Ready to roar

THE SW13 Lions are ready to show their teeth.

Seventeen Year Eight pupils from Saddleworth School and Waterhead Academy will take on two schools from Wigan — one with a rich history in rugby league.

The ‘Lions’ team is one of a series of projects to help forge closer links between the two places of learning, and famous ex-pupils are lending their support.

Former St Helens and Great Britain ace Paul Sculthorpe was educated at Counthill — now the new Waterhead Academy, while Leeds Rhinos and England skipper Kevin Sinfield attended Saddleworth.

Sculthorpe was at the trials and with Saddleworth PE teacher Gary Melling, picked the final 17.

Also present was Rhinos under-19s captain Ben White, a former pupil at Saddleworth.

The youngsters, 14 from Saddleworth and 15 from Waterhead, were tested in handling, tackling and small-sided games.

SW13 Lions derives from the ‘S’ of Saddleworth, the ‘W’ of Waterhead and the number 13 worn by Sinfield and Sculthorpe.

The shirts will be worn for the first time in competitive action after the Easter break, against the Fred Longworth High School and then St John Fisher.