Toll Bar set for summer switch after quitting Pennine League

The club plan to follow the move made by local rivals Bentley Good Companions last year and switch to summer rugby.

Toll Bar had led the way in this season’s six-team Premier Division after winning back-to-back promotions over the last two years.

“It’s been a difficult decision and one that hasn’t been taken lightly,” said coach Ian Tattersall.

“We have enjoyed our time in the Pennine League over the last four seasons and have great respect and admiration for the job the committee have done and also the other clubs.

“However, we don’t feel that the competition is a viable one for us to carry on playing in.

“A division with only six teams in it was always going to be difficult to sustain and the lack of matches and constant postponements have become too much for us to continue to accept.

“We believe we have done a lot of good work over the last four years in developing our squad and that is now being jeopardised and we feel we need to act.

“We have also thought long and hard about the benefits of having a club that has open age rugby being played for 12 months a year and bringing in constant income for the club.

“As such we have contacted the Yorkshire Men’s League regarding entry to their competition and they have made us aware that the YML Premier Division starts at the beginning of April.”

He added: “We currently run a second team in the Pennine League and want to continue to fulfil our Division Four (East) fixtures and continue to be competitive at that level for the foreseeable future.”

Last year Toll Bar won the Championship One title, losing only one game in the process, on the back of winning Division One in 2014.

They also lifted the 2015 Pennine Amateur Rugby League’s President’s Cup.