In the early hours of Saturday morning, Matthew Hayden and Colts Captain Josh Jones alongside their friend Zac Madden being pursued by a black Nissan Micra on Kiln Lane and Wildhouse Lane, in an attempt to ram them off the road without any success. At the roundabout in Smithy Bridge they were twice rammed off the road by the same vehicle. The 4 men in the Micra then proceeded to run over Hayden as he exited the car.

18 year old Hayden, currently in Salford Royal hospital, had to have surgery on a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain suffered from the assault.

He now will be unable to take up a scholarship in America he was recently awarded, is unable to play rugby for a few years and could more importantly face life long health issues as a result of injuries he has sustained.

At the same time, driver Josh Jones who was unable to leave his vehicle and who has suffered significant hand and facial damage held off the other two men, believed to between 17-21 years old, who were trying to beat him with crowbars through the drivers side window. Zac Madden who had managed to find his way out of the back seat was thankfully unharmed.

Hayden, Josh and Zac are all relieved to be alive and recalled first coming in contact with the unknown attackers at the BP garage in Milnrow where the boys were minding their own business.

What is believed to be the same 4 men in a 2005 registered black/dark grey Nissan Micra were seen in Wardle area on Friday afternoon around the time of 6:40pm shouting racial slurs and abuse at some teenage boys as they were walking between Wardle village and the high school.

The police and the club are appealing to any and all witnesses that might have seen what happened at either incidents or know who they are to contact the police immediately.