by Martin Morgan

Published at 11:09, Thursday, 14 June 2012

ONE of Whitehaven’s most faithful servants Howard Hill has decided to hang up his boots after 318 appearances for the club.

Stalwart: Ex-Haven forward Howard Hill

The 37-year-old, who made his Haven debut on Boxing Day, 1999, at Barrow, opted to retire after being left out of Sunday’s win over South Wales, in which coach Don Gailer handed a debut to prop Anthony Mullally, who has joined the club on a season-long loan from Super League Widnes. And Hill now plans to spend more time with his family.

“I’ve got no hard feelings,” Hill stressed. “I’ve got to stop playing at some time, and this is my time. I’ve enjoyed every minute at the club.

“To be fair to Don, he wants to look at younger ones and bring them on, which is fair enough. I can’t argue with that.

“If I don’t play, I don’t get paid, and I thought I could be spending more time at home with the kids. I would like to thank all the fans for their support. They are more like mates and no doubt I will still see them.”

Hill, named club captain by Gailer this term, is renowned for his fitness levels and will not slacken off on that front.

“It’s a big change for me, but I will keep fit. I will be keeping busy,” added Hill, who has no doubt that Haven will earn promotion this year, and will continue to support the team. “I will chill out and see what happens.”

His most memorable match came at Hull KR late in August, 2005, Haven’s title-winning year,

Steve McCormack’s team battled back from 14-down in the second-half, Mick Nanyn crossing twice before prop Marc Jackson touched down for a converted try in the closing seconds to hand them an 18-14 win.

The defeat dealt a huge blow to Rovers’ title hopes and there were post-match rumours that some of their fans were keen on revenge.

“That win more or less gave us the league,” Hill recalled. “We got a police escort out of Hull as they were going to brick our bus.“We thought it was great, but we had to go straight past the off-licence. That stuck in my mind. But we stopped later on, so that was all right.”

Hill left Hensingham at 18 for Oldham, who swiftly moved in to the new Super League, and he had just signed a new long-term top-flight contract when the club went out of business at the end of the 1997 season.

He went on to feature for Hull KR and Swinton before returning home, and he scored 74 career tries for Haven, initially featuring in the back-row and centre, later moving up to prop.

Hill scored 94 tries in total in his pro career, nine in 59 appearances for Oldham, five in 34 for Hull KR and six in 26 for Swinton.

The annual Whitehaven RL Vice Presidents Golf Day will take place on Friday, July 13, at Whitehaven Golf Club. It is an opportunity for fans, players, club officials and sponsors to enjoy an afternoon’s golf. The event begins at 2pm with a ‘shotgun start’ and entry costs £120 for a team of four.

This includes a bacon sandwich before the start, all fees, and a carvery dinner in the golf club at the end of the competition, when prizes will be distributed. Super League referee Ian Smith will be guest speaker.

Tickets for the meal only cost £12.50. For further details contact Ron Batty at B&H Motors or the club office on 01946 328088.

This week’s Pride of Five £100 winners are: M Nicholson, Glenridding Walk, Richmond, with ticket number 385; P Carroll, Borrowdale Road, Mirehouse, 753; Ken Routledge, Queens Drive, Egremont, 2389; E Bragg, Seven Acres, Parton, 2852; Mrs Dobson, Bank End View, Bigrigg, 2408.

Leeds Line: A3557 - C Shaw; P1824 - GP Leeley; A4164 - W Killen; J2008 - Mick Bell; A3843 - M Gibbon.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk