Alnwick Bears are up and running

History was made at the weekend when Alnwick Bears played their first every Rugby League match.

The club’s U8s and U10s travelled to Cramlington Learning Village, home of sister club Cramlington Rockets, for some friendly matches that saw the newly launched club give their new maroon and gold strips their first public viewing.

The match comes ten months after it was announced that a team was to be formed in Alnwick following two years of development in the local schools by Cramlington Rockets.

The current RFL Community Club of the Year has been developing the sport in the local schools via its Community arm and last year held the first ever rugby league competition in Alnwick, with 150 schoolchildren taking part.

With the excitement palpable on both sides of the touchline, the rugby was played in good spirits with smiles aplenty as history was made.

Prior to the launch of Alnwick Bears, Cramlington Rockets were Northumberland’s only rugby league club but such was demand for the game, it was decided by the Rockets to launch a satellite club.

Norman Murray had the honour of scoring the first ever Alnwick Bears try, dotting down for the U8s, with Kiemi Stewart the first to cross the line for the U10s in the later game.

With several players Peterlee Pumas joining the U8s match give more youngsters the chance to play, Chairman Steve Beaty was thrilled to be off the mark.

“I am exhausted but elated. Today has been one of my best ever day’s in the sport, and to see it all come together has been brilliant.

“We have been training since February and, despite the Beast from the East hitting in week two, we have been adding new faces steadily and every week the kids and learning more and more.

“Seeing the Bears in their strips for the first time was amazing and everyone has been buzzing all weekend.

“It’s exciting when you consider we left the Bear Cubs up in Alnwick, who will be next year’s U8s, so already we are building for the future.

“For now though, it is all about today and getting more kids into rugby league and we are looking forward to seeing what comes next.”

Alnwick Bears are recruiting and have teams U8s, U10s and Bear Cubs for 2-6 year olds. For more information visit www.alnwickbears.co.uk or message them via [email protected] or social media.