Manchester Rangers community foundation announce plans for increased rugby league participation within manchester

As part of a wider Greater Manchester scheme, Manchester Rangers Community Foundaiton (MRCF) have partnered with The RFL, Salford Red Devils Foundation, Warrington Wolves Foundation, Swinton Lions and Rochdale Hornets to drastically increase community Rugby League participation across Manchester and wider areas.

MRCF will focus delivery in Tameside, North Manchester, East Manchester and South Manchester to not only support existing clubs, but create new clubs and opportunities for young people and adults to play Rugby League in their local area. This vision will see the creation of new Rugby League clubs in Tameside and Wythenshawe as early as this spring, with other clubs to follow within target regions.

The plans include a wide reaching Primary and Secondary delivery programme, school festival competitions, open access regional squads and a tailor made community season. A shortened league season will be offered to new clubs, where participation is the focus, to introduce new players to Rugby League at a development entry level. These seasons will include development days, festival based fixtures and full friendly fixtures.

MRCF Foundation Manager, Matt Valentine, spoke about the need for this within Manchester and the wider areas;

Manchester is an area which can be a key development region for Rugby League. As the area is a non-traditional heartland, there is often a battle against other sporting commitments in order to engage young people within community clubs.

The league system has been developed in order to allow potential participants the opportunity to play Rugby League without the reuqirement of committing to a season spanning from February to October.

When developing Rugby League its important we don’t fall into the mindset of one shape fits all. What works in traditional areas isn’t necessarily the best way forward for Manchester and other fledgling areas. This programme has been specially tailored from the target areas all the way through to the community playing season so that it fits Manchester and the people of Manchester.

 

Alongside all new delivery is the continued support of established club Belle Vue Bees ARLFC. Formed in 2016, Belle Vue Bees, based in Gorton, are an example of what can be acheived in Manchester with a large playing squad enjoying playing Rugby League, many of whom won’t have touched a Rugby ball before being engaged in schools delivery. With one team competing within North West Counties and a further two teams entering into the Manchester Development structure in 2020, the future is bright for Rugby League in Manchester.

A full time development officer has been put in place to oversee the bulk of delivery. Henry Davies, a current Salford Red Devils reservist and former Manchester Ranger, will be working across the target areas bringing Rugby League to the masses of Manchester. Originally from Cheltenham, Henry is very familar with what it takes to develop Rugby League in non-traditional areas and is a success story of such development.

An open forum will be held on Saturday 15th February at 10am  for anyone with an interest in developing Rugby League. The forum is open invite and attendance can be confirmed by emailing charlotte.clynch@rfl.co.uk

 

 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY PLANS FOR MANCHESTER AS A PARTICIPANT OR VOLUNTEER – PLEASE CONTACT COMMUNITY@MANCHESTERRANGERS.CO.UK FOR MORE DETAILS

For further details on the wider RFL strategy for Greater Manchester, please click HERE

Manchester Rangers will withdraw from NWML Division 2 with immediate effect

In January 2019 the previous board of Manchester Rangers decided they were no longer pursuing a professional licence and as such withdrew support and funding from the club whilst giving the full blessing for Manchester Rangers to continue under the current group of players and volunteers.

A new committee was put in place to try and keep the team running on a smaller scale but despite tireless efforts have been unable to regroup the team over a short period of time. Due to a number of logistical issues and a loss of playing members the committee have taken the decision to withdraw from NWML with immediate effect, to give time for all of the requirements of running the club to be met. This is not a permanent withdrawal and Manchester Rangers will return to NWML once this has been put in place.

This withdrawal will only effect the senior open age side and will have no bearing on our junior section, Belle Vue Bees, or the fantastic work being done developing Rugby League by Manchester Rangers Community Foundation.

Manchester Rangers are looking for a new Head Coach ahead of the 2019 season

 

We are looking for a passionate and committed individual to lead up our coaching team for the 2019 season. Applicants must be able to commit to training and match days and be driven to work with an ambitious team.

At this time, this role is a voluntary position.

For further details and to register your interest, please contact Matt Valentine on matt.valentine@manchesterrangers.co.uk

Rangers season came to a close as they were downed by deserved victors in Cumbria

 

Last Saturday saw Rangers season come down to one game when they faced the Champions Ulverston in Cumbria, the winner going through to the Grand Final. Facing a team that had suffered few defeats in the league and away was never going to be easy.

To compound the problem many of the regular squad were out injured or unavailable, with this being a playoff game were unable to call in players from the train on squad, resulting in Rangers only being able to travel with 16 players away. Weather conditions favoured Rangers attracting style of Rugby and the pack still contained a formidable selection of players in Jack Mccarthy, Rubin Holland, Jack Bailey, Steve Jones, Joe Butcher, Henry Davies and Max Horsfall.

Ulugbek Djurabekov move from the back line to the forwards made up with mental toughness and determination what he gave away in size. Rangers went out with the game plan to control the first half dozen sets and keep the completion rates high, they did this with machine-like precision for the first quarter of the game.

 

After 22 mins the first try of the game came from Josh Hill after Jack McCarthy punched a hole up the field Connor Winfield used the space to draw defenders before dropping off Josh hill into a gap in front of opposition try line. Jordan Green converted and Rangers looked in control.

 

However, mistakes and ill-discipline followed and it was 6-6 after a quick Ulverston reply, then in a game of tight percentages, a ball bounced well for Ulverston and it was 12-6 to home side with 12 mins in the half to go.  But a few lapses in control for Rangers resulted in giving away penalties and the score was 16-6 at halftime.

 

HALF TIME: Ulverston 16 – 6 Manchester Rangers

 

The second half started well for Rangers with Max Horsfall storming down the wing to almost score before getting caught by Ulverston defenders as

he looked to pass with a great covering effort. Max set the attacking temp for Rangers who rewarded with repeated sets on the line, but the visitors failed to execute the attacking plays smoothly enough to unlock the champion’s defence.

 

However, Rangers continued to push Ulverston and 14 minutes into the second half and a spear tackle on Lug saw the Cumbrians reduced to 12 men with the number 8 getting a rest  in the sin bin. A series of penalties handed control of the game to Ulverston, despite the man disadvantage, to allow them to extend the lead to 28-6 over Rangers.

 

However, Manchester is a city that never knows when it is beat and Jack Mcarthy started the revival.  Driving through the field to be held down getting a second set of six in Ulverston end of the field.  Rubin Holland decided he would drive the ball through to set up a series of attacking plays from Rangers.

 

That relentless attack saw Tyrone Chipchase dart across to the right side of the field drawing the defence in enough to allow Ulugbek Djurabekov to rocket through the gap in the defence.  Old faithful Jordan Green converted, 20 minutes to play and it was 28-12 to Ulverston.

 

Rangers continued to attack the home team and it was Dan Munt who took the ball off the line brushing the Ulverston backs aside after being the final player in a cross-field move from the Manchester team. However, little remained on the clock and the score was Ulverston 28-16 Rangers.

 

Onfield confusion resulted in an uncharacteristic defensive error on the line and the final score end Rangers Season for 2018 with a defeat to Ulverston 32-16. Ulverston closed out the game deserved winners and progressed through to the Grand Final, whilst Rangers saw their season ended.

FULL TIME: Ulverston 32 – 16 Manchester Rangers

 

Manchester Rangers: 16

Tries: Hill, Djurabekov, Munt

Goals: Green (2 from 3)

 

Manchester Rangers Squad:

1. Tyrone Chipchase, 2. Oli Roby, 3. Lug Djurabekov, 4. Dan Munt, 5. Dan Roughley, 6. Josh Hill, 7. Jordan Green, 8. Rubin Holland, 9. Connor Winfield, 10. Steve Jones, 11. Joe Butcher, 12. Jack McCarthy, 13. Max Horsfall, 14. Henry Davies, 15. Jack Bailey, 16. Allan Khonje.

Manchester’s first Rugby League structured schools league to be launched in 2018

 

This academic year sees the launch of Manchester Rangers Community Foundation Schools League with five Secondary Schools across East and South Manchester participating in the pilot season. The first of it’s kind in Manchester, the schools league is a culmination of the development work carried out by Manchester Rangers in the community since their inception.

Manchester Rangers Community Development Manager, Matt Valentine, spoke about the importance of creating a schools pathway in Manchester;

I’m delighted that we have been able to pilot this league in 2018, it’s something that has been needed within the city for a number of years now and with the support of key partners it has come to fruition. A big thanks goes to our community sponsor, 33 Legal, as without their support this would not have been possible.

With the formation of Belle Vue Bees in 2016 there is now an exit route for these players to become involved in Rugby League outside of school. However, we need to grow the schools competition in order to ensure there is the interest in playing community Rugby League; the schools league will provide a platform to do this.

Whilst there has been ever growing participation numbers in schools Rugby League, the 13 a side playing opportunities have been limited but this will be the first step in providing regular fixtures, a key part of the participants development.

The schools league will see each participating school playing 6 fixtures throughout the academic year across the Year 10 age group, with a view to growing the league in the coming years with both more schools and age groups.

If any school is interested in joining the Manchester Rangers Community Foundation Schools League for the 2019/20 academic year, please register your interest via matt.valentine@manchesterrangers.co.uk

 

If you are interested in any of 33Legal’s services you can contact them for a free initial discussion on 01772 958 006 or on jordan@my33legal.co.uk

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Manchester Rangers face Oldham St Annes A for the third time in 2018 for a place in the NWML Trophy Final

 

With one win piece heading into this weekends Trophy Semi Final clash, it looks to be shaping up for a fantastic game at Higginshaw Road, home of Oldham St Annes. Each team has picked up a win on the road against each other in 2018 and Rangers will be looking to continue that trend to secure the final berth next Saturday.

The two teams couldn’t be tighter together with Rangers in second place and Oldham in 3rd place in NWML Division 2 so it will be anyone’s game to win come Saturday.

Manchester Rangers Head Coach, Matt Valentine, spoke about the semi final clash

Oldham are a very talented side and they showed that at our place and were deserved winners on the night, it was one of the best displays we’ve had against us this year and we will need to be on top of our game if they play anything near to that on Saturday.

They have some key players who direct them round the park well and we will need to keep them quiet if we want to come away with the win. As long as we are proud in defence I know our attack will look after itself, no team has scored more points than us this year and it’s been a big feature of our season.

Oldham St Annes A v Manchester Rangers

Saturday 28th July, 14:30KO

Higginshaw Rd, Oldham OL1 3JY

Rangers secure NWML Trophy Quarter Final berth with convincing victory over Panthers

 

In what turned out to be a comfortable win for Rangers, it didn’t always look that way with Chorley starting the brighter of the two sides and controlling the early exchanges. Chorley scored first with a penalty goal before extending their lead through a converted try, Tyrone Chipchase hitting back from a Rangers set play bu Jordan Green unable to add the extras.

Chorley then further extended their lead before Rangers got ahead for the first time through tries from Dan Munt and Ben Steele, Green and Connor Winfield adding one goal a piece heading into half time.

HALF TIME: Manchester Rangers 16 – 12 Chorley Panthers

 

The second half belonged predominantly to the Rangers, though Chorley never stopped fighting to get back into the game. Rangers showed too much pace for a tiring Chorley pack as pace men Chipchase and Munt scored 5 more tries between them, either side of a Chorley consolation, to lock in the Rangers victory. Winfield kicked 3 more conversions whilst Green nailed his opportunity from the side line

FULL TIME: Manchester Rangers 44 – 16 Chorley Panthers

 

Manchester Rangers: 44

Tries: Chipchase (4), Munt (3), Steele

Goals: Green (2 from 3), Winfield (4 from 5)

 

Man of the Match: Jack McCarthy & Tyrone Chipchase

 

Manchester Rangers Squad:

1. Tyrone Chipchase, 2. Oli Roby, 3. Jarryd Chiha, 4. Dan Munt, 5. Mitch Dempsey, 6. Ben Steele, 7. Jubril Olajide, 8. Jack McCarthy, 9. Jordan Green, 10. Steve Jones, 11. Lug Djurabekov, 12. Max Horsfall, 13. Adam Heal, 14. Connor Winfield, 15. Jack Bailey, 16. Rubin Holland, 17. Allan Khonje

 

Rangers host Panthers for the second time in a month as they look to reach the Quarter Final of the NWML Trophy

 

Manchester Rangers will face Chorley Panthers for the third time this season when they meet in the round of 16 of the NWML Trophy. As has become tradition between these sides, the previous encounters have been hard fought battles that couldn’t be closer! Rangers taking the spoils by 2 points at the Panthers home whilst Chorley held Manchester Rangers to a draw at Manchester Regional Arena.

Manchester Rangers Head Coach, Matt Valentine, knows this game will be a tough test

Chorley are one of those teams that we struggle to get on top of. They’ve got a big pack and two very good halves that move them round the pitch and are dangerous when they strike. When they get quick play of the balls their hooker can be lethal so it’s important we dominate that collision area and give ourselves time to set in defence.

It’s a good opportunity for me to have a look at some players who haven’t featured much this season without the pressure of 2 league points hanging over us. We’ve had a really tough time with players missing over the past month and that is continuing but it’s valuable experience for the squad and will only make us stronger as a whole moving into the business end of the season.

Manchester Rangers v Chorley Panthers

Saturday 14th July, 14:30KO

Belle Vue Sports Village, Kirkmanshulme Lane, M12 4TF

Rangers get back to winning ways with spirited performance against Wigan St Cuthberts

 

After a shaky June period, Manchester Rangers got back to winning ways as in form and top of the table Wigan St Cuthberts rolled into Manchester Regional Arena. The omens looked shaky for Rangers early doors as Cuthberts registered the first points within 5 minutes as Jordan Penny crossed but couldn’t convert his own try. Rangers quickly hit back though as Ben Steele spotted space down the blind side and Jarryd Chiha’s delectable flick pass released Allan Khonje to score, Green just missing from out wide.

The first half saw three more tries scored; two for Rangers and one of Cuthberts. It was the two Rangers tries that came first as Jack McCarthy powered over from close range and Micth Dempsey latched onto the end of a Ben Steele kick through with Chris Bamber kicking one from two conversion attempts. Cutrhberts closed the scoring for the first half as a well worked play saw Wigan’s winger, Owen Charnock, crash over his opposite number to score.

HALF TIME: Manchester Rangers 14 – 8 Wigan St Cuthberts

 

The second started brilliantly for the Rangers as they extended their lead within 40 seconds. Steele breaking through on the lift and finding a lovely

inside ball to the supporting Adam Heal, Jordan Green making no mistake with the boot. An arm wrestle ensued as both teams struggled to gain an attacking advantage before an individual piece of magic from Tyrone Chipchase broke the deadlock.

Carrying from his own half Chipchase found space in the Wigan line and cut through before rounding the fullback, unfortunately tearing his hamstring in the process. The full back had the wherewithal to find the supporting Mitch Dempsey who finished the break with lightning speed, Green once again good with the boot.

Cuthberts gave Rangers a slight scare through tries from Ryan Ashall and a second from Jordan Penny with one succesful conversion but it wasn’t enough to make a comeback as Rangers closed the game out to pick up the two points.

FULL TIME: Manchester Rangers 26 – 18 Wigan St Cuthberts

 

Manchester Rangers: 26

Tries: Khonje, McCarthy, Dempsey (2), Heal

Goals: Green (2 from 3), Bamber (1 from 2)

 

Man of the Match: Steve Jones

 

Manchester Rangers Squad:

1. Tyrone Chipchase, 2. Allan Khonje, 3. Jarryd Chiha, 4. Dan Munt, 5. Mitch Dempsey, 6. Ben Steele, 7. Tyrone Parsonage, 8. Adam Heal, 9. Jordan Green, 10. Jack McCarthy, 11. Max Horsfall, 12. Chris Bamber, 13. Josh Hill, 14. Connor Winfield, 15. Steve Jones, 16. Joe Butcher, 17. Oli Roby