Rugby Reports

HOPPERS 19-11 MACCLESFIELD “Back to winning ways after four frustrating losses – a good win against a good side” was Coach Paul Arnold’s verdict after a hard-fought victory. “I was pleased that, after Macc scored their try, we didn’t panic and controlled the final quarter of the game, although it was disappointing that we didn’t […]

Wharfedale 39-22 Preston Grasshoppers A large crowd at the Avenue enjoyed the Autumnal sunshine and an afternoon of end-to-end rugby. Neither side was very good at protecting its own ball and counter attack was the order of the day. Perhaps the difference was that the home side’s backs often found holes in Hoppers defence whereas […]

Hoppers’ second consecutive trip over the Pennines produced the same outcome – a last play loss in a game that they could and probably should have won. They completely dominated in the first half but failed again to close the game out. The away side were quick to put the pressure on with some forward […]

Fylde 4th XV 10-29 Hoppers 4th XV Hoppers 4th travelled to Flyde with a strong squad available to Mick Mortimer and straight from the off they made it count! The game got off to a fast start with Flyde pilling on the pressure inside the hoppers 22 but some big hits from Stephen ‘Copper’ Lightfoot […]

Preston Grasshoppers 31 – 36 Sedgley Park A fast-paced, physical and entertaining game saw Hoppers facing their first really stern opposition of the season in Sedgley Park who finished second in the league last year. The team were led onto the field by the hugely popular Oga Mabaya who was given a deserved round of […]

Huddersfield 28 – 27 Preston Grasshoppers In a fast-paced game which saw some dogged defending by both packs, an almost certain Hoppers victory turned into a disappointing defeat at Lockwood Park. From the kick off Hoppers looked lively, shrugging off the sluggish start to their last away match with early penetrating runs by Altham and […]

4ths Fight back for the first game of the season Whilst Hoppers 1st entertained Fylde on Pitch 1 at Lightfoot green It was time for the new 4ths, having moved up to Division 4 North, to entertain Clitheroe 2nds on Pitch 2. Captain Mortimer led out a mixed team of new faces and returning old […]

PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS 18-15 FYLDE In terms of commitment and intensity, this game lived up to the pre-match hype – the first league meeting between these two local rivals for 7 years and, before comfortably the biggest crowd for some time, Hoppers took the spoils in a tight contest. The home pack put the pressure on […]

Chester 48 – 37 Preston Grasshoppers In an entertaining game at Chester’s Hare Lane, Hoppers’ return to League 2 North started with a sharp wake-up call. A penalty from the home side’s Tom Holloway who then converted Andrew Oakden’s try, saw them  10 – 0 down inside three minutes of the kick off. Chester continued […]

The under 14s entertained Wigan in a friendly fixture on Sunday. With a number of boys absent with the dreaded lurgy, Hoppers had only 16 players and were up against the leaders of the pool above them in the Junior Challenge. After a few words in the warm up the boys took to the field […]