WELCOME It gives me great pleasure to welcome Bradford Salem back to Acklam Park. The last time we were in Y1 we never did play our home game. It was going to be a league and Yorkshire Shield double-header and should have been played after our Christmas lunch but with four of their players already here by car we got the message that their bus had broken down and they couldn't complete the journey. Thereafter in a season beset by inclement weather three attempts to play the natch failed and at the end of the season, with the result having no bearing on the final table, the postponement became a cancellation.

Earlier that season on a dank and dreary day we beat Salem 9-10 at Shay Lane. It was not the best of spectacles but Richard Ward did his best to liven up proceedings. Shortly after his post-match comments: “Great win lads, but please don't cut it so close next time – you'll give me a heart attack!” he collapsed, suffering a heart attack.

There followed exemplary care by everyone, including the Salem members and staff, for which we are all extremely grateful, and then the fastest-ever trip to Leeds Infirmary cardio department. Happily Richard was soon up and about, and in fact was again with the team this season at Shay Lane in October. He walked into the clubhouse and received a standing ovation from our hosts! I'm pleased to say he is also here today to cheer on the team. On yet another damp and drizzly day in October we took a three point lead but were 17-6 down at half time. Another three-pointer from AB and then a penalty try edged us ever closer to our hosts before the Andrew's Sloan and Baggett added the final scores to earn us a 17-23 victory. Incidentally we could yet play Salem a third time this season. In the Yorkshire Silver Trophy we are due to play at the winners of Salem v Thornensians, a result we should know on 5 February.

In 2019/20 our visitors finished mid-table with nine wins from 22 games. To date their league campaign this season has been disappointing. They won their opening fixture at home to Roundhegians but had to wait until December for their next success, winning two home games, against Pontefract and O Rish, meaning they've lost six home games and all five away fixtures. I'm sure they'll be fired up this afternoon and determined to improve that record.

JANUARY RUGBY After a memorable Festive Season we steeled ourselves for a return to league rugby and a tough start to the New Year. Happily we've successfully negotiated our opening two matches in 2022. Both were hard fought and very competitive contests. Our first visitors of the year were Beverley, who had beaten table-toppers O Crossleyans in their previous game. The players dedicated the match to Colin Hill, Brendan's father, who sadly died a week earlier. Before the game both teams, along with the Wasps and Durham City players on the adjacent pitch and the spectators joined together in a minute's applause in Colin's memory.

We started the match strongly, exerting sustained pressure on their line but our visitors' staunch defence kept us at bay until – and almost inevitably – they took the lead with a penalty! However we re-grouped and on the half hour we scored a try to take a lead we never relinquished. And the try-scorer? In true Roy of the Rovers style it was Brendan – it just had to be! No 0ne was going to stop Brendan casting aside the opposition as he powered over the line. Colin would have been chuffed to bits. Chris Mc added a second before the break, taking us into the second period when Pete and Joe forced their way over the line and Andrew added two penalties and the conversions against two Beverley tries to make the final score 30-15.

This was followed by a trip to Bridlington, the first of two difficult away matches in January. Their performance here in September, their recent impressive results and the appearance of a brand new antipodean huge front row suggested a tough game, and so it proved. For 30 minutes we were under intense pressure but exceptionally determined defence kept the score down to 10-0 at the first quarter and then 17-3. Resilience has been a feature of the team all season and we gradually forced our way back into the game with scores by Joe and Andrew reducing the deficit to a single point at the break. Another penalty from the ever reliable AB, a 60m interception try from Charlie and a penalty try put us 17-30 ahead going into the final 10 minutes. But then our hosts ran in two more tries to make the scoreline a nail-biting 27-30; however up stepped Andrew with another kick to settle the issue and earn the Man of the Match award from Bridlington.

After today we have two more consecutive away trips, first, next week we have another key fixture at third placed Pontefract, followed by our rearranged fixture at Goole before we're back at home in three weeks to West Leeds.

The January fixtures brought conflicting results against Durham sides for our Wasps. Playing the return game against the University Freshers, against whom we'd lost 33-17 in November, our boys were coping well with the young, fit and fast students. The half time score was 7-12, but then as so often happens scrums went uncontested, allowing the students plenty of clean ball. The game finished 7-47, but we were complimented by the referee for our endeavour and spirit. There followed a trip to City, where we won 5-22. A match report by Jonno is on p11. Following two matches cancelled by the opposition the week previous our 'A' XV eventually had a game against Stockton last week. The score was 45-29, but they got a game of rugby for the first time this year!

CLUB NEWS I am delighted to announce that we have strengthened our squad with a very welcome and exciting addition to our numbers. One joyously noisy Luca Moloney made an appearance three weeks ago and I'm sure will soon be joining the boys on the pitch. Many congratulations to Sean and Natalie, his ecstatic parents.

Don't forget to book your place with Tilly for Friday's Burns Night supper. I assure you it is a splendid evening of food, conversation and entertainment. And then the following evening there will be live music in the clubhouse to help you to finish January with a bang!

REFEREE'S CORNER This afternoon I am delighted to welcome Steve Penfold back to Acklam Park. Having been a regular visitor in recent years there was a gap of three years before he then returned in October to take charge of our match against Huddersfield YMCA. Steve is an ex-army man who went to Cranfield University, playing rugby for the University, REME and the Army U21s at hooker. He has been a referee for over 20 years and is a solicitor in Leeds.

BURNS NIGHT: Friday 28 January
3 course meal and wine only £20!

Always a wonderful evening it's the perfect way to brighten up
dismal January.

Book your place with Phil Tilson