North West Men’s League side Haresfinch are currently enjoying their Division 2 campaign and last week enjoyed being selected as the Domino’s Pizza, St Helens game of the week with all the gastronomic benefits which that entails.
 
The St Helens based club also have plans in place to expand the club at a sustainable rate by introducing a new under-8s side every year until they have a full youth and junior section.
 
Club Secretary Dom Gale explains: “We’re currently running an open age side and an under-8s team but are looking at introducing under-8s or under 7-s every year so we will have eventually have a youth section all the way through every season.
 
“We’re really enjoying the season so far. The switch to summer has improved our numbers which have just about doubled with between 25 and 30 players training.
 
“We’ve found definitely found playing in better conditions and training in summer to be easier.
 
“Our game against Spring View was selected as the Domino’s game last week and it was the first ever time we’ve beaten them.
 
“It was a good day all round and as you can imagine Domino’s were well received, we had the weather, the facilities looked great and we had lots of positive feedback.”
 
Life at the club began in the summer of 1979 as the outcome of talks between Franke Martin and Kenny Roberts who had recently taken over as steward at the club and was looking to boost trade.
 
It was a bit of a struggle that first year as the players got washed and changed in the club toilets, lack of funding and wearing workers jumpers from Pilkingtons, which after a bit of altering (Sandra Simmons stitching numbers onto the back of them) served as the first kit.
 
The team remained steadfast and stuck at it and the following season (1980/81) the original team now with a few additions including the likes of Billy Beef and Ray Foster to name a few went on to win the Division Four championship - seven points clear of runners-up Rose Bridge and having scored almost 1,000 points in all games.
 
The second team was formed in 1983 following growing numbers season upon season.
 
One of the club highlights was the Lancashire Cup Final of 1985 v Simms Cross when the final scoreline (21-0) is described by the club as being harsh on Haresfinch who dominated the opening quarter.
 
This was a time when all the top teams in the county entered and Haresfinch had to beat Saddleworth and Wigan St Pats first teams to get there. Haresfinch also won Division Two that season (1985/86) not bad considering 12 months earlier they were Division 3 runners up.
 
The early 90's saw a new look team return to winning ways and for successive seasons go on to win the league.
 
The season 1991/92 Haresfinch were crowned champions of the North West Counties Division Six only to better it the following year having jumped two leagues to division Four to be crowned champions again.
 
The years 1993-1996 Haresfinch witnessed even more success in winning the Silcock shield for the best disciplined team in the County twice out of three years.
 
It was this time that ex-player Billy Beef founded the first junior Rugby League team of the club.
 
In more recent years Haresfinch have competed in North West Counties Division Three League and each year are looking stronger and stronger.
 
In 2010 they were unfortunate to lose out to a much higher division team in the St Helens cup final - playing the last ever competitive game at the old St Helens Rugby League ground, Knowsley Road.

The club will celebrate their 35th year anniversary in the next summer season and will be competing in NMWL division 2.

Training times are 7pm Tuesday and Thursday at Haresfinch rugby club where all new members are most welcome.

The club would like to thank their sponsors for their continued support:

PIMMIES PIES
RED KITE TRAVEL
SJ LEISURE SERVICES
FASTTRAK SUPPLIMENTS
HARESFINCH SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB
 
For more information on Haresfinch visit: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/haresfinch/