Former St Helens Academy second rower, Lewis Hatton, was the chief winner at the U19s Awards Presentation Dinner, last Saturday evening, scooping both the Players’ Player of the Year and the Coaches’ Player of the Year Trophies.
Just twenty-four hours after seeing off Leeds in their ‘curtain raising’ encounter at Headingley, it was, understandably, a most convivial of groups which assembled for the awards evening, and whilst much of the conversation was around the success of the previous evening, it was also punctuated with occasional debates around the football result, from earlier that afternoon.
At the end of the meal, Head Coach, Garreth Carvell, started the official part of the evening with some well chosen remarks centring, in particular, upon the progress that the players had made during the season, and complimenting them all upon their dedication, and strong sense of team spirit, which had seen them through some significant difficult periods, during the season.
He then proceeded to announce the winners of the four awards, and present the trophies to each of them. The selection of Lewis Hatton could have come as no surprise to anyone, since a majority of people in the room will have voted for him for one, or other, of his two winning awards, and it is to the credit of the strong-running, back-row forward that his contribution to the team, over this, his first season with the Red Devils, has been so widely recognised.
Of this, his Head Coach says, “He has been excellent all year, and has stood up to be counted, no matter who the opposition.”
The Supporters’ Player of the Year went to hooker Aaron Moore, who had marked his return from injury, the evening before, with a hat-trick of tries.
Garreth was equally lavish with his praise for him, saying, “It is typical of Aaron that only five weeks after dislocating his knee cap, he came back into the side, and was outstanding.”
Such are the strong ties within the team, that his remarks about both of the winners will undoubtedly resonate with each and every member of the squad, all of whom have given their all to the cause, throughout the season.
The Leon Walker Memorial Trophy was awarded to David Clegg.
