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May 2012 Volume 2 Issue 5

The art of the visual

The five-name shortlist for the Forty-20Bob Rushton Awards 2012 has been revealed - and the winner will be decided upon by a panel that includes our photographer-in-chief Barney Allen; co-editors Phil Caplan and Tony Hannan; plus writers Angela Powers and Dave Hadfield.

Bob, who died last year, was an artist and rugby league fanatic. The annual award has been set up by this magazine and the Rushton family to honour Bob’s memory and shine a light on outstanding work combining the visual arts with rugby league.

1) SWPix.com - top-notch sports photography from the Ilkleybased official RFL snappers. 2. Mark Eastbrook - illustrator for publications including Forty-20. 3. cravens - Newcastle-based

‘creative communications agency’ responsible for the RFL’s 2012 Magic Weekend advertisements 4. Adam Sunderland for the rugby choreography in BrokenTime 5. Graham Murdie - Miners RL player and administrator for innovative kit, interwoven with colliery names

The inaugural Bob Rushton Award winner will be announced in the pages of Forty-20next month.

The-More-Things-Change-TheMore-They-Stay-The-Same Dept. Researching this issue’s Parting Shot, we found the following line in a 1949 edition of the then-official RFL publication RugbyLeagueGazette.

“All in all the season has started off well, and may we offer our thanks to so many players for serving up such fine rugby in weather which tonyhannan@forty-20.com philcaplan@forty-20.com was ideal for sun bathing, but rather trying for such a virile and vigorous game as rugby league football.”

And how about this for a ‘Laugh of the Month’? A young man took his little boy to church for the first time. On entering, the boy looked up at the stained glass window and said: ‘Who are they?’ ‘Oh!’ said the father. ‘They are the saints.’ ‘Well then,’ said his son, ‘which one is Alf Ellaby?’

Among the leftover sausage rolls and turned-up cheese sandwiches, Daryl Powell became the latest highprofile figure to voice disagreement with Super League licensing after an uplifting Challenge Cup fifth-round tie between Fev and Wigan.

Powell, ensconced in the forone-night-only media room at Post Office Road - they even built an extra press bench! - was deflated at having to wait at least another 12 months, and possibly far longer, before again being able to face topflight opposition. “There’s a license malarky in place that I disagree with, but that’s the way it is,” he said. Nor did he approve of ring-fencing the

Cup itself. “The Challenge Cup is a special competition and it should be for everybody.” Hear, hear.

The omen was on the team sheet for Salford’s fifth-round Challenge Cup tie against Leeds. Rhinos skipper Kevin Sinfield was listed at stand-off andloose forward. In the last 20 minutes he played as if that was true.

Anyone else clocked the England football ad for Mars bars on Sky Sports? The one where the kid in the crowd saves penalty after penalty in the upcoming Euro Championships?

Well, if the lad’s face seems familiar that’s no surprise. It belongs to an actor named Michael Hugo, who did a very classy turn last year in Mick Martin’s play BrokenTime.

So, it seems a ‘hybrid’ exhibition game is probable rather possibile. Most likely it will see the current Super League Champions Leeds face the concept’s architect Bob Dwyer’s old club Leicester Tigers, although the masterminds behind it are keen on an international dimension. Saracens and Wigan may also face off.

“We are receptive to this type of challenge subject to RFL approval,” said Rhinos chief Gary Hetherington. “Money is not the motivator ... we would donate any profits to rugby charities, but the contest could generate enormous interest around the world and raise the profile of both codes.”

The big prize for TV companies behind the idea down under is a Wallabies v Kangaroos clash which they reckon would be a sell-out and smash oval ball ratings in Australia.

teamsheet

Inside your next generation rugby league monthly

Brian Noble

12

Time for a change in direction

Articles

5 Richard Lewis

Andy Wilson farewells RFL boss 14 Match of the month

When London went to Orient 19 Red Hall revolution

What next for rugby league? 26 Tier 4 take-off 28 Determined Eagles fly

South Yorkshire battles on 38 Armed Forces RL

Columns

25 Louie’s Lip

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook 35 Married to League 42 Christopher Irvine 43 Richard Mathers

Postcards

18 Wrexham 33 Darwin 34 Ashington 36 Auckland

The Culture

40 Birkenhead recalled 44 The story of Jack Fish 45 Good Pub Guide

Dave Hadfield visits Hunslet 46 Parting Shot

Muddy marvelous images: The players of Batley and London as captured in their fifth-round Challenge Cup tie by Vaughn Ridley of SWPix.com

Malcolm Alker meets Angela Powers

22

May 2012 Forty-20 3