THATTO Heath Crusaders U14s Swords junior rugby league have enjoyed a remarkable trophy-winning season which has culminated no fewer than 13 players signing scholarship forms for professional sides.
The side, coached by Mike Woods and Phil Glover, had a history making season when they won the BARLA Lancashire Cup, BARLA National Cup and clinched the NWC Premiership Play Off Final after finishing joint top of the table.
No wonder they have caught the eye of the scouts with so far eight players signing up for Wigan scholarship, four heading to Saints and one to Bradford Bulls.
This remarkable success is a testament to the dedication and talent of the players, as well as the guidance and support of their coaches and management.
Their ability to consistently perform at a high level and overcome challenges and injuries throughout the season is truly commendable with just two losses all season in all competitions.
The silverware is recognition of their outstanding achievements, tireless work ethic, dedication, ‘will to win’.
It serves as an inspiration to young rugby league players across the town, demonstrating the rewards that hard work and dedication can bring.
In the BARLA Lancashire Cup Crusaders defeated Shevington Sharks, showcasing their dominance in the Lancashire region after winning the final in golden point extra time.
Their victory in the BARLA National Cup included a cup run that saw them travel to Cumbria in round one and decimate their Cumbrian highflying, League One opponents Lowca by 70 points and beating Yorkshire’s top-flight Division One Stanningley 40-0 in the semi-final.
Again, they beat Shevington in the showcase final in Featherstone, solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with, and extending their dominance beyond Lancashire and cemented them as the best under 14s team in the country.
The crowning glory of their season came with their triumph in the NWC Division 1 play-off final, again against Shevington.
The victory demonstrated Thatto’s ability to rise to the challenge and emerge victorious under pressure to lift the third and final trophy that was available to them.
This came after a league campaign that saw them lose just two games from 18, scoring an average of 24 points per match and conceding an average of just nine points per game.
The club states: "The Thatto Heath Crusaders Under-14s team has set a high standard for youth rugby league in the region, with exceptional season.
"These history making achievements serve as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring young rugby league players, demonstrating the rewards of dedication and perseverance, with every one of the 21 player squad contributing in the three finals proving that these achievements are down to each and every member of the squad."
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