It’s a challenging journey to Wembley.
Last weekend was round one of this year’s Rugby League Challenge Cup competition. At this stage amateur clubs fight it out before the professionals join in.Teams from several countries were competing, including Red Star of Belgrade.
I saw Normanton Knights host Edinburgh Eagles. It was probably the first time that Normanton and Edinburgh had competed against each other at any sport.
I assume that all readers are familiar with the city of Edinburgh but that Normanton is an unknown location. Normanton is a small town just east of Wakefield and a few miles south of Leeds. Its original prosperity was based on rich coal seams that were mined for many years. It was also a major railway junction and its station used to have the fourth longest platform in the kingdom !
The town has a rich sporting heitage. Indeed local athletes have made played in international events. Les Cusworth who represented England at Rugby Union is a local lad. However the Normantonian who has made the biggest impact to world class sport was not an athlete. He is Dr. Alister MacKenzie. He was a physician who became an architect of golf courses. His most famous work is the Augusta National, home of The Masters.
Rugby League is the most popular sport in the area. Scores of professional players started their careers playing for amateur clubs in the town and surrounding villages. The finest of all being Neil Fox, an all time great who came from Sharlston.
On Saturday there was a good crowd to enjoy the sport. The Eagles went into an early lead but they could not match the power and experience of the Knights, who were comfortable winners and now prepare for the second round of the tournament.
Gordon's Gubbins. 