AS a new year dawns, it promises to be another big one for sport in our town.
From Warrington Wolves at the very top of rugby league right down to grassroots level, there will be plenty going on as ever over the next 12 months.
Here, we’ve put together a few of the things we’re looking forward to watching unfold in the year ahead…
WILL WIRE BOUNCE BACK?
It’s safe to say 2022 has been a year everyone associated with Warrington Wolves would rather forget.
Indeed, it was their worst ever Super League season as Daryl Powell’s men finished second bottom of the table ahead of only relegated Toulouse Olympique.
As such, the squad has been completely overhauled in an attempt to get The Wire back to where they belong and once again challenging for honours.
Players such as former Australia internationals Paul Vaughan and Josh McGuire have been signed along with former Catalans Dragons trio Josh Drinkwater, Sam Kasiano and Gil Dudson.
George Williams returns off the back of an impressive Rugby League World Cup with England while plenty is expected of former NRL prodigy Matt Dufty following a full pre-season.
There is also young local talent such as Leon Hayes, Luke Thomas and Jack Darbyshire among others making their way into the first team having got their chances last year.
So will 2023 be a much brighter year at The Halliwell Jones Stadium? We will not have to wait long to start finding out, with the opening game against Leeds Rhinos set for February 16.
HOW WILL WIRE’S WOMEN FARE AMONGST THE BIG GUNS?
While it was a disappointing year for the men’s team, Warrington Wolves’ women’s team had a memorable 2022.
Following a perfect campaign in Group Two of the Women’s Super League, they secured promotion with a Shield final win over Featherstone Rovers in September.
That means Lee Westwood’s side will be up against this country’s elite women’s sides including St Helens, York Valkyrie and defending champions Leeds Rhinos.
Will 2023 be another glorious year for women’s rugby league in Warrington?
ENGLAND ARE BACK IN TOWN – CAN THEY BUILD ON THE WORLD CUP?
There were hopes of this being a glorious autumn for rugby league in this country, with England well-fancied to make use of home advantage and go all the way in the World Cup.
It did not quite turn out like that, however, as their journey ended with a heart-breaking, golden-point loss to Samoa in the semi-finals.
Shaun Wane’s men are back in action in April, with Warrington playing host to their mid-season international for the third year in a row.
The men’s and women’s teams will both take on their counterparts from France at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in a double header on Saturday, April 29, with local girls Emily Rudge, Jodie Cunningham and Tara Jones likely to be heavily involved for the women.
There’s still time to get Early Bird tickets to the game for just £15 by visiting eticketing.co.uk/rugbyleague
WILL WE HAVE ANOTHER FOOTBALL PROMOTION TO CELEBRATE?
Our two sides in the Northern Premier League Premier Division both enter 2023 with high hopes of being in the mix for promotion.
After falling at the final hurdle in each of the past two completed seasons, will this finally be the year Warrington Town reach the National League North?
Will Warrington Rylands continue their remarkable rise through the leagues with a fourth promotion in five years?
Both sides are handily placed as they play their first games of 2023 tomorrow – Town travel to Cheshire rivals Nantwich Town while Rylands visit Marine.
We do not have to wait long until the second Warrington ‘derby’ of the season, either – the two neighbours meet at Gorsey Lane on Saturday, January 14, having drawn 3-3 at Cantilever Park in October.
HOW WILL CROSFIELDS FARE FOLLOWING PROMOTION?
Since amateur rugby league returned following Covid, the good times have permanently resided at Crosfields ARLFC.
Having performed strongly in a regionalised competition in 2021, Soap took the next step by earning promotion in 2022 as leagues returned to normal operations.
This means that, for the first time in 20 years, the Hood Lane side will play in National Conference League Division One – the second tier of the amateur league system – in 2023.
Can they consolidate their place at the higher level? And could they even challenge for promotion to the top flight?
Woolston Rovers narrowly missed out on joining their neighbours having lost the Division Two play-off final to Clock Face Miners, so they will be looking to go one step further.
Latchford Albion, Burtonwood Bridge and Burtonwood Chargers will all be competing in the North West Men’s League again in 2023 while Culcheth Eagles’ open-age section is also aiming to restart this year.
COULD THERE BE GLORY FOR OUR RUGBY UNION SIDES?
Their competitions are currently taking a break for the festive period, but Lymm and Warrington both enter the new year in good positions in their respective leagues.
Having lost just two league games all season, Lymm are currently sat in second in the Regional One North West – the fifth tier of English rugby union – and are in a strong position to push for promotion.
Indeed, their first game back after the break sees them welcome league leaders Blackburn to Beechwood on Saturday, January 7, for what is shaping up to be a blockbuster encounter.
Two tiers further down the pyramid, Warrington currently sit third in the Counties One Lancashire and Cheshire in what appears to be a tight race, with the top four sides separated by seven points.
They are also back in action on January 7 as they travel to Tarleton.
HOW WILL GRAPPENHALL HANDLE THEIR RETURN TO CHESHIRE CRICKET’S TOP FLIGHT?
The arrival of spring will see club cricket return for 2023 and it promises to be an exciting season for our highest-ranked club.
A superb 2022 season saw Grappenhall Cricket Club’s first team win promotion from Division One of the Cheshire County Cricket League, meaning they will pit their wits against the county’s best club sides this year.
Fixtures have not been released as of yet, with the campaign likely to get underway in April and run until September.
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