Blog Archives

TABLE OFFICIALS' COURSE

10/6/2016

There has been an encouraging response so far to the appeal for people to take part in the table officials' course organised at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, on the opening day of the new BWPL season - Saturday, 17 September.

But we need more volunteers! As previously stated, the cost of providing qualified table officials at BWPL events is significant - and falls directly on the teams involved. It would make a vast difference if all member clubs provided just one person, if only for occasional duties when matches take place in their area of the country.

If your club hasn't yet responded to BWPL officials' co-ordinator Mike Jukes, mikejukes00@gmail.com, please do so. Mike is currently investigating the possibility of staging additional courses in the south of England during the new campaign.

JOE'S LAST SECOND STUNNER

2/6/2016

Sixteen-year-old Welsh Wanderers player Joe Jenkins-Delf celebrated his debut for Wales in a six-nations tournament in Malta by scoring the winning goal against Lithuania - with 0.7 of a second remaining on the clock!

After relaunching the national side last year, Wales, coached by Solihull's Phil Powell with Carl Wyatt (Bristol Central as assistant), blooded a number of youngsters alongside the experience of players such as skipper Dan Laxton and Charlie Hinder (Welsh Wanderers), Graham Harrington (Lancaster) and Chris Taylor (Bristol Central).

The tournament, the first competitive event for the new-look squad, also involved South Africa, Austria, Ireland and Denmark. Three goals by Laxton edged Wales into the lead against Lithuania for the first time at 11-10 - only for their opponents to equalise with 20 seconds left. Then Jenkins-Delf won a free throw on the right - and fired a shot into the top corner from seven metres.

Photo (Jo Aquatic) - Back row, L-R: Carl Wyatt (Assistant Coach), John Evans (Team Manager), Phil Powell (Coach), Charlie Hinder, Graham Harrington, Dan Laxton, Lloyd Pittick, Chris Taylor, Staffan Williams, Lewis Gilmore, Tom Greenfield. Front: Jack Simcox, Joe Jenkins-Delf, Ryan Jones, Jacob Edwards, Alun Rickards. Absent: Morgan Hirsch.

PHASE 1 FIXTURES

1/6/2016

The 2016/17 BWPL season kicks off on 17/18 September with a spectacular 32-match programme on two pitches at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, involving women's Divisions 2 and 3 and men's Divisions 3, 4 and 5.

The full schedule for phase one is published on the fixtures page today.

Matches in women's Division 1 start at the GL1 Pool, Gloucester, on 1/2 October, when Hucknall, promoted to the top flight for the first time, face Leeds Sharks and City of Manchester.

Action in men's Division 1 gets under way at Ponds Forge on 8/9 October, with Solihull beginning life back in the top flight by taking on champions Cheltenham and City of Sheffield.

There are four newcomers in men's Division 5 - Caledonia Storm, Spalding, Warwick and Watford Saxons - plus a welcome return by Rotherham Metro.