Coming from behind on the first round, with a big second choice vote, Leo showed us what the team has missed in the many seasons he has not been available.

In a season with so many promising new players coming through, a first and second choice who have been with the club for over ten years despite not often appearing for the First teams.

Best of the Rest

Steven Nelson

Last season’s runner up, and this season’s Top try scorer and Top points scorer, with over three times the votes of those behind him.

Thanks to all who voted

Not so many this year – either the others struggled to make a decision, or have already started their Summer Holidays

Season Summary

Here

Starting Line Up

Alphabetically by first name winners of Individual match votes.

Alistair Thompson
Upper Eden (A-Cup) / Macclesfield (A) / Blackburn (H) / Macclesfield (H) / Manchester (A)
Played 22 : Try 1

With two of the normal back row trio out at the start of the season, Alistair appeared a useful replacement to have available, but made the role his own, with the most individual wins, recognising his hard work, and the fact he kept going when a few eased off.

In recent seasons we have seen forwards converted to backs, but Alistair has come the other way although inevitably found himself back in the centre occasionally

An ever present until late in the season when work took him sheep shearing in Scandinavia

Ben Dixon
Northwich (A)
Played 5 / Tries 4
Last season’s MoS but had a late start due to injury, then sadly (for us not for him) an early finish to head “down under”

Even in the warm up in his first game back against Macclesfield it was clear what we had been missing, and picked up his only MoM at Northwich with two of his four tries in just five appearances. The first appearing to intercept a dummied pass, then something special to get a losing bonus point, in a game that slipped away.

Danny Barker
Wirral (A)
Played 14 / Tries 2
One of many hit by injury and unavailability but despite not living locally often at the ground to support the team even when not playing

If the rumours were true, announced his retirement at the end of the League season.

Glen Weightman
Blackburn (A)
Played 18 / Tries 2 / Conversions 23 / Penalties 8
980 career points
After so longer with so few injuries, Glen’s luck finally ran out this season, and missed a few games where the points on offer would have taken him over the 1,000 career mark

Too often undervalued, if he is not back next season, we may find out what we are missing

Ignacio Cisint
Sandbach (A) / Manchester (H) / Rossendale (H)
Played 13 / Tries 3
Was only able to stay for half the season, and despite picking up a MoM on his debut, there was concern that he tended to take on too much himself, but proved a really talented addition to team, especially when combining with Dan Shorrock, to make the opposition think before kicking to him.

Joe Allday
Stockport (A) / Wirral (H-Cup)
Played 13 / Tries 2
Another to get a MoM on his debut. Was the fourth player in the No.9 shirt this season, and good reports from his earlier appearances for the Second team were more than backed up at Stockport, and has been an ever present starter since that debut

A young player, so hopefully a lot more to come from him.

Leo Mercer
Sandbach (H)
Played 14 / Tries 6
Definitely not on his debut, having made that in the 2010/11 season (I think he was still in school), but his most games since the following season, and his most tries in a season. It was like having a new player, and also some useful experience with so many young players around him.

Like Alistair Thompson (who made his debut a season later), kept going regardless of the score.

Matt Houghton
Wirral (H) / Ilkley (A)
Played 12 / Tries 2
Man of the Season in 2015/16, injury meant he did not make his season debut until mid-December but ever present since then, including a few games in his old position in the front row.

Much of the time, just quietly got on with what was needed, getting through a lot of work in attack and defence.

Steven Nelson
Stockport (H) / Burnage (H) / Kirkby Lonsdale (A) / Kirkby Lonsdale (H)
Played 21 / Tries 20
A “quieter” season for Steven – and he still managed 20 tries, and probably the odd dent or two on a number of opposition backs. Found himself as an emergency back occasionally, but never looks as comfortable there as powering off the back of a scrum

Picked up the most votes in total over the season (just two more votes Alistair Thompson)

Tadhg Butler
Burnage (A)
Played 16 / Tries 1
Made a big impact in his debut at Upper Eden, and did well at Macclesfield, but it was in the poor conditions on the 4G at Burnage, that he made the difference, despite having to play a full 80 minutes due to the early injury to Glenn Chesher.

His ability to play prop or second row has allow the pack to be rotated during a game, and for a big man has a useful pass.

Tommy Calvert
Lymm (A) / Northwich (H) / Rossendale (A)
Played 6 / Tries 3 / Conversions 7 / Penalties 2
Another debut winner of a MoM. Despite really impressing in attack, Lymm supporters were also high in praise for his defensive skills

Went on to pick up two more MoMs, and also has place kicking as a skill

Having stepped back from higher level rugby, hopefully we can keep Tommy for a while longer, but opponents who saw him and bound to have been impressed.