AUSSIES CAN CAUSE MORE PAIN
The BARLA Under 18s welcome the Australian Schoolboys to the Copeland Stadium after a four year absence on these shores, looking towards a victory against our Antipodean friends.

On the last occasion the visitors won all three Tests with the scores getting closer as the series went on. They visited Australia two years ago and were heavily defeated but tonight heralds a new era, with a new coach in position and busy preparation for the squad for tonight’s game.

The new man at the helm is 42 year old Kelvin Lockett of Bradford Dudley Hill, who has plenty of coaching experience in the amateur and professional game.

With Peter Roe he won the National Conference League Championship before they both moved onto Halifax RLFC. A Championship and Premiership Final win saw them promoted to the First Division.

He later became assistant coach to Phil Larder at Keighley in their “Cougarmania” heyday when the club were denied entry into the inaugural season of Super League after further Championship and Premiership success. He returned to Dudley Hill, taking them to the BARLA National Cup Final against Ellenborough and is used to creating giant killings as his side defeated York in the Challenge Cup. He coached the club in this summers LHF Healthplan National League Three before they withdrew to return to the National Conference League.

Because of work commitments Kelvin stood down and is currently with the clubs Under 14s side. He is no stranger to the Australian Schoolboys having coached the Pennine District team against them, “We played them at Huddersfield and pushed them really hard and although we were beaten 36-12 it was probably the hardest game they had on that tour.

“The thing with the Australians is you have to compete with them technically and you have half a chance if you win on the floor and the ruck.

We have a great chance and the lads have been responding and working hard on the fundamentals with their tackling techniques and controlling the game.” Kelvin has been happy with the build up and is looking forward to some good traditional weather against the Australians, “We have played three competitive warm up games to get the combinations of the squad right and having won the three games we go into this with great confidence.

We are ready for the challenge and not worried who is wearing the green and gold jersey. On the night I want it to be lashing down with rain with a strong wind which will be a shock to them. “We want as many people here as possible to cheer us on as it’s being played in a hotbed of rugby league and should be a great game. We will be giving it everything, the boys have worked hard.