Wath Brow Hornets ARLFC

Wath Brow Hornets Amateur and Junior Rugby League Football Club are a rugby league team based in Cleator Moor, Cumbria. They compete in the National Conference Premier. Their traditional colours are black and yellow. They are one of the oldest teams in the National Conference Premier. However, in the contrary to other teams of their era (1898), they have not been really successful and are not competing in the country's top divisions.

History

The game of rugby has been played in the Wath Brow area for a long time. The Hornets were formed in 1898, following the breakaway of rugby union in the area. The rugby union team in the area folded in 1895, and there was a period of time when there was no rugby of either code played in the area. The people in the area decided to form a rugby league team instead of union, this led to the formation of the Hornets.

1898–1939

In 1898, a player from the Hornets, by the name of Wilson, was chosen to represent Cumbria in a game against Cheshire. This was the first of many representations for the Hornets.

After six years of struggling competition for the Hornets, they folded in 1904. They wouldn't reform until 1920 when they were named the Wath Brow Hornets Northern Union. This stint of rugby lasted considerably more than the last time, but it was cut short in 1939 due to the outbreak of war. There was an extremely long time until rugby of any code would be played in the area of Wath Brow.

1955

1955 saw the reformation of the Wath Brow Hornets Amateur Rugby League Club. The first president of the club wasJ A Pickthall, with Bill Reed the chairman and Eddie Gate the secretary. This organised formation of the club sent out good signs for the future of the club.

Their first trophy was when they won the Cumberland Under 19s tournament with a final victory over Kells. One of the winning players that day was Alan Burns whom would later join Whitehaven, he in turn was followed to the Whitehaven club by Billie Holiday, who went on to captain Great Britain.

1960s

The 1960s was a time when the Hornets would really become one of the most feared teams in the Cumberland Amateur Rugby League, winning the championship and the top-four-play-offs. However, almost like a hoodoo, the Cumberland Cup was never won by Wath Brow in that era.

Notable players of that era include Keith Irving, who went on tho manage the Hornets and have stints of professional rugby league with Workington Town, and then became chairman of Whitehaven. Frank Snow went on to serve Whitehaven professionally and Johnny Rae, a Pica-born lad, eventually went on to play for Bradford Northern, and later achieved British glory in the same team as Billie Holiday.

1970s

It was the 1970s when the Wath Brow club started to make their mark. In 1973/74 the hornets achieved Under 17s Lancashire Youth Cup glory with a win over Whelley ARLFC 24-10. The following 1974/75 season saw the same two teams in the final, this time the Brow had to fight harder for a victory 15–6. The next time they would appear in a Lancashire Youth Cup final would be 1997, where the Hornets were beaten by the Widnes Tigers.

In 1979 they opened their new clubhouse and in the same year they were the first team to host a BARLA final, as they crossed swords with the Leigh Miners Welfare in the Lancashire/Cumbria decider. The Brow lost that game in a close contested encounter.

1980s

In 1980 the Hornets under-18s won the BARLA Lancashire/Cumbria Cup, defeating the Widnes Tigers in the final. The Brow side that day contained a lot of soon-to-be professional players including Ian Rudd, Colin Todd and Alan Pearson.

In the 1981 season, the Brow again reached the Lancashire/Cumbria final, where they missed out on the prize to close neighbours Millom 4-9. After the final loss the Hornets had the chance to make up for it when they reached the Cumberland Cup final, this, a trophy they had never won in their history. The Brow won the final and lifted the trophy for the first time in the club's history. They would lift the trophy again in 1983 and 1986, so it was apparent that the hoodoo had been lifted. Again, the trophy was won in the 1994/95 season with a victory over the mighty Ellenbourough Rangers.

1996–2002

The Ellenbourough Rangers refused to play their championship final so the trophy was as hotly contested as ever, The Hornets would eventually win it in the 1997/98 season, the first time they had lifted the championship for a long time.

The Hornets' celebrations of winning the championship were cut short by a BNFL BARLA cup final defeat to Skirlaugh from Humberside whom were flying high in the National Conference Premier. Also, that season saw the Hornets play against Hull KR in the Challenge Cup, the first time the Brow had played a professional team. They lost the game 56–4.

The 1999/00 season turned out to be the richest of their history, claiming 4 domestic trophies, including a retention of the league title. This was brought about by the new coaching partnership of Ian Rudd and Alfie Gregg.

The club reached new heights in the Challenge Cup in 1999. They reached the fourth round where they were drawn against the London Broncos. The Brow went down to the capital with high expectations, however, they came away with a 44-18 defeat to a Broncos team that went on to reach the final that year against the Leeds Rhinos, London lost the final. Although Wath Brow were defeated, they set a record in the Challenge Cup, achieving the first ever man of the match award for an amateur team player against a Super League club in the Challenge cup, Marc Jackson. They also conceded the least points for an amateur club against a super league club and also scored the most points for an amateur club against a super league side. The only blot in the Hornets season was a loss in the Championship Play-Off against Hensingham.

The season of 2000/01 proved to be momentous again as they were the first ever Cumbrian side to win all 5 trophies up for grabs.

2002–2009

2002/03 saw the Brow enter the National Conference League, the flagship of amateur rugby league. The club's second team were promoted to the CARLA first division after the previous season's success under joint management coaches of Kevin Howland and Lee Power. The first team lifted the Division 2 trophy and gained promotion to the First Division. Although there was a lot of success in the 02/03 season, the highlight was a win over professional rivals Workington Town in front of a crowd of 3500 fans.

The season of 2003/04 saw the Hornets promoted, this time to the National Conference Premier. This season also saw a Challenge Cup run.

From 2004 to 2006, the Hornets experienced quite a few knocks and blows, losing a lot of key players to retirement. This resulted in the Brow finishing in 7th place in their first season in the Premier.

In 2006. the Hornets won £500,000 on a lottery grant. This money was used for new changing rooms and a new gym. The club also gained the presige's club mark accreditation.

In 2007, the Hornets were relegated to Division 1.

The 2008/09 season saw the Hornets reach their goal by achieving promotion back to the premier. The club's A team also had a successful season.

Club history was made at the 2009 Challenge Cup final between the Huddersfield Giants and the Warrington Wolves. The Hornets received the Challenge Cup amateur team of the year award.

The Wire would run out victorious in the Final, claiming a 25–16 win against the Giants, The Wire's first Challenge Cup win since Alex Murphy's team in 1974.

2010–2015

In 2012, The Hornets were in 4th position; standings were accurate as of 3 July 2012.

Notable players

Billie Holiday - Achieved Great Britain captaincy Alan Burns Kevin Irving Frank Snow Johnny Rae Ian Rudd Colin todd Alan Pearson

Major honours

References

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