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WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! A Super League DVD! Maybe those Aussies who so carped at the awarding of the sport’s highest individual honour to Kevin Sinfield might like to at least watch how the 2012 Super League season unfolded before passing their asinine comments. “He must’ve had a hell of a year to beat the likes of Ben Barba, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith,” said former Australian Test half Greg Alexander. Well now he can judge for himself if he cares to get hold of the two-disc The OfficialStoryofStobartSuperLeagueXVII DVD, produced by PDL. Which two players were runners-up in the 2012 Man of Steel voting? On the first disc he can watch how the season unfolded and marvel at Man of Steel Sam Tomkins (remember him too for when the World Cup comes around green and golders). Tony Smith’s Warrington are seen to be the entertainers and witness Wakefield’s irresistible run to the play offs. On disc two he can see the Grand Final showdown between the Wolves and Rhinos that encapsulated Super League at its best in a thrilling 80 minute encounter that - whisper it - was more entertaining than its NRL counterpart. See Sinfield win the Harry Sunderland with his try, faultless kicking and bravery as his side came from behind just after the break to win the crown again from fifth. Forty-20, in association with PDI, has three copies to give away. Simply answer the question above and send it on a sealed down envelope or postcard to: ISC competition, Forty-20, PO Box 534, Keighley, West Yorkshire. BD21 9DH. The closing date is Thursday 31 January 2013. The Culture No rest: Castleford’s Ben Johnston has a breather SWPix.com Having a dedicated team in place working on the World Cup has allowed the RFL to focus on a tournament which will help shape the success of the whole sport over the next few years without neglecting its domestic obligations. The RFL media department’s attention in January is firmly fixed on the imminent kick-offs of Super League and the Championships, as well as the Challenge Cup and community game, but the World Cup adds a special flavour to that exciting recipe and there will be an increasing synergy between Red Hall and MediaCityUK as the 14-nation tournament looms. RLWC2013 Communications Manager Martin Johnston established a strong social media presence for the World Cup in 2012 when league grew stronger at every level across Twitter and Facebook. Last year saw the Super League account and Media training: Huddersfield and England Academy player Peter Aspinall “The patchy coverage the sport occasionally endures frustrates the RL correspondents and RFL media team as much as it does the fans...”” those of every Super League club gain official verification from Twitter, an important development which has led to a big boost in the numbers of followers. The Super League and Championship clubs were once again innovative in their use of social media in 2012, highlighted by the hugely successful coordinated tweeting ahead of the publication of the 2013 fixtures which produced an exciting buzz on Twitter. Ah yes, the 2013 fixtures, which start on 31 January and continue right through to the World Cup final at Old Trafford on 30 November. So soon. It’s going to be a busy year. A long year. We can’t wait. Bring it on! Sinfield a deserved winner of Boot Ian Martin, Derby I very much enjoyed Forty-20’s foray into Canadian sport recently and spent much of Christmas catching up with back issues. Earlier this month, however, it was with interest that I noted the reaction to Kevin Sinfield winning the 2012 Golden Boot. The slagging off he got in the Aussie press simply wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t won it. It’s a shame that his profile over there increases in such a negative way. To me, the voting panel have taken the opportunity, when the Australia and New Zealand national sides have not been in action, to recognise a legend overlooked for Man of Steel and in the New Year Honours. So many of the other names suggested from the NRL have already won it and last year Sinfield was the most influential player in competitive club and international competition. He’s not the best player in the world, but I think he’s the most important player in the world of rugby league never to have won an individual award. Interestingly, given England’s often criticised preparation for the 2013 World Forty-20reservestherighttoeditallcorrespondencepublishedforclarityand/orlength. email: editorial@forty-20.com post: PO Box 534, Keighley, W Yorks BD21 9DH Cup, Great Britain ice hockey will play a match against the best imported players in the Elite League as a warm-up for the Winter Olympic qualifying tournament, where it will prove very hard to get past Latvia, despite surprise recent success in Japan. Meanwhile, our national basketball, handball and volleyball teams have all had Sport England funding cut and compared their own participation figures with those of rugby league. An Olympic sport ‘borrowing’ our ideas ... others wishing they had the government support we do ... our game always looks so much better with a touch of perspective. 44 Forty-20 January 2013
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The Culture 19 DAVE HADFIELD goes walkabout in Rochdale where he finds a Leeds Rhinos fan The Blue Pits, Rochdale There are times when I think I’m getting a bit old for this lark. Such a moment of self-doubt came as I climbed the second barbed wire fence separating me from Rochdale Mayfield. It can be hard now to find a local game on a winter Saturday, but Mayfield versus Blackbrook filled the bill. The trouble was that the route I’d previously taken is now a building site, securely blocked off. You can see the pitch in the distance, but not get at it. Along with another old dodderer with the same dilemma, we worked out that it should be possible to divert over some farmer’s fields and get there that way. With considerable mutual assistance, we made it. It must have looked like a slowmotion version of that Christmas favourite, The Great Escape. I’d like to say that the rugby was worth it, but in truth it wasn’t, although Mayfield did have the obligatory Fijian at loose forward and he had his moments. What I can recommend is the Mayfield clubhouse, a welcoming space with a bustling bar. Beers are from the oftenunderrated John Willie Lees’ brewery in nearby Middleton Junction and included a very acceptable pint of hand-pulled bitter. Lees also brew a beer called Coronation Street, under licence from Granada, although the beer they drink on TV, I found Kings of Castleton: The Blue Pits is serviced by the underrated John Willie Lees’ brewery Marc Taylor Crate Middleton “An old sponsored anorak was enough to get me drawn into a discussion with the barman...” out on a studio tour many years ago, is actually cold tea. Deciding against any more fence-climbing, I took the conventional route back to the main RochdaleManchester road and the Blue Pits. Strictly speaking, you are not in Rochdale here, but in the village of Castleton, not to be confused with the village of the same name in Derbyshire, home to the recently established rugby league team, the Hope Valley Hawks. Apparently, the Rochdale Castleton used to be called Blue Pits and, when the village changed its name, the pub didn’t. As to why it was called Blue Pits in the first place, the record is silent. By an astonishing co-incidence, however, the other Castleton is home to the Blue John Mine and its distinctive mineral deposits. Hmmm... I wouldn’t call the Blue Pits a rugby league pub, but it is rugby league-friendly. An old sponsored anorak was enough to get me drawn into discussion with the barman about the Leeds Rhinos, the team which, despite living on the right side of the Pennines, he supports avidly. He used to play at Academy level for the Hornets, but busted his knee and hasn’t bothered with them since. Instead, he goes to Headingley and pulls pints of John Willie Lees. Just down the road is a pub with an intriguing name. The Midland Beer Company sounds as if it should a) be in the Midlands and b) brew its own ale. It fulfils neither of those criteria, but it does have a fair choice, including Joseph Holt’s at typical knock down prices. I don’t think the barmaid had ever played for Hornets, or even Mayfield, although several customers looked as though they might have done. All in all, it was a long way from the worst afternoon I’ve had at the footy, although the torn trousers took a bit of explaining. League friendly: The Blue Pits barman is a fan of Leeds Rhinos and an ex-Hornets academy player NO T T O B E C O N F U S E D W I T H … The Blue Posts, Soho The Blue Pig, Fagley The Blue Angel, Marlene Dietrich January 2013 Forty-20 45

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The Culture

19

DAVE HADFIELD goes walkabout in Rochdale where he finds a Leeds Rhinos fan

The Blue Pits, Rochdale

There are times when I think I’m getting a bit old for this lark. Such a moment of self-doubt came as I climbed the second barbed wire fence separating me from Rochdale Mayfield.

It can be hard now to find a local game on a winter Saturday, but Mayfield versus Blackbrook filled the bill. The trouble was that the route I’d previously taken is now a building site, securely blocked off. You can see the pitch in the distance, but not get at it.

Along with another old dodderer with the same dilemma, we worked out that it should be possible to divert over some farmer’s fields and get there that way.

With considerable mutual assistance, we made it. It must have looked like a slowmotion version of that Christmas favourite, The Great Escape.

I’d like to say that the rugby was worth it, but in truth it wasn’t, although Mayfield did have the obligatory Fijian at loose forward and he had his moments.

What I can recommend is the Mayfield clubhouse, a welcoming space with a bustling bar. Beers are from the oftenunderrated John Willie Lees’ brewery in nearby Middleton Junction and included a very acceptable pint of hand-pulled bitter.

Lees also brew a beer called Coronation Street, under licence from Granada, although the beer they drink on TV, I found

Kings of Castleton: The Blue Pits is serviced by the underrated John Willie Lees’ brewery Marc Taylor

Crate Middleton

“An old sponsored anorak was enough to get me drawn into a discussion with the barman...”

out on a studio tour many years ago, is actually cold tea. Deciding against any more fence-climbing, I took the conventional route back to the main RochdaleManchester road and the Blue Pits.

Strictly speaking, you are not in Rochdale here, but in the village of Castleton, not to be confused with the village of the same name in Derbyshire, home to the recently established rugby league team, the Hope Valley Hawks.

Apparently, the Rochdale Castleton used to be called Blue Pits and, when the village changed its name, the pub didn’t. As to why it was called Blue Pits in the first place, the record is silent. By an astonishing co-incidence, however, the other Castleton is home to the Blue John Mine and its distinctive mineral deposits. Hmmm...

I wouldn’t call the Blue Pits a rugby league pub, but it is rugby league-friendly. An old sponsored anorak was enough to get me drawn into discussion with the barman about the Leeds Rhinos, the team which, despite living on the right side of the Pennines, he supports avidly. He used to play at Academy level for the Hornets, but busted his knee and hasn’t bothered with them since. Instead, he goes to Headingley and pulls pints of John Willie Lees.

Just down the road is a pub with an intriguing name. The Midland Beer Company sounds as if it should a) be in the Midlands and b) brew its own ale. It fulfils neither of those criteria, but it does have a fair choice, including Joseph Holt’s at typical knock down prices.

I don’t think the barmaid had ever played for Hornets, or even Mayfield, although several customers looked as though they might have done.

All in all, it was a long way from the worst afternoon I’ve had at the footy, although the torn trousers took a bit of explaining.

League friendly: The Blue Pits barman is a fan of Leeds Rhinos and an ex-Hornets academy player

NO T T O B E C O N F U S E D W I T H …

The Blue Posts, Soho The Blue Pig, Fagley The Blue Angel, Marlene Dietrich

January 2013 Forty-20 45

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