FIGHTING FANS ‘WEREN’T OURS’

The West Riding County FA look certain to investigate the Haslem-Sheppard Halifax AFL contest, which was called off by the referee with the home side leading 3-2 after 72 minutes at Calder Holmes.

Police and an ambulance attended but nobody needed hospital treatment.

Wadsworth secretary Phil Stansfield wasn’t at the Division One game but has received an account of what happened from manager Steve Parker.

He said a Mixenden player had punched a Wadsworth player and had been red carded, sparking a fight involving spectators who hade come on to the pitch.

Stansfield said the spectators had been “a third party”, drawn into the public park from the nearby town centre.

“We are confident that none of our players or anyone related to the club had anything to do with it, apart from trying to break it up when it was going on.”

Stansfield said the Wadsworth club did not condone the kind of behaviour on display.

Mixenden have a chequered disciplinary record but their secretary Dave Lake blamed a pitch invasion by home fans for “all hell breaking loose.”

“All our lads did was defend themselves,” said Lake, who claimed drink had been a factor and bottles had been thrown.

Halifax AFL fixture secretary David Rattigan said the league would get a report from the referee and the matter was likely to be referred to the county body.

Earlier, Max Crossley, Adam Brown and ChadGodfrey had scored for Wadsworth with Chris Woodhouse bagging both goals for the relegation-threatened visitors.

HEBDEN Royd Red Star face title rivals Sowerby Bridge in the pick of Saturday’s Halifax AFL fixtures

Premier Division: Calder 76 v Elland United (G.Porter), Greetland AFC v Ryburn United (A.Thorpe), Holmfield AFC v Shelf United (R.Walker), Sowerby United v Midgley United (P.Bowe), Warley Rangers v Stump Cross (P.Crabtree).

P W D L F A Pts

Midgley United 13 11 2 0 48 19 35

Stump Cross 12 9 1 2 39 21 28

Ryburn United 13 8 2 3 47 24 26

Greetland AFC 13 6 2 5 31 34 20

Warley Rangers 13 3 6 4 27 31 15

Elland United 13 4 3 6 24 37 15

Sowerby United 13 3 4 6 29 34 13

Holmfield AFC 14 3 3 8 34 42 12

Shelf United 12 3 2 7 26 39 11

Copley United 13 3 1 9 28 51 10

Calder 76 9 3 0 6 21 22 9

Division One: Denholme v Hx Irish (S.Dennis), Elland AS v Salem (A.Kay), Northowram v Volunteers (A.Bennett), Ryburn Res v Wadsworth (D.Cartwright), Sowerby Bridge v Hebden Royd RS (W.Cotton).

P W D L F A Pts

Hebden Royd RS 15 12 3 0 42 18 39

Sowerby Bridge 15 12 2 1 64 36 38

Northowram 17 8 2 7 55 45 26

Elland Allstars 17 8 2 7 41 44 26

Volunteer Arms 16 8 1 7 47 61 25

Denholme United 16 6 4 6 62 54 22

Salem 16 7 1 8 46 53 22

Wadsworth United 12 6 3 3 39 22 21

Stainland United 19 6 1 12 46 65 19

Hx Irish Centre 16 4 1 11 47 61 13

Mixenden United 14 2 3 9 29 40 9

Ryburn United Res 15 2 3 10 33 52 9

Division Two: Elland Res v Warley Res (J.Hallos), Halifax Ath v Crossleys Res (M.Edwards), Hebden RRS Res v Sowerby Utd Res (V.Janecki), Hx Irish Res v Midgley Res (M.Redmile), Shelf Res v Greetland Res (R.Smith).

Division Three: Shelf v Salem Res (B. Payton), Volunteer Res v Denholme Res (T.Bennett).

Invitation Cup semi-final (Natty Lane): Calder 76 Res v Spring Hall Celtic (P.Higgins)

Last Saturday’s action - page 46