HUDDERSFIELD Rams might be the new kids on the Aussie Rules block – but they head to Newcastle today aiming to show they’ve come a long way in a short time.
The Lockwood Park-based team continue preparations for their first UK League game away to Manchester Mosquitoes a week today by taking part in the inaugural national carnival at the Newcastle University sports ground..
While the Rams will play in one of the league’s four regional sections, aiming to make the end-of-season national play-offs, today’s event will involved teams nationwide.
Making the longest journeys are Chippenham Redbacks, Bournemouth Demons, Southampton Titans and Sussex Swans.
Edinburgh and Glasgow both head down from Scotland while host club Newcastle Centurions will renew local rivalries with Durham Saints, Hartlepool Dockers, Middlesbrough Hawks and Gateshead Miners.
For the Rams, it’s another chance to gauge their progress after an encouraging trip to Cardiff, where they pushed a string of longer-established clubs close.
“We didn’t get turned over by any means,” said founder Karl Haigh, who got into the sport, described as a cross between football, rugby and basketball, while travelling Down Under.
“We gave all our opponents a decent game, and the feedback we received from the other teams was very encouraging.”
Lockwood-based Haigh, 28, has struck up an affiliation with Huddersfield Rugby Union Club and put together a squad of around 15 players (in this country, it’s nine-a-side on rugby sized pitches as opposed to 18 per team in Australia).
He’s got a genuine Aussie, Huddersfield-based Neil Morrison, on board as coach and club secretary, and is delighted by the agreement to use the rugby union club’s first-team pitch at Lockwood Park.
“I think we’ll be the envy of the league, because the facilities down there are superb,” explained Haigh, who started the team in December.
“The link-up has been great for us, because we also have excellent training facilities and have been able to recruit some of the rugby lads to play for us.”
Haigh heads to Newcastle with a stronger squad than at Cardiff and added: “We’re really looking forward to it, and it’s a great chance to get some more experience and make some more contacts.
“We’ve already had a lot of help from the Manchester Mozzies, and the social side of the sport is excellent.
“Hardly any of my lads had played Aussie Rules before, but it’s an easy sport to pick up and they all really enjoy the challenge, which is what it’s all about.”
