First piece of silverware for North Derbyshire Chargers

PTRL is a non-contact version of rugby league for both men and women over the age of 14. And Chargers have the only PTRL franchise for the north of the county.

Their success came in the first Coast To Coast competition day held in Scarborough for teams across the country. Chargers lifted the trophy without losing a single game.

The team comprised captain Tom Schofield, Josh Dawson, Henry Finlay, Richard Crummack, Ewan McNeil, Dan Lewis, Corey Crummack, Aaron Lane, Tom Hughes and Dave Brown.

They were drawn against Catterick, Thorne A and Thorne B and proved to be unstoppable with two wins and a draw across the tournament. The award for Chargers’ most valuable player of the competition went to Tom Hughes.

The team’s entry into the three-day tourney was sponsored by Matlock Farm Park, whose spokesperson said: “We told them to go out and bring the cup back -- and they did!”

Chargers’ chairman Ged Connolly-Thompson said: “I am proud of the team. It was nice to see new players coming into the sport alongside those who have been with us from the start. They fought hard and their victory was well deserved.”

Chargers have now been invited to play at PTRL’s Summer Bash Championship Weekend, to be held in Blackpool on May 29. They are also looking forward to their next Coast to Coast competition day, which is at Featherstone on July 9. This will be followed by a third one at Blackpool on September 10. As well as the rugby, the days feature music and entertainment.

Anyone wishing to get involved in PTRL is invited to go along to one of the club’s sessions. They are held at Springwell Community College, of Staveley, on Wednesday evenings and at Frederick Gent School, of South Normanton, on Sunday mornings. Players with or without experience of playing rugby are welcome.