High hopes for fans as a new season begins
THE waiting is almost over as Batley and Dewsbury supporters are eagerly anticipating the start of the new rugby season this weekend.
Both sides have recruited heavily in the close season and the Co-operative Championship and Northern Rail Cup promises to be the most keenly contested competitions in years.
John Kear, who replaced Karl Harrison as Batley coach, has signed 15 players, including the likes of Ben Black from Halifax, Gareth Frodsham (St Helens) and John Walker (Wigan).
They have also captured Keegan Hirst and Luke Menzies from across the valley at Dewsbury, with half-back George Flanagan moving in the opposite direction.
Batley raised a few eyebrows when they also signed Ben Fisher from Hull KR but he will spend the early part of the season away from Mount Pleasant after he was loaned out to Super League side Catalans Dragons.
At Dewsbury, the turnover has been even greater with 16 players joining Warren Jowitt’s side, with 11 leaving the club.
Last year’s star man, Dominic Brambani has rejoined former club Sheffield Eagles but the Rams have brought in some big names, including the vastly experienced prop Nick Fozzard.
Although he has won just about every honour in the game, Fozzard opted to ‘return home’ to finish a playing career that began just a stone’s throw away from Tetley’s Stadium at Shaw Cross Sharks.
The Rams have been handed an extremely tough draw in the Northern Rail Cup, which kicks off this Sunday at home to last season’s beaten finalists Halifax, who also have a new coach in Karl Harrison.
The former Great Britain forward has taken Paul Handforth, Dane Manning, Adam Robinson, Sean Hesketh and Wayne Reittie with him from Batley to The Shay and they are among the favourites to challenge for honours.
Dewsbury also face last season’s Co-operative Championship winners Featherstone Rovers, Rochdale Hornets and Oldham in their other group games.
Having overcome huge odds to win the Northern Rail Cup in 2010, Batley will be determined to have another extended run in that competition in the hope of returning to Blackpool for the final.
Batley’s opening cup game is away to big spending Keighley Cougars, who could be one of the surprise packages having won promotion last term.
Among the players recruited by Cougars coach Jason Dimetriou are Sam Obst from Hull FC, Michael Korkidas and Semi Tadulala (both Wakefield), Paul March (Hunslet) and half-back Danny Jones (Halifax).
Following their trip to Cougar Park, Batley welcome London Skolars and Toulouse to Mount Pleasant, before travelling to Featherstone.
Rovers are the favourites to retain the title but they will face opposition from Leigh Centurions and Halifax.
Sheffield Eagles caused a huge stir by reaching last season’s Championship Grand Final, before losing out to Featherstone, and Mark Aston’s men will again prove one of the sides to beat.
Swinton Lions stormed to the Championship One title last term but they still lack a permanent home and this season will again switch grounds to the Leigh Sporting Village.
Hunslet have former Batley and Dewsbury star Barry Eaton at the helm, while the Championship’s other side, York City Knights, have recruited former Super League half-back Jordan Tansey, who played a handful of games at Dewsbury last season before moving to Crusaders.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
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