The draw was broadcast live by Sky Sports at half time during the televised league game between Dewsbury and Batley. Perched high on the television gantry in a specially made set, the draw was made by Northern director Steve Butcher, Sky Sports presenter and former Wigan and GB player Phil Clarke under the watchful eye of Craig Spence from the RFL.


Steve Butcher, Craig Spence and Phil Clarke ready for the producer's cue to commence the draw.

Steve Butcher, Craig Spence and Phil Clarke ready for the producer's cue to commence the draw.

Having a run through before the match for the benefit of the camera men.

Having a run through before the match for the benefit of the camera men.


17 March 2008 - Last 16 draw

Northern Rail Cup - Photograph of live draw on BBC Radio Leeds

Top Draw (l-r) Andrew Whitelam RFL media manager, Willie Poaching former Leeds Rhinos and NZ Test star and Northern director, Tricia Riley conduct the live draw at BBC Radio Leeds.


Northern director Tricia Riley with North West Evening Mail winners of match balls and tickets for the Barrow v Batley Bulldogs last 16 tie.

Northern director Tricia Riley with North West Evening Mail winners of match balls and tickets for the Barrow v Batley Bulldogs last 16 tie which attracted the largest home attendance for 20 years.