Last updated at 08:46, Tuesday, 24 July 2012

Wigton stand-off David Hanabury has handed the club a major boost by opting to stay at Lowmoor Road.

David Hanabury

The Greens had been extremely hopeful of retaining their entire squad, despite last season’s relegation from North One West, even though players had received financial offers to move elsewhere.

But it looked as though they would have to resign themselves to losing 22-year-old Hanabury when he accepted invitations to train with Penrith and Tynedale.

In the end, however, he decided to stay with Wigton for at least another season and help them achieve their target of getting back into North One West.

“I am in my last 18 months of studies to become a chartered accountant and obviously it’s an important time for me. Having trained with Penrith and Tynedale I decided that it would be better if I did the least possible travelling this coming season so that I could concentrate on my studies,” said the Moresby-based fly-half.

Both Penrith and Tynedale clubs fully respected Hanabury’s decision and why he had chosen to stay at Lowmoor Road.

“I’ve been with Wigton for seven years so it would have been a wrench as I came through from the Colts team to the first XV. I was in the team that gained promotion from North Lancs Cumbria three years ago and it would be nice to do that again.

“We have a good squad of players capable of winning promotion again and it’s looking particularly good now that we have so much strength in depth on the coaching side.

“It’s good that so many experienced former Wigton players are part of the coaching set-up now,” he added.

Hanabury had hamstring problems last season when Wigton were relegated into North Lancs Cumbria and had a couple of spells on the sidelines, but he’s back in training again and feels fine.

He made his senior Wigton debut against Vale of Lune in September 2007 and has made 113 senior appearances. He was voted players’ player of the year last season.

Wigton have also announced that they have re-signed two of their former players who have been more recently playing with Silloth.

Back-row forward Liam Graves, 25 and stand-off Willie Miller, 19, both live in the town and were brought through the various age group sides to the Colts.

Miller had a particularly good season at Silloth where he caught the eye of the Cumbria selectors and was a stand-out player for the County Under-20s.

Head coach Malcolm Brown said: “It’s good that these lads are coming home as they are talented players. Miller, in particular, shone for Silloth last year and has a lot of potential.

“At 6ft 3in he’s a lovely runner and I’m sure he has a lot to offer.”

Over at Creighton, the Cumbria League club has appointed Denis Bibby as the new coach to take over from George Graham.

Bibby has been a dual code player throughout his career with Workington Town Academy, Carlisle Border Raiders, Penrith and Ellenborough on his rugby league CV. Last year he was coaching Carlisle Centurions in the RL Conference.

Bibby, who has played for home-town club Penrith at union as well as Kendal, joined Creighton last season.

Now he has been given charge of coaching, organising twice weekly training sessions since June.

Prop forward Matthew Liddle has been re-appointed captain for the third season in a row as Bibby hopes to get the best out of a squad which will be largely unchanged from last season.

But Creighton won’t be in the pyramid league structure, as they are now part of the two regionalised Cumbria leagues which sees the return of Windermere and Hawcoat Park, as well as second and third teams from various clubs around the county.

Creighton will play in Cumbria 2 South East and begin the season on September 1 at home to Upper Eden 2, before a run of three consecutive home games. They finish the season with the reverse fixture at Kirkby Stephen.

Following the completion of the league programme, three conferences will be drawn up according to finishing positions in both North/West and South/East leagues.

Meanwhile, Silloth Tigers are celebrating after receiving confirmation they have secured Olympic legacy funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund.

The Tigers will receive £47,000 from the fund along with a further £5,000 from the RFU.

Club spokesman Jimmy Lettice said: “The award is for new training floodlights and is a fantastic boost to the club and another indication that the Tigers are a positive thinking and ambitious community club.

“Along with our award for Cumbria club of the season 2011/2012 it means it has all been good news since we finished playing.

“We aim to retain as many of last season’s squad as we can and attract others. We feel our improved facilities will help in that.”

Silloth are members of the Cumbria League and will open their programme on September 1 at Carlisle Crusaders (the city club’s second team).

First published at 08:44, Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk