Three Cats are selected for the GB train-on squad for Australia

Three members of Keighley Albion Cats Rugby League team have won selection at recent trials for the GB squad to tour Australia in 2002.  The Cats have just finished their first season in the top flight and look next season to be competing in the top half of the table.

An initial squad of 35 have been selected and squad training starts at the end of July.  After a winter of intense preparation the squad will be whittled down to the final 24 around April 2002.  The players will then fly out to Australia in early July for a 3 test series against the host nation.  These matches are scheduled to take place in Brisbane, Penrith and Canberra and there will also be a number of provincial matches.

Laura looks for support as she rounds a Bradford player
Picture by Trevor Smith

Cats Captain Laura Ackroyd, 20, has just finished an amazing season which saw her gain the Premier Division Player of the Season award.  The stand-off has played in all 22 of the Cats games scoring an incredible 242 points from 34 tries and 53 goals.  This accounts for more than half of the total scored by the team (462).

Centre Sarah Cartwright has previously attended GB trials for last Autumn's tri-series tournament involving Australia and New Zealand.  The speedy centre often uses her blistering pace to score long distance tries and is second to Laura in the try scoring tally with 20.

Sarah in action
Picture by Trevor Smith

Winger Saima Hussain is the third highest scoring player with 9 tries to her credit this season.  The relative newcomer to the game Saima gained the Most Improved Player award at the Albion presentation 2000.  She has continued to raise her standards and confidence in attack and defence.  The most noticeable aspect of her play is her tenacious tackling and speed down the line.

Saima heads for the gap
Picture by Trevor Smith

The Cats are impressed with the achievements of these three and look forward to supporting them in their quest for international glory.  Coach Andy MacDonald is well pleased with the selections and commented that it was a measure of the improvement of the team that the girls had made the final squad and it was a testament to their dedication.

Playing record over the season

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