Young team appeal for demotion from league

Dewsbury Moor Under-12s play in the Yorkshire Youth League Division Two, where they have currently lost all seven matches, conceding 220 points in the process, while scoring just 50.

Gary Widdop helped set up the team as Under-8s and coached them until the start of this season, when he handed over to Dewsbury Moor first team player Jonjoe Fox.

Gary remains team manager and believes the side have been placed in a section where they are unable to compete and wants the league to act before players become disheartened and walk away from the game.

Widdop, whose son plays for the team, said: “This is the first season we have played competitive rugby and we have eight kids in the team who have never played the game before.

“It isn’t about losing every time but this team are just unable to compete at the level they have been placed in.

“Last week, we played the league leaders Stanley Rangers and lost 58-4 (official results at this age group are capped at 50-points). Even the opposition parents were saying it was unfair us having to play against them.

“The majority of our team come from the Dewsbury Moor estate and without rugby they would be on the streets.

“If the team fold, four or five of the players will just walk away from rugby.

“I am fortunate that I could take my son to another club but he doesn’t want that, he wants to play for Dewsbury Moor, the team where he started at eight years old.

“For others, finding a new club will be impossible and they will be lost to the game and I don’t want to see that.

“I have spoken to the RFL but the Yorkshire Youth League is not under their jurisdiction, although they did say commonsense would suggest we should be dropped down a division to enable us to compete.”