After a meeting of the Rugby Football League board, the governing body has desided to restructure the U17′s league which Hornets are currently represented in.

Hornets have been informed by Team Manager Andy Rogose that early in the new year information regarding the re-shuffle will be made available to the public, however the current fixture list is to be scrapped.

The aim of the restructure is to make games more competitive so that teams do not lose players through lack of interest. On more than 1 occasion Hornets have come up against a team short on players because they lost interest having been on the end of hammerings the previous weeks. It is hoped that the new league format will keep players interested for longer and the competition will have less games with huge scorelines in favour of 1 team.

As soon as we get more information on these changes you will hear about it here and in the Rochdale Observer.

Everybody at Hornets would like to wish 1 and all a very merry christmas and hope that Santa brings you everything you want this holiday season. All the best everybody

Match Officials for Hornets V Oldham 3rd January 2010  A.J. Law Cup Fixture.

Referee:- M. Thomason.

Touch Judge:- T. Mahar.

Touch Judge:-  S. Kilpatrick.

Hornets go back to School

Ever heard the saying “he needs his head testing”? Well, if you play rugby league having a “head test” is at least an annual event before you start the new season. Having trained like Trojans on Thursday night Stanky gave the lads a free Saturday morning. But instead of wasting time with all that Christmas shopping the Hornets squad took their annual head test before the first match of the season against our favourite rivals, Oldham.

It’s been a busy off season and before you know it the new season is just round the corner. Stanky’s main aim has been to assemble a squad that meets his criteria with players who want to play and win in a Hornet’s shirt.  That accomplished, the next priority is medical preparation which includes the infamous head test.  Once again Helen Woodcock, Head teacher, at Milnrow Parish Primary School volunteered the use of their IT suite for the tests. Helen said “It was pleasure to help out again.  Many of our pupils follow Hornets so it was pleasure to invite them into school and help out with their pre-season preparations.”

John Crowther (school Caretaker) was on hand to open the school and assist supervising the lads.  He said, “You’ve got a great set of lads and I hope you do well in 2010, but does that Paul Raftery ever stop talking!  How he passed the test I’ll never know!”

The head tests involve all players undertaking a series of computer generated tests that measure their reaction times. All the data is then stored for the RFL in Australia by CogState Sports as a baseline for the rest of the season. If a player suffers a concussion injury during the season he will have to re-sit the test and match his baseline results before he can play again.

 We understand that one or two players did struggle with the tests but Kay Bowyer (Hornets Physio) reported that everyone eventually successfully passed the tests and it is now all systems go for the new season. She also reported that all the lads are in good shape with just the odd niggle and twinge which will all get sorted in due course.  With regards to the head tests she said, “It can be very time consuming to get a full squad of players through these tests without the appropriate IT backup so we are extremely grateful to Milnrow Parish Primary School for their assistance. Oh and thanks to Megan for making the bacon butties.”

Help! Stanky strikes again.

Head coach John Stankevitch is making quite a name for himself.  An accomplished player in his time he is now making a name for himself as a coach. Unfortunately, he is also making quite a name for himself in the world of motoring, or should that be breaking down. Once again Stanky leaves his lights on arrival for the head tests and returns to well and truly flat battery.  Along come Chris Hough and Andy Saywell to the rescue who suggest he bump starts his car as it rolls down Chapelgate in Milnrow. Good idea says Stanky but half way down realises it’s almost shear ice and slides his way to the bottom.

After a couple of quick telephone calls and two cars, 3 men,  1 girl, 2 sets of jump leads and 3 car batteries later its mission accomplished and Stanky has ignition.

Top of Stanky’s Christmas list is a set of jump leads and an AA membership. So be warned. If you go anywhere with Mr Stankevitch take your jump leads.

Happy motoring.

Wednesday 23^rd December                             9.00am – 12.00pm

Thursday 24^th December                                9.00am -12.00pm

Friday 25^th December                                    CLOSED

Saturday 26^th December                                CLOSED

Sunday 27^th December                                  CLOSED

Monday 28^th December                                 CLOSED

Tuesday 29^th December                            9.00am – 3.00pm

Wednesday 30^th December                       9.00am – 3.00pm   

Thursday 31^st December                          9.00am – 3.00pm

Friday 1^st January 2010                                  CLOSED

Saturday 2^nd January                                      CLOSED

Sunday 3^rd January              Law Cup Hornets v Oldham 3pm KICK OFF

After many trials and tribulations 2009 has to be seen as a huge achievement for the Hornets club. After reforming as a fans cooperative following administration the previous season, 2009 has been a triumph for the Hornets club in terms of setting a standard for all other fans cooperative’s in The Championship to follow.

Since taking the bold move of becoming a fans-run club Hornets have been inundated with questions about how it works and has seen other clubs take this step including the recently reformed Keighley Cougars. The minimum requirement of any club at the start of a season is to put a competitive team out on the field and not only did Hornets do that but have increased the average attendance on a matchday and have even launched the successful new U17′s team.

There have been so many successes in 2009 and 2010 promises to be no different. In the new year the club will unveil new major sponsors, a new playing kit produced by a different manufacturer to last season and a new and improved website. Add to that a new coaching team and a 30 plus playing roster of highly promising talent and you have an exciting cocktail to wet your appetite for Rugby League in Rochdale.

Stay tuned to local press and indeed watch out for all the latest news on this website in the coming weeks with whats going on at Hornets RL in 2010.

Everybody at Hornets would like to wish 1 and all a merry christmas and will hope to see you all at the AJ Law Cup game against Oldham on January 3rd

For the 1st time in Rugby League history all of the weekends amateur rugby was postponed because of the weather, thus bringing 2009 to a close for Hornets U17′s team. It’s been a year to remember with the team only forming in the middle of 2009 but have gone on to impress in the North West Counties 1st Division so far this term with only 1 defeat in the league at present with half the season remaining.

6 league wins and 1 victory in the cup represents an excellent return for Shaun Gartland’s new team and we congratulate them on an excellent year so far and hope their form continues into 2010.

The next game is a local derby at home to Waterhead on January 3rd with an 11:45am kick-off.

HORNETS COACH John Stankevitch is to play his ‘strongest squad possible’ for the Law Cup clash with Oldham at Spotland.

With the game just over 16 days away everyone at the club is looking forward to a great game.,

“With only two other trial games against Oldham and Hunslet we need to ensure we’re fully ready for the start of the season at the end of January and so this game is important for our preparation.”

Stankevitch said, “‘The players are very competitive and they know that the squad is very competitive so are all keen to get out there and show us what they can do, to vie for starting positions at the start of the season. We haven’t got that many friendlies, the players need to hit the ground running and they are aware of that.’

Tickets for the game are priced from £10 adults and £5 concessions.

The upstairs function room will be open both before and after the game. There will be a small charge of £2.00 which will go towards the Hornets development fund for anyone wishing to use this facility, before during and after the game.

There will also be hot food to purchase on the day.

Sunday is Party Time at Hornets with our annual Christmas bash.

Fun for kids of all ages with games and music, Stanky and some of his squad will be there as well as a very special guest…….Father Christams!!!

Its FREE entry, there is an excellent raffle with the top prize being a brand new bike!! All the usual fun and games, plus the club shop will be open for those last minute gifts.

Its the last chance for Hornets fans to get together before Christmas with the fun starting at 2pm at Spotland Stadium.