IT HAS been a bitter-sweet end to the season for Bath Rugby Union player George Ford.
The 20-year-old fly half, who began his playing days at Saddleworth Rangers and Waterhead, was named young player of the year at the Rugby Players’ Association Awards.
Grasscroft-raised George, the former pupil from Knowsley Primary and Saddleworth School, said: “I am massively honoured to get the award because other players voted for it.
“This is my first proper full season playing week in, week out. I’ve enjoyed it and learnt so much.”
There was disappointment, however, at the end of the season for George whose father Mike is the former Oldham RL player and coach and his boss at Bath.
Bath lost at Harlequins on the last day of the Aviva Premiership season in a winner-takes-all clash for the fourth and final play-off spot.
The West Country club were then beaten 30-16 to Northampton Saints at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in the final of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
That proved to be George’s last game of the season as afterwards he underwent shoulder surgery which forced him to pull out of England’s tour of New Zealand.
George, who was in England’s squad for the Six Nations Championship earlier this year, had been hoping to win his first full cup against the All Blacks.
FORMER SADDLEWORTH Rangers player Jack Johnson played a starring role on his debut for England Academy who produced a dramatic late fight back to beat France 34-30 at Castleford.
Jack, who is on the books of Super League side Warrington Wolves, scored a try with five minutes left which, together with a Dave Hewitt conversion, turned a 30-24 deficit into a 30-30 score.
Then with the last play of the game, England snatched a match-winning try to complete a remarkable recovery.
Meanwhile, Ben White, another former Saddleworth Rangers player, made his debut for Gloucestershire All Golds against home-town club Oldham Roughyeds in Kingstone Press, Championship One.
The 19-year-old half back joined All Golds on loan from Leeds Rhinos where he had scored eight tries in 10 appearances for their under-19’s.
White scored a touchdown on his All Golds’ debut, but it wasn’t a winning start for the former England youth international as Roughyeds emerged 32-20 victors.
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