The WRLA AGM took place today Saturday 6th September at Clayton ARLFC which saw the election of officers for the 2014/15 Winter Season, new and previous clubs entering the nine team league, the commencement and finish of the season, and the leagues adoption of the RFL Operational Rules.

Steve Manning has retained the Chair, Secretary and Discipline Secretary positions, Karen Lewis the Treasurer, Mark Thomas returned to the committee as Fixtures & Registrations Secretaries.

Elected as Executive Officers were Cara Sutcliffe, Ian Godfrey, Amanda Wrigglesworth, Janice Boardman, Joanne Blakeley and Kelly Darragh.

Although the league have lost two sides who have decided to stay with the RFL for next year’s summer season the league has gained two new clubs and another returning to the league who also currently play in summer.

The new sides are Thornhill Trojans, Oulton Raidettes who currently play in the summer league and Brighouse Rangers. They will join last season’s six sides York Ladies, Huddersfield Ladies, Dewsbury Moor Ladies, Batley Ladies and Whitworth Spartans.

The League voted unanimously to adopt the RFL Operational Rules and agreed to start their new season on Sunday 19th October and finish on Sunday 5th April with its traditional Easter Sunday Challenge Cup and Plate Finals. The clubs also agreed to play the Lancashire Yorkshire County of origin 5 game next summer as part of the BARLA National Cup weekend of celebration.

At its conclusion Bradford Clayton Thunderbirds were presented with the WRLA Championship Shield and medals as winners of the 2013/14 league, Whitworth Spartans with runners up medals.

Thunderbirds Lisa Taylor was named as the seasons top try scorer and awarded her trophy as was Sarah Fletcher of Batley Ladies who had cause to celebrate a double success. Sarah was named as the WRLA Player of the Season and top goal kicker and awarded with those respective trophies.

WRLA Chair Steve Manning,

“I am proud to be re-elected as Chair of WRLA and pleased with the turn out of the attending clubs given the awful weather on the lead up to it. The committee has some returning and new blood on board with the experience of being involved with competing clubs.

“Although we have lost two clubs who are going to focus on playing during the summer we have gained two new clubs and a returning club so will be operating a nine team league. We will continue with our cup and plate competitions so there are plenty of games to get through from Sunday 19th October to Sunday 5th April.

“One of the most important decisions taken at the AGM was that WRLA voted to adopt the RFL Operational Rules unanimously. I have been talking to James Shuttleworth and Pat Crawshaw who are involved in the summer league and I feel now that we will be able to work closer together for the betterment of the women’s game and take it forward.”

Steve Manning
WRLA Media Manager