Culcheth Eagles are off to a Grand Final, and frankly, the village has every right to be chuffed. Our Under 15s girls beat Dewsbury Moor 18-10 in their semi-final to earn a place at the Girls League Premier Division Finals Day, held at Batley Bulldogs' Fox's Biscuits Stadium on Saturday 12 September.
They will face Hull Kingston Rovers in the Under 15s final at 12.00pm, after Hull KR swept past Siddal 34-6. It is a proper test, no question, but the Eagles have already shown they can dig in, stay composed and get the job done. Eight points is not a fluke, it is the sort of result built on graft, discipline and refusing to hand the opposition an easy afternoon.
For Culcheth, this is exactly the kind of news worth shouting about. Young players reaching a Premier Division final is a credit to the girls, their coaches, families and everyone who keeps community rugby league ticking along while the rest of us complain about traffic on Warrington Road. The talent is there, and it deserves the spotlight.
The day features three finals, all streamed live on the RFL YouTube channel for anyone unable to make the trip across to Batley. The full schedule is:
- 10.30am, Under 14s: Thatto Heath Crusaders v Rose Bridge Pantheresses
- 12.00pm, Under 15s: Hull Kingston Rovers v Culcheth Eagles
- 1.30pm, Under 16s: Drighlington v Leigh Miners Rangers
Batley's Fox's Biscuits Stadium, on Heritage Road, Batley, WF17 7NZ, has spectator parking available for £3 per vehicle. Entry costs £5 for adults and £3 for concessions, covering those aged 16 and under and 60 and over. Card and cash are both accepted, which is refreshingly practical in an age when buying a brew can sometimes require a minor banking qualification.
The Under 14s final follows Thatto Heath Crusaders' 20-6 win over Shaw Cross Sharks and Rose Bridge Pantheresses' emphatic 32-4 victory against Myton Warriors. In the Under 16s, Leigh Miners Rangers secured their final place with a 35-14 win over Oulton Raidettes, setting up a meeting with Drighlington.
But from a Culcheth point of view, the headline is simple: the Eagles are in a final. Whatever happens against Hull KR, reaching this stage is a brilliant achievement. Still, nobody heads to Batley merely to admire the stadium and pay three quid for parking.