Member Article

Lanes backs Lancastastrians in Sky War of Roses

Lanes Group is allying itself with a Lancastrian school taking part in an exciting War of the Roses sporting challenge.

Haslingden High School in Haslingden, near Blackburn, has been selected to represent Lancashire in a War of the Roses rugby league match.

Lanes Group has agreed to be the school’s main sponsor in the innovative event being promoted by Sky Sports as part of its Living for Sport initiative.

On 3 July a squad of 20 boys, aged 14 to 15, from Haslingden High School will face opponents from Sherburn High School, in Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire.

Thankfully, they will not be on a battlefield, but at Headingly Stadium, in Leeds, before a Super League match between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens.

Living for Sport aims to use sports stars and sports skills to improve the lives of thousands of young people, inspiring them to be successful in life.

As part of the War of the Roses match preparations, former GB international Jamie Peacock MBE, who plays for Leeds Rhinos, has already led coaching sessions at both schools.

Wes Howarth, Head of PE at Hasingden High School, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us as a school, and everyone taking part.

“We’re very pleased that Lanes Group is supporting us, because we see this event as creating lasting benefits in terms of inspiring our pupils.

“Neither Haslingden High School nor Sherburn High School have a tradition of playing rugby league, so this is an excellent opportunity to introduce the sport to both schools.

“To think that all the hard work we’re putting in to training over the coming weeks will result in a televised match at Headingly Stadium in front of thousands of people is very exciting.”

To support the endeavours of the team on the pitch, a marketing team of six girls is promoting the event throughout the school and local community.

Wes Howarth said: “We have an initial aim of taking at least 200 spectators to the match, including pupils, relatives and supporters from the community.

“But we hope to have even more there than that. Sky Sports is giving the event a lot of exposure on its rugby league programmes, so it’s raising the profile of our school, as well as rugby league as a junior sport.”

Lanes Group is the UK’s leading drainage and maintenance specialists, and has strong roots in both Roses counties, with depots in Leeds, Sheffield, Preston and Manchester. Its HQ is in Leeds, West Yorkshire, but it also has HQ functions in Manchester.

Lanes Group Managing Director Wayne Earnshaw said: “We are delighted to be supporting Haslingden School. They do a fantastic amount of good work for their pupils, and this will only help them further.

“As our headquarters is in Leeds, so it may seem unusual that we should side with Lancashire in a War of the Roses match. But it just proves we are motivated by the spirit of fair play.”

Haslingden High School had already been participating in Living for Sport, which requires both schools and pupils to observe a clear set of values and performance measures.

The War of the Roses – the original one – lasted for more than 30 years, and resulted in much death and devastation.

Wes Howarth is confident the latest version will be much more productive, and much shorter. He said: “I am sure we will get on very well with our opponents from Sherburn High School. But we’ll have won the match by half time.”

Let battle commence!

• Watch regular updates on the two schools’ preparations for the War of the Roses match on the Boots N All rugby league magazine programme on Sky Sports 1 every Wednesday at 6pm.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Andy Comber .