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Tour de France
Neil Farrell15 Jul 2018 - 09:11
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Successful tour of the Languedoc Region
Underbank Rangers Under 16s’ Tour de France
In April 2017 the Underbank Rangers were fortunate to welcome a team from Limoux in South West France for a cross-Channel match in Holmfirth that witnessed Rangers win a highly competitive and equally good spirited game. Great friendships were forged as a result of the encounter and the French team honoured the hospitality shown to them by inviting Underbank to visit France for a 2018 rematch. Many of the Underbank team have played together since they were under 7s and having just completed their GCSEs will probably be heading in different directions this autumn, and this may well be the last season that the lads will play together. If this turns out to be the case, then the tour will be a fitting way to celebrate the team’s ten years together and wish each other well for the future. As a result the team will wear a rather fetching, commemorative strip for the one-off tour game as can be seen below.
Several parents formed a fundraising group and the group has spent the last year raising almost £10,000 to pay for the team’s big adventure to France. They have completed many events including supermarket bag packs, charity auctions, a quiz night, and a sponsored goal kick, served up numerous bacon butties and burgers at the Club on match days, and even raked a field.
To supplement their own fundraising, the team have also been very fortunate to have secured the sponsorship of the following local businesses: AJM Polyfilters, Albion Cycling, At Holme interior design services, Colne Valley Rubber, David Eddowes van sales, Derrick Eaden Joinery, Eagle Roofing, Elmwood Family Doctors, fourway projects, Holmfirth Garage, Lionhart Boutique, Phoenix Squash & Fitness, Premier Coachworks, Pure North Cider, Reclaim-recycle, UK Aluminium, Glass and Glazing, Wolferal Products, and Yorkshire Weed Control. The touring party would like to extend a huge thanks to everyone who has sponsored them and donated in any way to make this wonderful trip possible.
The team had a great itinerary planned for the trip next week. They flew out to Carcassonne on Friday morning June 29th and played the game at the Limoux Grizzlies that evening. On Saturday their French hosts took them out for the day, spending time at the Mediterranean resort of Canet Plage, before attending the Catalan Dragons versus Castleford Tigers Super League match in the evening at Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan. On the Sunday the party spent the day at the Lac de la Cavayare, and on the Monday they visited the beautiful medieval walled city of Carcassonne before flying home. The Club wished them all ‘un bon voyage’ and we hope that they all have a great time.
The game started in monsoon conditions, which Underbank quickly adapted to. Gifted possession by a number of handling errors by their opponents, two swift handling moves saw Will Greenan grab a brace of identical tries in the corner. A 14-0 half time scoreline was achieved coutesy of an Ethan Myers try and a Hanley Turner conversion. Underbank played some expansive and entertaining rugby in the second half and further tries were added by Liam Whiteley, Hanley Turner and Will Greenan completing his hat trick. Limoux got a deserved consolation try to end the game with a 30-4 score line in Underbank’s favour. Thereafter the French hosts excelled in their hospitality, with a civic reception after the game followed by a variety of great activities over the weekend.
In April 2017 the Underbank Rangers were fortunate to welcome a team from Limoux in South West France for a cross-Channel match in Holmfirth that witnessed Rangers win a highly competitive and equally good spirited game. Great friendships were forged as a result of the encounter and the French team honoured the hospitality shown to them by inviting Underbank to visit France for a 2018 rematch. Many of the Underbank team have played together since they were under 7s and having just completed their GCSEs will probably be heading in different directions this autumn, and this may well be the last season that the lads will play together. If this turns out to be the case, then the tour will be a fitting way to celebrate the team’s ten years together and wish each other well for the future. As a result the team will wear a rather fetching, commemorative strip for the one-off tour game as can be seen below.
Several parents formed a fundraising group and the group has spent the last year raising almost £10,000 to pay for the team’s big adventure to France. They have completed many events including supermarket bag packs, charity auctions, a quiz night, and a sponsored goal kick, served up numerous bacon butties and burgers at the Club on match days, and even raked a field.
To supplement their own fundraising, the team have also been very fortunate to have secured the sponsorship of the following local businesses: AJM Polyfilters, Albion Cycling, At Holme interior design services, Colne Valley Rubber, David Eddowes van sales, Derrick Eaden Joinery, Eagle Roofing, Elmwood Family Doctors, fourway projects, Holmfirth Garage, Lionhart Boutique, Phoenix Squash & Fitness, Premier Coachworks, Pure North Cider, Reclaim-recycle, UK Aluminium, Glass and Glazing, Wolferal Products, and Yorkshire Weed Control. The touring party would like to extend a huge thanks to everyone who has sponsored them and donated in any way to make this wonderful trip possible.
The team had a great itinerary planned for the trip next week. They flew out to Carcassonne on Friday morning June 29th and played the game at the Limoux Grizzlies that evening. On Saturday their French hosts took them out for the day, spending time at the Mediterranean resort of Canet Plage, before attending the Catalan Dragons versus Castleford Tigers Super League match in the evening at Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan. On the Sunday the party spent the day at the Lac de la Cavayare, and on the Monday they visited the beautiful medieval walled city of Carcassonne before flying home. The Club wished them all ‘un bon voyage’ and we hope that they all have a great time.
The game started in monsoon conditions, which Underbank quickly adapted to. Gifted possession by a number of handling errors by their opponents, two swift handling moves saw Will Greenan grab a brace of identical tries in the corner. A 14-0 half time scoreline was achieved coutesy of an Ethan Myers try and a Hanley Turner conversion. Underbank played some expansive and entertaining rugby in the second half and further tries were added by Liam Whiteley, Hanley Turner and Will Greenan completing his hat trick. Limoux got a deserved consolation try to end the game with a 30-4 score line in Underbank’s favour. Thereafter the French hosts excelled in their hospitality, with a civic reception after the game followed by a variety of great activities over the weekend.
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