If Newton can't raise a team, forfeit the points but go and play 9-a-side. You need to play to gain players.

Yeah we discussed this at training - if they can't raise 13, we're happy to pocket the points and play 9s, 10s, 12s, whatever, even narrow the pitch a little if people prefer.

Fingers crossed they'll get a squad, they struggled last year at times but generally raised enough for match day.

Blackpool Stanley have gone...

That's a shame, was a bit surprised when i got the email this morning. Anyone know the reason?

Just out of interest....are teams not required to have a minimum number of players signed on before they are allowed to enter the leagues for the upcoming season??....It lets so many sides/lads down when teams can't fulfill fixtures!

my understanding is that when you apply to your District Association (which you should do before joining the NWC) the other clubs in the district look at the numbers you have and any impact you'll have on them...certainly, within the Manchester and District we were asked to do this for Little Hulton who provided a list of 25 player names. But this only applies to new clubs.

When we set Bury up we had about 20 players - touch and go with whether or not we should apply. If you apply, you give yourself a chance of getting players on board, if you do not apply, you probably lose all those lads anyway...so there is no inbetween position. We have 30+ for this year so it was the right call.

For an existing club, what can be done? As a club administrator, you have to take the risk of reapplying because you submit your application two months before the season starts, you might only then discover your numbers are down to something unviable. All player registrations from the previous year are void anyway, so until you get your squad back training and start registering people again, you really do not have any guarantee about what numbers you have, and there is no way the league can check as there are still teams who havent submitted player registrations for the upcoming season and we are less than a week away!!! You are trusting the administrator of clubs and they have to take the risk as they are in a Catch-22 position about whether they should/or shouldnt apply.

Surely the answer must be....Getting a minimum number of registrations say for 1st July...the minimum being 18/19, most clubs return to pre-season late June/early July, and from my experience this is when the numbers at training are at there highest. This then included in the criteria that must be met by each club wanting to enter the league.

Or Maybe...a fee paid by the club....which then must be re-couped in signing on fee's...or nominal fee per player, but influencing the clubs to then seek/keep players once they have commited to the league for the upcoming season.

It might work with August 1st being the date, given how late fixtures came out...not everyone goes back in June and some not to late July.

As a new club we only received our registration forms on the 9th August and it has been a challenge getting all signed on before the start on Saturday.



I will probably be relying on final forms being signed on Saturday to enable us to fulfil our first game...saying that can't wait we are down to play Irlam Hornets A at home and it should be great.

We should know tonight if it will be on or not on Saturday. I genuinely cannot see us having a team, fingers crossed we do though. Im working this saturday so definately not playing. If we do raise a team, its going to be interesting to see who plays where. Our 6 & 7 have gone, our wingers gone, i fear the worst... Sorry guys. Will post tomorrow and let you know.

How's everyone feeling then? Nervous, excited!

Can't believe the season is upon us already!!!

Can't wait at Bury!!!

Months (actually, a few years!) of hard work about to come to fruition...an actual playing base we can call home, a few new players, and everything coming together. big question for me now is do i make the side?!

Yeah I get that feeling this year, we have a new coach in place, some new lads, a new feel about the place, seems like lads want to play for us again, a nice mid table will Do us good this year and kick on next season.

Can't wait....

I think your going to have to wait mate, pathetic numbers at training again last night, going to take a miracle to get 13 lads out on saturday, nevermind 17!



Training again tomorrow night, fingers crossed

Very excited about Saturday in Chester......Not sure how many we will get turning out but things are looking good for our first season in Winter Rugby.

A lot of our team still away (Chester University lads) but still should have a strong side out.

Still got a lot to sort out to make sure the game, and afterwards goes well, at the moment I will be cooking on the side

but I am hopeful it will be a good day and the result will be the right one!

Good Luck for Saturday.

We (Rochdale Cobras) were looking forward to the season, that was untill we found out both teams dont have a game on the 4th (WTF).

1sts did have Blackpool at home and 2nds have/had Culcheth away.
Culcheth may not have a team for saturday (not thier fault, when i spoke to them it was the 1st they knew they had got in the league) they are trying there best to sort the game for us.

got a good 50 lads signed on, firsts are looking better than last year (even with Big T gone, as the boys aint depending on him maybe). 2nds are a bit of a mix, on a good day we could put out a right team.....but the next saturday would be a right mess



all in all tho looking forward to it!!!!!

Do i know you RochdalePaul????? Im Ben Boothman ex Milnrow/mayfield?, im playing for our 2nds so will see you this season but not till march???? odd fixtures????

Also Mike, if Bury want a game saturday we will travel to you, we could do with another run out (2nds)?!!?!?

Ben I saw you at the August meeting, I am Paul Foster who played for Milnrow from '89 (under 13's) to early 90's (open age) however moved to Chester 10 years back but I am now back playing and running Chester.

I know Ryan Blake from kids and he will know my dad!!

I am looking forward to the Cobra games gutted I have to wait until March next year!

rung you yesterday and today at the pub ben....seems your a part-timer

and your details are definately wrong in the NWC book (meant to mention that before when we spoke!)

we'll sort something if need be

Any news from you chaps after training tonight? Reckon you can raise 13?

We've got a nice new pitch with brand new posts waiting!!

Its on mate







Shock horror, 23, yes twenty fooking three, was at training last night!!!!! No show all fooking summer, then all rock up 2 days before a match.

Looking forward to it, new found optimism in the Newton Camp, though a lot of positions have changed



We will be competitive for 10 minutes, then die a death as hardly any have trained for months lol. Hey Ho.

Roll on 2:30pm tomorrow

good good...

ps. please feel free to compliment us on our posts. me and cronus dug the holes and put them in in the dark on wednesday night...that's why we're so keen to play!

Im playing centre tomorrow so doubt il get close enough to see how good they look haha! Unless its stood under them after you guys score...but lets hope not.

Looking forward to it mate, see you tomorrow.

New Springs Lions have filled the gap left by Blackpool in Div4. And take on Eccles tomorrow. Should be fun.

Some big POSITIVE changes at Newton in the next week or so, watch this space!!