Local rugby club Sale Sharks have helped make history at a nearby college in the North West as they hosted their first-ever girls’ rugby union match last week.
Sir John Deane’s Sixth Form College based over in Northwich has a strong sporting curriculum and is continuing to expand its offerings year upon year, with more than 150 students now taking part in various clubs every week.
Established back in 1557, making it one of the oldest in the UK, the school boasts a rich heritage in English education and now, more than half a millennia later, it’s taken another big step for female sport specifically by introducing its brand-new girls’ rugby union side.
Sharing a strong relationship with various clubs around Cheshire as well as Sale Sharks Women and their pathway programme, in particular (on which many members are already enrolled) Sir John Deane’s fielded their first-ever squad in a fixture against Lancaster Royal Grammar School.
As per the Northwich and Winsford Guardian, Deane’s everyged victorious from their inaugural fixture, notching three tries thanks to scorers Eve Spears, Mollie Stamper and Daisy Carroll.
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Taking place on the first-team pitch at Winnington Park Rugby Club in the village of Hartford – with whom the school enjoyed an “excellent community partnership” – the game itself was part of a wider ‘festival of rugby’ where student-players learned received first-class coaching and learned crucial skills.
Hoping to become the rising stars among a new generation of women’s rugby, which is seeing a growing interest nationwide, coach Paul Rees explained this important milestone for the college was about more than the result.
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“The purpose of this fixture was to provide an opportunity for girls rugby,” Rees told the outlet, “to grow the game at the grassroots level and for Sir John Deane’s to showcase the variety of sports they provide, significantly for girls.”
“I feel privileged to have been a part of this prestigious and historical event which was fully supported by the PE department at college.”
A huge thank you to @SaleSharksWomen who spent the afternoon training with our Women's Rugby Team here at the College yesterday. It was fantastic to see such a big turnout with a mixture of experienced and new players to the game – well done to all involved! 🏉 pic.twitter.com/P5yyl3Ghko
The full-contact clash saw a total of 38 players lace up their boots for the historic school moment after having first got to grips with the task ahead back in October 2024.
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Rees went on to credit the Greater Manchester outfit, specifically, for their continued support regarding the new team, who have proven a crucial outlet for those looking to enter girls rugby in the North West.
“Not only do they support the delivery of coaching [Matt Hulme], the coordination [Vicky Irwin] and link to provide the girls to represent regular Sale Sharks College fixtures”, says Rees, “this is invaluable to ensure all players are given the opportunity to represent Sale Sharks and their respected colleges.”
With the national focus as a whole being put on the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup, the importance of initiatives like this cannot be overstated.
Featured Images — Sir John Dean’s Sixth Form College (via Facebook/X)
Sport
Manchester Storm’s ‘own and loan’ scheme returns for 2026/27
Danny Jones
Manchester Storm have relaunched their much-loved ‘own and loan’ programme once again ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Having gone from a cult favourite option for die-hards to an increasingly popular choice among their growing number of supporters, it’s a great way for fans to get their hands on what could go on to be priceless collectables.
Set up over a decade and a half ago, the initiative has gone on to be replicated by multiple clubs in the Elite Ice Hockey League, across the country, and indeed beyond.
For anyone unclear on what exactly this scheme means for them, here’s all you need to know.
The own and loan sponsorship is essentially an opportunity not only to support the club and your favourite player, but to essentially reserve a valuable piece of match-worn memorabilia.
Put simply, fans can buy a squad member’s jersey and then loan it back to them for the season.
The shirt – be it home, away, created for cup tournaments or a special limited-edition sweater (of which MCR Storm have designed many over the years) – will then be worn throughout the course of the campaign before being given back to the owner, i.e. you.
Not just simply buying the shirt, but helping back the team’s talent, it’s one of the most direct ways people can contribute to the club.
The Greater Manchester side pioneered the push for this initiative here in the UK in the early 2010s, and with the local side now set to return to the AO Arena, where their journey began way back in 1995, you can expect plenty to mark the comeback with a special sponsored jersey.
Anyone who purchases an away strip will have their name featured throughout home games for the duration of the season – not a bad gift or way to secure a potential future collectors’ item.
You can see every player available to sponsor and find out all the information you need right HERE.
For regular matchgoers at the ‘Storm Shelter’, we’re sure it’ll be bittersweet to say goodbye to Planet Ice Altrincham, but just how excited are you about heading home to the AO Arena later this year?
Featured Images — Manchester Storm (publicity picture)/The Manc Group
Sport
League One set for an all-Greater Manchester playoff final as Bolton book trip to Wembley
Danny Jones
It’s official: we’re all set for a fully Greater Manchester League One playoff final as Bolton Wanderers are the latest to secure a return to Wembley against Stockport County.
The resurgent old Lancashire club clinched their spot in the knockout conclusion of the third division with a single strike in the second leg of the semis, and it wasn’t a bad finish, either.
Beating Bradford City 2-0 on aggregate, Bolton will now play familiar regional rivals Stockport, with Wanderers set to clash with County in a decisive derby once again.
Bolton‘s instinctive volley from Chelsea youth product and former Hull City man, Xavier Simons, resulted in some very satisfying limbs at Valley Parade.
The home fans did have plenty to cheer on the night, with efforts from Metcalfe, Power and Wright all either hitting the woodwork or being deflected just past it.
They thought they were level in the tie at one point after Kayden Jackson put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ultimately ruled out.
Agonising stuff for the Bradford supporters to burst into bedlam before the flag was raised for offside.
Many supporters will argue that the key moment came somewhat against the run of play, but The Trotters won’t care one bit as they book another trip down to the capital.
You can watch the rest of the highlights, including those scenes in the away end, down below.
Speaking even before the game, head coach Steven Schumacher told Sky Sports: “It’s a club we believe is bigger than this division, but this division is not easy to get out of.
“The expectation and the demand to get to the Championship is there, and once you’re in the building and you feel the mood when you win games, when you lose games, you can sense that this is a club that is desperate to get out and get to the next level.
“When you look at the size of both Bolton and Bradford and how well they are supported, both clubs are probably too big to be in League One. But that’s where both clubs find themselves, and one of us has got to find our way out of it if we can.”
You’d dare say he can practically smell promotion via the playoffs now; the local side has come quite a way since the lows of administration in 2019 and the bottom tier of the EFL – not without some heartbreaks in previous playoff finals – but could he be the one to get them back where they belong?
In case you missed the action from the other game, you can see more HERE, and to hear Schumacher’s thoughts after the decisive result, look no further…
Danny Jones -
27th January 2025 
