The Australian Fijians touched down in Manchester Airport walking straight into one of the coldest English winters on record. After settling into their Rochdale base at the Flying Horses Hotel they wasted no time in familiarising themselves with the foreign conditions going straight into a skills session at Bolderstone Park in Rochdale.
Thursday November 27
Still trying to shake off the teams jetlag the Australian Fijians have a big day planned with a morning weights session followed by lunch then an afternoon field session at Hopwood College at Middleton organised by Niel Wood from the RFL. The evening was spent meeting our UK based Sponsor Andy Hulme from Hulpoint Ltd.
Friday November 28
Back at Middleton again for our last field session in Lancashire before the team sets out for Cumbria the next morning to prepare for its first match against Workington Town. The afternoon was free for the players who headed into Manchester for some shopping
Saturday November 29
The team departs Rochdale for Cumbria to prepare for its first game against Workington Town. The team stops off in the beautiful Lakes District on its way. The team arrives in Workington at its hotel the Hall Park Hotel and heads straight into Derwent Park for an open training session and then does 30 min training with Workington scholarship kids. The team then gets ready for a special dinner where James Pickering is inducted into the Workington Hall of Fame. Coaching consultant Peter Walsh is also recognised at the dinner in front of the 150 people in attendance.
Sunday November 30
The Australian Fijians in absolutely atrocious conditions put a full strength Workington Town team to the sword piling on 42 points to 6 with the game called off with 20 minutes to spare due to the freezing over of the pitch. The crowd were really entertained by the AFRL senior team with captain Lepani Waqa crossing for four tries and Samu Wara crossing for two also. James Storer was given sponsors man of the match and Joe Delana the Rugby League Express best on ground. James Pickering came on for a ten minute cameo appearance and treated the crowd with a trade mark offload putting Storer into a hole and 40 metre run and as well as some crunching hits.
Monday December 1
The Australian Fijians depart Workington to head back to their Rochdale base where their next match will be against Rochdale on Friday December 5. There were no injuries to report with only James Lagiloa having a slight groin problem which won’t stop him from playing.
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The Australian Fijians celebrate their 42 – 6 Victory over Workington Town with the Fijian contingent of the Lancs 1 Regiment in the British Army.
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