Terriers (fixtures 1 & 2) and Tigers (fixture 1)

Sat 5 Oct – The Terriers kicked off their season with a trip to North Cave to play Humberside B.  Last year this away fixture had resulted in a narrow 21-19 win for the Terriers, so a tight match could once again be expected. However, it was not to be with the home team winning the mats by 22-10 and achieving all 8 bonus points (aggregates) to send the Terriers home with a 10-30 (117-220) defeat to think about.

Sun 6 Oct – The next day saw the Terriers in action again when they joined the Tigers in a double header against the two Stockport teams, at their new venue in the Etherow IBC in Broadbottom (Greater Manchester).

Stockport A had ended in 3rd place last year just 6 points short of the Division 1 winners (Staffordshire) and so posed a serious challenge to the Tigers who had been promoted after a fine season, winning Division 2 by 22 points clear. This match proved to be a baptism of fire and all breathed a sigh of relief when Dennis Thornburn’s rink clocked up the only win of the match (accompanied by a Tigers roar) to prevent an opening whitewash. The final score was a 38-2 (261-105) to Stockport.

Stockport B had not won a game last year and had thus ended bottom of Division 1 and been relegated so were eager to start their season with a win. The Terriers were having none of it and after yesterdays initial defeat, took 9 of the mats with 1 drawn and shared the bonus points ending with a pleasing 23-17 (183-160) win.