The NCL team commence life in the National Conference Premier Division on Saturday August 22nd 2009.            The NWC side finished their Division 3 season in third place with an emphatic win at Rochdale Mayfield 32-2 and must now wait to see if they are promoted for the fourth successive year. The National Conference League will start a Summer Competition on June 6th 2009 with a view to switching to Summer rugby. The inaugral North West Division includes ourselves, Leigh East, Thatto Heath and Eccles & Salford. Date  Home Team  Away Team    Kick Off Sat 06 Jun  Eccles & Salford Juniors ARLFC     22  Leigh East ARLFC                           36     Sat 06 Jun  Thatto Heath Crusaders ARLFC      31  Widnes St Maries ARLFC                 10     Sat 13 Jun Widnes St Maries ARLFC                24  Eccles & Salford Juniors ARLFC       18     Sat 13 Jun  Leigh East ARLFC                         26  Thatto Heath Crusaders ARLFC        26     Sat 20 Jun  Leigh East ARLFC                         32  Widnes St Maries ARLFC                 32     Sat 20 Jun  Eccles & Salford Juniors ARLFC  Thatto Heath Crusaders ARLFC     Sat 27 Jun  Leigh East ARLFC  Eccles & Salford Juniors ARLFC   14:30 Sat 27 Jun  Widnes St Maries ARLFC  Thatto Heath Crusaders ARLFC   14:30 Sat 04 Jul  Thatto Heath Crusaders ARLFC  Leigh East ARLFC   14:30 Sat 04 Jul  Eccles & Salford Juniors ARLFC  Widnes St Maries ARLFC   14:30 Sat 11 Jul  Widnes St Maries ARLFC  Leigh East ARLFC   14:30 Sat 11 Jul  Thatto Heath Crusaders ARLFC  Eccles & Salford Juniors ARLFC   14:30      Widnes St Maries are to run a side in the NCL Masters Competition all players OVER the age of 35 interested should contact Ronnie Wharton on 07790-417573.   All players must be OVER 35 and retired from competitive football. Masters Rugby League All players must be over 35 and retired from competitive football.                   Competitive Rugby League is hard, physical and with only 2000 registered club players aged 30 or over, it is fair to say it is a young persons sport. Until Now! Masters Rugby League started in New Zealand in 1992 and progressed to Australia, enjoying great success and is currently engaging thousands of players.                   Masters Rugby League can only be played by persons aged 35 or over, is strictly a social version of the sport and the rules are slightly modified to cater for the older gentleman. There are no winners, no champions and no cup finals. It is all in the spirit of the game rather proving a point or settling a score. The most important rule is “Everyone has to buy a drink for their opposite number”. Masters is all about Fun, Participation and Friendship Its 13-a-side contact rugby league however some rule modifications changes include: 5m rule instead of 10m Different coloured shorts for different age groups and the rules, plus players awareness during the game, are adapted accordingly. Tackles are modified according to age:       - White and Black short players tend to tackle each other normally - Red short players must be physically stopped and held. On defence, red short players must make a definite 2 handed hold on the attacker - Gold Short Players to tackle or be tackled need to just touch i.e. no tackling  No more than 2 players allowed in any tackle and no fending/handoffs Once progress has stopped, players are preferred to succumb Rough and over vigorous play is not condoned Passive scrums happen after nearly all infringements and turnovers 1 marker and dummy half/acting half back must pass Kicks only allowed on the last tackle 25 minutes each way with unlimited interchange              Widnes St Maries Open Age and Under 18's training has commenced for 2009-10.               6.30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays .          All new players are welcome and can contact John Borrowman on 07939-850857 if they require any further information.        Widnes St Maries are to start an under 9's side this season and all parents interested should contact coach Reg Smith 07946-032273 or coach co-ordinator Barry Quinn on 07815838594.