DODWORTH Miners rugby league team missed out on play-off final glory but are celebrating a third straight promotion as they hope to create a pocket of rugby league success in the predominantly football town of Barnsley.
They lost 18-10 to East Hull in the Yorkshire Division Two play-off final at Batley Bulldogs’ ground.
One of their players, Max Lunn from Hoyland, is thought to have earned a professional contract with Castleford Tigers and they are hoping for more success for their youth system in the future as they bid to rise up the leagues.
Dodworth finished second in the division behind East Hull and are expected to be promoted for a third straight season. Captain Adam Edwards said: “It’s all but confirmed.
“Two teams from the division go up. We’ve finished second in the league and runners up in the play-offs so it would be very strange if we didn’t.
“It’s a massive accomplishment.
“We didn’t expect to be in this position three years ago at all.”
The original Dodworth club folded in 2013 then was set up again in 2019 before the run of promotions started after Callum French and Mathew Brocksom were appointed as coaches
Edwards also joined, returning to his hometown having played at a higher level for Underbank.
He said: “We have two really committed head coaches. Training is planned really meticulously.
“They look into the opposition.
“We are starting to reap the rewards of our junior system and starting to attract players from other clubs, because word is getting about.
“Dodworth MW Football Club is a big force on the junior football scene.
“But we have nearly as many players in our junior system as they do.
“Barnsley always been a football town but it’s great that we have so many kids playing rugby league now.
“We believe we have some youngsters in our system who can reach the professional level.
“They are in pathways with Bradford, Wakefield and Sheffield Eagles.”
Dodworth are hoping to compete for the play-offs in Division One next season with the ultimate goal of reaching the National Conference League, which has four divisions below the professional Super League and Championship.
Edwards said: “In the last two pre- seasons, we played an NCL Three team in friendlies.
“The first time, we lost heavily and realised what we needed. This season, we only lost by two points. We’re not a million miles off that level.”
Dodworth struck first in the final through Joe Ashworth’s try, with Joe Perry adding the extras to make it 6–0.
East Hull responded and led 12-6 at half-time. Ashworth touched down again but Perry could not convert then East Hull scored another try.
Forwards Alex Seal and Clark Dixon were both forced from the field during the game.
Edwards said: “We lost two big forwards to injuries in the first ten or 12 minutes. They are both big-tackling and do a lot of minutes for us. Then we lost another one in the second half.
“That played a big part.
“The slope of the pitch was mad.
“The plan was to defend in the first half against the slope then attack coming down the hill.
“All credit to East Hull, they did what we tried doing in the first half.
“It was a very close game but they scored one more try than us and we just missed out.”
