A win for Lancashire in Rugby War of the Roses

A school rugby team sponsored by the Lanes Group has won the day for the red rose county in a match played ahead of the Leeds Rhinos v St Helens Super League clash.

The triumphant team, from Haslingden High School in Lancashire, beat Yorkshire’s Sherburn-in-Elmet School 14:10 in front of thousands of rugby league fans. Lanes Group was Haslingden High’s main sponsor for the match, which was part of Sky Sports’ Living for Sport initiative.

Both schools had formed rugby league teams from scratch in January this year with the help of league star and former England captain, Jamie Peacock. The build up to the big game on 3 July has been documented weekly in Sky’s ‘Boots n All’ programme.

The Super League game was a sell out, so there was a big crowd as the 14- and 15-year old Year 10 boys ran out onto the pitch at Headingley Stadium in Leeds. Wes Howarth, Head of PE at Haslingden High School, said the players may have been nervous but they looked the part:

“I don’t think the boys had any concept of how big a deal the game would be until they saw the stadium, the crowd and the Sky cameras. Thanks to Lanes’ sponsorship, they had professional kit and banners — even a team coach and away transport for their supporters!

“It was a night that none of us will ever forget: the whole school is still buzzing. And it has had a really positive effect on values, with attendance, punctuality and behaviour improving massively across the pupils involved.”

Lanes Group Managing Director Wayne Earnshaw said:

“We’re proud that we were able to make a practical contribution to a project which has had such an obviously beneficial impact on the youngsters. And although we have strong roots in both Rose counties, with depots in Leeds, Sheffield, Preston and Manchester, we’re thrilled with a victory for the Lanes-sponsored team from Lancashire.”

Highlights of the War of the Roses challenge will be shown in an hour-long ‘Boots n All’ episode to be screened on 30 July.