NATIONAL CONFERENCE RUGBY LEAGUE 1 @ GREETLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE
4 JULY 2015 3PM
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| GREETLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE AND GYMANSIUM |
With football pre season getting underway today the temptation was there to take in the round ball game but as usual I'm enjoying the rugby league, although the pull of Atherton v Bolton Wanderers was high when I saw they had sold over 1,000 pre booked tickets I decided to go along there on a quieter day when I can see the ground and enjoy the visit a bit more than when it is full.
So as ever in true Judith Chalmers fashion here is a bit about the day, first change from base was a Sheffield for the journey to Huddersfield and its a few years since I had made the trip past Penistone but it really is beautiful countryside and as the train skirts around the Emley moor TV mast its not long before we arrive in Huddersfield. The station front here is fantastic and probably one of the best in the country its further enhanced since my last visit with a statue to the former Prime Minister Harold Wilson and a forecourt with water fountains. Still no time to hang about as the blog has two buses to catch firstly we get a Metro bus day ticket and service 503 operated by First Bus to Halifax with our intention to get off at West Vale which is just below our end destination of Greetland high up on the approach to the moors. As the journey climbs out of Huddersfield we go through the arched tunnel at Ainley Top and when out on the other side we get an excellent view down towards Elland and over to Greetland, astonishing scenery. After a look around West Vale Yorkshire Tiger under the brand name 'cub' operate a orange liveried bus which has seating in the style of a tigers camouflage.
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| VIEW BACK TO WEST VALE AND ELLAND |
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| GREETINGS, WITH THE WAINHOUSE TOWER AT HALIFAX IN THE BACKGROUND |
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| LOTS OF REAL ALES AND REAL ALES MAGAZINES |
Having been to grounds over the last three weeks were the grounds are at separate locations to the club here at Greetland both are on the same site but as long a walk as some of the previous blogs. The whole area has massive possibility for other sports but it seems only rugby league and a football side use the facilities. The pitch slopes sideways is grass standing all around with dug outs on opposite sides of the touch lines. The club have a home made scoreboard which today is wedged against a home scaffolding presumably for a video camera man to mount. The ground does not have floodlights.
Todays game had an usual kick off time of 3pm with most games starting at 2.30 there was time to take some pictures and have a walk around the pitch which had a 'A' game taking place versus Featherstone Lions.
Todays report is very minimal sadly due to the fact that no teams were available before the game started for the blog to get a photo of, I did manage to get a quick word with Elland secretary Sue who could supply them at the end of the game but I decided to make my way back on my journey at the end of proceedings.
So as mentioned in the introduction York got off to a good start leading 6-0 on 7 minutes but Elland were woken by this and lead 10-6 at the break. Two tries with both converted on 45 and 48 minutes gave Elland a 22-6 lead and did the damage before York pulled it back to 22-12.
In the last five minutes both sides scored a try with a successful conversion from Elland first and then York in the final minute.
As per last week with no closed off pitch and the ground being I guess a community area too a collection was taken and a programme of 8 pages produced, there was though little to look at in the pages save for a small introduction and front cover action shot.
The blog as everybody probably knows by now is really enjoying the rugby league on show in The NCL with some good standard of play and today was no different there was some good handling and a real determination from both teams to put on a good show, I just wished the clubs would promote their games on Twitter better, neither club advertised this game on their twitter account. On a positive note Elland have a steady website which always seems to feature a very good selection of action pictures which is a credit to the club and Richard Casey the man behind the lens.
The end of play came and the blog decided to get on the trek home with a walk down the hill to West Vale passing two yellow bikes mounted on pub porches still in situ in recognition to the Tour De France which passed through the area in 2014.
Having fed and watered at one of the famous fast food outlets in Huddersfield, actually it was both because the ice cream machine wasn't working so I got that from the other!!! Well it was on the way back to the station and when I walked up the forecourt steps and into the station there is was 1813 Sheffield CANCELLED, next train one hour 10 minutes away. Anyway following discussions and lots of running around platforms the journey was made back via Wakefield and a delayed train there and back to base.
Beautiful countryside offering some cracking views which witnessed a good game of rugby fully appreciated by the steady sized crowd.
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| 503 SERVICE BACK TO HUDDERSFIELD FROM WEST VALE IS THIS WEEKS TRANSPORT PICTURE |
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