SRFC READY FOR ASPATRIA!

Aspatria are our guests this weekend. A club with a pedigree as long as our own, the Cumbrian club has just celebrated its 150^th anniversary. Across the years, it has been one of the most successful clubs in the far north-west of England and has won their county cup on numerous occasions. During the late twentieth century Aspatria was a force to be reckoned with and was considered one of the top clubs in the north. This success is reflected in the number of players who gained international caps, many of whom will be familiar to readers. David Pears, the Harlequin and England fly half, began his career at Aspatria in the 1980s and was one of the reasons for the club's success about this time. He went on to earn four caps. He ended his career at Wharfedale. Rob Miller and Steve Hanley may also be names familiar to some. Steve gained one England cap and both played for Sale after early careers with Aspatria. The most successful, however, was Tosh Holliday – one of those rare dual internationals. He earned caps for England playing both union and league and was also part of the British Lions tour to South Africa in 1924. Aspatria does well to keep a competitive side going with the league towns of Workington and Whitehaven close by as well as the famous Wath Brow Hornets – one of the best-known amateur league clubs in the country.

The old Echo Ball shows determination!