Rylands Masters Rugby League

LIVE FROM BENNETTS REC: THE BATTLE OF THE BILE

Good evening, sports fans! Tonight we broadcast live from a sweltering Bennets Rec, where the air was thick, the heat was oppressive, and the deep heat was applied liberally. Rylands played host to the Culcheth Masters in a clash that promised high drama, or at the very least, a few pulled hamstrings.

The Pre-Game Cultural Clash

The entertainment actually arrived early, courtesy of about 30 local youths blasting tunes and living their best lives. Safe to say, their vibe shifted dramatically from "festival" to "confusion" when 40 men of a certain vintage rolled up, smelling of ibuprofen and optimism. The youth of today simply weren't ready for that much tape and Lycra.

First Half: Unstoppable Force meets Immovable (and Slowing) Objects

Once the whistle blew, it was the usual brutal affair. Culcheth came out firing, throwing the ball around with the kind of reckless abandon that suggests they don’t have to go to work tomorrow. They created chances. Many chances.

But Rylands' middle forwards had other ideas. Acting as a human brick wall—admittedly, a brick wall that takes a moment to get back up after a tackle—they kept the visitors at bay for a heroic stint.

Eventually, the tide turned. Rylands managed to camp out in Culcheth territory. Rumor has it a bit of "slick passing" occurred, followed by an absolute heat-seeker of a bullet pass that somehow found Stu Hull on the wing. Stu caught it, didn't drop it, and touched down. 1-0 to the fitness levels.

The Blueprint Success

The game then settled into a beautiful, exhausting rhythm. The forwards laid a platform—which is code for "collapsed into a pile of limbs"—allowing Hade Gahgan and Al Redecliff to pull the strings and push the ball around.

Special nod to the Craig Middlemore, who was pushing up the rear with some superb support play, mostly yelling "give me a break" in harmony.

If it works once, do it again. Al Redecliff channeled his inner Tom Brady once more, firing another absolute missile out to Paul Lake, who hit a running line so beautiful it brought a tear to the eye. Trytime, Lakey!

The Second Half: The Survival Phase

The second half was... well, it was a lot of the same, just significantly slower. It became a bit stop-start—mostly stop—but the magnificent men in the middle kept chugging along like old diesel engines.

The 'Miracle Hands' Award:
Stu Hull & Paul Lake

The 'Never Again' Medal
Spid

Post-Match Debrief

A massive shoutout to the Culcheth Masters for a cracking, hard-fought game of rugby. Huge thanks also to Ste Allen, who wore the whistle and successfully managed to keep 40 competitive grandmas from micro-managing him.

And finally, a moment of silence for Spid, who stepped up to run the line tonight. His official post-match press statement was simply: "Never again." The fans are already chanting: "Come back Brinko, all is forgiven! We’ll even pay for your petrol!"

Someone get these men a pint and an ice pack.

Rylands Masters v Culcheth Masters

FRIDAY 22nd MAY
7PM KO

Bennetts Recreation Ground, Station Road, Padgate, Warrington WA2 0DF

This week on Bloody Amateurs, the lads sit down with rugby star Alan Reddecliff for a brilliant mix of laughs, memories, honesty and proper rugby chat.

From freezing mornings at Grappenhall Griffins to professional spells with Widnes and Warrington, Alan talks through his journey in the game — including playing alongside legends like Sean Long, facing future stars, captaining successful amateur sides, and eventually finding a second rugby family through union and Masters rugby.

The episode dives into everything that makes grassroots sport special: discipline, camaraderie, dressing room chaos, family support, and the mental health benefits that come from being part of a team. There’s also plenty of classic Bloody Amateurs nonsense along the way, including stories about deep heat disasters, Wolfie getting punched, Masters rugby madness, and why nobody should ever underestimate the power of a rugby changing room.

Expect rugby stories, laughs, emotional moments, and the usual off-the-rails banter from the Bloody Amateurs crew.

Featuring:
🏉 Alan Reddecliff
🏉 Professional rugby memories from Widnes & Warrington
🏉 Amateur glory days with Leigh Miners & Warrington Wizards 🏉 Masters rugby, mental health & camaraderie
🏉 Stories about Sean Long, Sam Burgess, modern rugby & more

Like, subscribe, and send Ricky an email… preferably something inappropriate.

https://rss.com/podcasts/bloody-amateurs/2827906/

https://youtu.be/DOCd6EbhisQ?si=Grn3G_UCr9BPM7s3

Rylands Grind Out Superb Performance on Freezing Trip to Thatto Heath

Rylands made the journey to Thatto Heath this week for the very first encounter between the two sides. The conditions were deceptive to say the least—whilst the sun was shining bright, the temperature was absolutely freezing. In fact, it was so bitterly cold that the bench had to wrap Swifty in blankets just to keep him mobile before kick-off!

A Tight, Hard-Fought First Half

After a lengthy wait, the match finally got underway with Thatto Heath kicking off. The game quickly settled into a tense, ebbing and flowing rhythm. Rylands managed the conditions well, dominating territory and playing the vast majority of the first half deep inside the opposition's half.

Thatto Heath proved to be dangerous opponents, throwing the ball around with impressive speed and some incredibly slick passing links. However, the Rylands defence was nothing short of superb to deny them.

Relentless In The Middle

The battle in the forwards was fiercely contested, and the boys in the middle laid the platform for the performance. Mike Ward, Jordan Eastwood, Gavin Moss-Bartley, Mark Thorpe, Jason Murray, and Joe Clarke deserve a massive shout-out for their relentless work rate in both attack and defence.
Behind that gritty forward pack, the creative sparks were flying. Hade Gahgan, Curtis Eaves, and Neil Evans did a brilliant job of organising the play and pushing the ball around with real purpose. It was a true display of spirit, grit, and determination from the entire squad.

The defensive pressure and attacking persistence eventually paid off, with crucial tries coming from Mike Ward and Joe Clarke to cap off a fantastic evening's work.

Acknowledgements

A super run-out for Rylands tonight. A huge thank you to everyone at Thatto Heath for hosting us and to the referee for managing a great game. We thoroughly enjoyed the contest and look forward to locking horns again in the future.

A massive thank is to Adam for some superb pictures. Thanks mate.

Rylands Sharks have a gritty comeback against Haresfinch for a super 0-0 draw

Rylands travelled in force this weekend, boasting a formidable 22-man squad. However, the strength in numbers didn't immediately translate to the scoreboard in what proved to be a testing encounter.

A Frustrating Opening Act
The first half was a disjointed affair, characterised by unforced errors and a lack of rhythm. Despite the "riddle-fuelled" performance, there were flashes of quality; Lloyd and Reddicliffe both crossed the white line to keep the Sharks within touching distance. Nevertheless,

Rylands headed into the sheds at halftime trailing, needing a significant shift in momentum.

The Turning Point
The interval saw tactical substitutions and a blunt "pep talk" from the coaching staff. The message was clear:

• Respect the ball: Eliminate the cheap turnovers.
• Show Desire: Win the physical battle in defence.
• Patience in Attack: Trust the systems rather than forcing the final pass.

Second Half Surge

The response was immediate. A rejuvenated Sharks side emerged with a transformed attitude, dominating territory and possession. The pressure eventually told as the floodgates opened, with Ward, Poole, and Clarke all powering over for crucial tries.

Beyond the scoring, it was the "grit and steel" of the defensive effort that stood out. Rylands displayed immense character and tact to manoeuvre through the closing stages, weathering the Haresfinch storm to secure a hard-fought victory.

Acknowledgements
A massive thank you to the lads for turning out in such great numbers. Special thanks to Steve Allen for his fair officiating, and to Haresfinch for their superb hospitality and a great competitive spirit.

Rylands Masters v Haresfinch Masters

SATURDAY 2ND MAY
1PM KO

Haresfinch Rd, St. Helens, WA11 9NS

BREAKING NEWS!!! We have found the 4th try scorer. It was Carl Lloyd all along. A wonderful hatrick. Here’s some pics courtesy of Anna.

Sun, Sweat & Suspiciously Long Tries – Ryland’s North Wales Adventure

This Saturday, we packed the bags, crossed the border, and headed into North Wales for what was meant to be rugby league… and turned into an all-you-can-eat festival of graft.

After our original fixture was cancelled, huge credit goes to North Wales and Culcheth, who kindly sorted a three-way game so we could still get our fix of bumps, bruises and bad decisions. Top class from both clubs.

As tradition demands whenever we visit Wales, the sun was absolutely blazing. Honestly, we’re starting to suspect we bring it with us. Perfect conditions for rugby… less perfect for anyone who forgot deodorant.

With only 15 players available, the odds were stacked against us before kick-off. Matters got even more desperate when Brinko was named at scrum-half – a position he hasn’t played since around 1967, give or take a decade. Archaeologists were alerted.

Game One – vs North Wales
We started cautiously, feeling our way into the game like dads trying to use self-checkout. But with some serious defence and plenty of grit, we gradually took control.

Powerful carries from Adam Peers, Lee Ryder, and Carl Lloyd laid the perfect platform for Hade Gahgan, who pulled the strings beautifully and moved the ball around like he had it on remote control.

The tries came through Brinko, Carl Lloyd x2, and another scorer whose identity has sadly been lost somewhere between the touchline and the post-match drinks.

Game Two – vs Culcheth
The second game was another cracking contest. Culcheth looked sharp, organised, and very impressive for a fairly new side. What followed was a proper arm wrestle – tough, physical, and full of effort from both teams.
Once again, Lloyd, Peers, and Ryder battered the middle and gave Hade the platform to work his magic.

The scores came from:
* Lee Ryder, who casually ran in from 50 yards, apparently forgetting everyone else was tired.
* Carl Lloyd, who touched down probably from 5 yards, proving he prefers efficiency over cardio.

There were also several moments where Lee Ryder and Adam Peers burst through from 60 yards out, each time seemingly searching for someone in gold to tag them.

Special mentions to Ryder, Lloyd, Peers, Marty Willow and Hade.

Final Word
A brilliant day in the sunshine, two gritty performances, and a proper display of team spirit with numbers against us. Exactly what rugby league is all about.
Massive thanks as always to Ste for refereeing and keeping some level of order.

Next week: we’re away at Haresfinch. Bring water. Bring tape. Bring witnesses.

Rylands Masters Festival

Saturday 11th July
at Bennets Recreation Ground, Warrington
From 1pm till 5pm

Applications now open.
Few spaces remaining.

Contact:
Hade Gahgan 07894 448 321