The start of a new monthly round up on how the players in our men’s side are doing in the English RFL professional game. A new “World Cup round-up” will follow later in the season for our women’s and wheelchair players when they start in their RFL seasons. Words – Ian Golden. Pic – Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Caleb Aekins scored his first-ever Super League try last month. He’s started at full-back for Bradford Bulls in all four of their matches this season, three of them wins, scoring a try in the win over Catalans Dragons. Denive Balmforth has been coming off the bench for York Knights in their debut season, helping them to three wins in four games. Warrington Wolves’ Luke Thomas has yet to feature in Super League, but he did start in the Challenge Cup win over Sheffield Eagles.
Midlands Hurricanes’ Owen Restall had the top performer of the initial few weeks, scoring five tries in the 110-0 win over Aberavon Fighting Irish. It’s hard to believe that on the same day, North Wales Crusaders also won by the same score, beating Bedford Tigers. Both games were in the first round of the Challenge Cup. Ashton Robinson made his Crusaders debut in that match, scoring a try. He and Ant Walker have each made five appearances so far for North Wales Crusaders this season. Junior Westwood has played in three matches so far for the Crusaders, kicking two goals, his first-ever senior points, in the defeat at London Broncos.
St David’s Day was a good day for a couple of our players. Luis Roberts scored a try on March 1st in Midlands Hurricanes’ home loss to Oldham. He also managed two against Doncaster earlier in the season. Matty Fozard also scored a St David’s Day try for Widnes Vikings in their 54-24 hammering of the other Vikings of Goole, one of his four in five games. Mike Butt played in that match too, but didn’t go over the line. He managed five earlier in the season, including a hat-trick in the Challenge Cup against Thatto Heath.
Fin Yates and Ollie Garmston have both been regulars at the new Salford RLFC, playing in six matches this season so far, including in the win over Hunslet. Garmston has scored a try in that win, going over for two more in other matches. Charlie Glover played in the Salford’s first match of the season but he’s yet to make an appearance since. Sam Bowring spent three matches on loan at Salford from Midlands Hurricanes.
Declan Tomlinson has had a good start to the season for Dewsbury Rams, helping them to four wins from six as they sit sixth in the Championship table. Max Clarke also has a good record with Keighley Cougars, scoring four tries in five matches, three of them victories, and Billy Walkley scored his only try of the season so far in Hunslet’s win over Sheffield Eagles. He’s played in five matches so far this season.
Finally, on loan Matt Ross actually played against his own side. He helped Wests Warriors through to the second round of Challenge Cup as they beat the British Army, but they lost to his parent side London Broncos.
