Workington Town haven’t named their squad to face Rochdale Hornets on Sunday but they are likely to be fielding two new wingers.
Billy Southward had been training pre-season with Town but he injured a knee which cost him the chance of shining in pre-season games.
The ex-Seaton winger, and grandson of the legendary Ike Southward, is fit and firing again and gets his chance a little later than he might have done.
Also likely to be lining-up on the opposite wing is 28-year-old Henry Hadfield, who has had experience at both rugby union and league, currently set to play a third season with Darlington Mowden Park when they start in September.
Hadfield, from Penrith, started with the town’s rugby union club in the Under-8s and went through school with current Town forward JJ Key.
Later, when he was studying at Mysercough College, he started playing rugby league and he was selected for Lancashire Under-18s against Yorkshire and came to the notice of Salford Red Devils.
When he came home to Penrith, and rejoined the rugby union club he played half a season before deciding to have a break from the game.
It was an opportunity to join Tynedale in the National League that got him back into the game. He joined Fylde in 2017-8 and earned an immediate 1st XV place on the right wing.
He returned for an excellent campaign with Fylde, scoring 10 tries in the process. In all, he racked up 74 appearances and 19 tries for the Club in these three seasons whilst also running up a lot of miles travelling to and from his home in Cumbria.
He decided then to sign for Darlington Mowden Park where he has played for the last two seasons and has re-signed for 2024-25 season.
A note on the Fylde website, announcing his departure from the club, will certainly grab the attention of Workington supporters.
It said: “Henry’s all action ‘full on’ approach on the pitch galvanised the spectators at the Woodlands and elsewhere. He’s quick as well as very physical in attack and defence. He was always a handful for every opposing team.”
Town have been very impressed with Hadfield in training on Tuesday and Thursday, so he will go straight into the team.
