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).
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.”
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.
Round Two
Francis Maloney (Batley Bulldogs) v Dewsbury Rams
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.
Round Four
Dene Miller (London Skolars) v Sheffield Eagles
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.
Round Six
Dan Ratcliffe (York City Knights) v Batley Bulldogs
Danny Boy: Full back Dan Ratcliffe and York City Knights’ chairman Roger Dixon.
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 .
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 which attracted the largest home attendance for 20 years.
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.
Having a run through before the match for the benefit of the camera men.
