Last updated at 14:23, Monday, 24 May 2010

BIG PROSPECT: Cumbria county player Dan White has been in great form for Hawcoat Park

HAWCOAT Park will be looking to build for 2010 without coach Jeff Simm, who has stood down after a successful fourth spell in charge.

Having led the team to promotion from North Lancs Division One last season, Simm planted them firmly in mid-table this year and leaves after laying strong foundations.

The Maroon and Whites went into their final three games determined to achieve their goal of mid-table security and Simm said: “As coach, my role is to ensure the team performs at their best at all times, and I was not to be disappointed though there was the odd moment of frustration.”

The first half of the season saw the team without an effective captain as Jason Priss had sustained a knee injury last season.

However, he became available in the new year and boosted the team’s confidence, but disaster struck again in the form of a broken hand which ruled him out for all the final games.

During the first few months of the season, former Barrow RL half-back Scott Kaighan joined the Hawcoat ranks and proved to have an inspirational effect on the whole team.

In the 10 games he played, he collected 102 points from five tries, 16 conversions, 14 penalties and one drop goal.

His tally was followed by Danny Sayle, with 51 points from five tries, six conversions and three penalties.

Back row forwards Tim Clark and Dan White were responsible for nine and eight tries respectively, while Matt Burrow, with eight tries rounded off the point-scoring statistics.

The season came with its high points for Park, was highlighted when they provided Cumbria RU with Dan White and Matt Sayle, who represented the county at under-20s level in all their championship games.

Dan White’s performances for the Maroon and Whites improved every game, so much so he attracted interest from the likes of Kendal, Penrith and Barrow Raiders.

Simm added on this one player: “At well over six-foot, I predict a healthy rugby future for this young man.”

Winger Matt Burrows’ confidence could be seen to grow in every game, but on a team basis the more mature players helped to pull the whole act together thanks to Martin Kennedy, Steve Slater, Ray Sayles, Jim Steele and Gareth Jesson, not forgetting Martin Grainger, who made five first team appearances to help out.

The decision to put the second team in a competitive league at the start of the season filled a few people with doubt based on player availability at this level.

Simm added: “We knew we had to bite the bullet and do all we could to ensure the second team had a full complement of players and what was to follow was nothing short of miraculous.”

With Jason Trundle and Andy Murray at the helm, they steered the team to the top of the Miller Holmes League, where they stayed for the whole season, finally finishing second to Orrel 2nds.

Eddie Aitken topped the points tally, with 106 points from 11 tries, 24 conversions and one penalty, followed very closely by Andrew Bennett, with 104 points from 19 tries three conversions and one penalty.

J Milligan bagged eight tries, followed by Nick Johns and Ben Wolverage, with 6 tries apiece

Looking back at the season, the departing Simm said: “Was Hawcoat Park’s season a success?

“A resounding yes is I think the appropriate answer, considering a fair few of the team’s players travelled to all of the games from a variety of universities.

“It is also obvious that at grass roots level work and families mean the continuity of training is affected, but this has to be accepted, and so we have to get on and do the business as is required on the Saturday.”

The final statistics reflect the season’s achievements.

The first team played 26 games, won 10, lost 15 and drew one. There were 428 points for and 600 points against.

The second string played 20, won 15 lost four, and also drew one. They amassed 602 points and conceded 187.

Simm will stay involved in rugby union, helping out Jason Meadows with the Hawcoat Park Colts, with a decision on the new first team coach to be announced soon.

First published at 13:13, Monday, 24 May 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk