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Pontefract RUFC: Young Player of the Year

Pontefract RUFC: Young Player of the Year

Jonathon Hill25 Apr 2022 - 09:12
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Pontefract RUFC: Young Player of the Year

Pontefract RUFC: Young Player of the Year

The inaugural Neil Bowmer ‘Young Player of the Year Award’ was presented by Neil’s widow, Jenni, to the prolific try-scoring 21-year-old Pontefract RUFC winger Lucas Ketteridge after the final match-of-the-season at Carleton on 23 April 2022. Close runners up were young winger Ciaran Tucker and open-side flanker, Leo Harrison.

The award has been created in memory of former player, captain, chairman and president of Pontefract RUFC, the late Neil Bowmer, by his long-standing friends from Hemsworth High School, including Alan Jones (who went on to captain Fylde Rugby Club alongside former England Captain and RFU boss, Billy Beaumont), Dave Roebuck (ex-coach of Barnard Castle School) and PRUFC stalwart, Dave Howdle.

The well-deserved award to Lucas is in recognition of a wonderful first season which saw Pontefract finish the season second in the league, just pipped for top spot in Yorkshire Division One by Middlesborough RFC. Lucas played in 25 league games, scoring 15 tries and earned a ‘cauliflower ear’ that a gnarly 40-year-old veteran hooker would be proud of.

He came to Moor Lane for pre-season training in July 2021 having previously played at King’s School with Junior’s Coach, Linden Metcalfe. His commitment, speed and courage in the tackle soon caught the eye of Pontefract’s coaching team. ‘Lucas is not just a finisher, he has an all-round attacking game, is fast, hard to stop and always gets over the gain line. His defence has earned him the respect of friend and foe alike’ says Craig Fawcett, Pontefract’s Head Coach.

Lucas has a fine rugby heritage as his father, Martin Ketteridge, was a well-respected league player for Castleford Tigers in the 1980s.

So, well done Lucas, for a great season. After the formal speeches, the Matthews brothers suggested that you owe a thanks to the hard work, graft and pain suffered by the forward pack, that put you in the position to finish off team plays. That may be true, but even they admit your 100% commitment to the team effort make you a well-deserved recipient of the inaugural Neil Bowmer Young Player of the Year Award.

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