By Alan Irving

Last updated at 12:21, Monday, 26 November 2012

AS Wath Brow Hornets celebrate one of the greatest feats in a proud history, the club stands to lose another of its brightest prospects.

Sensational victory: Wath Brow Hornets celebrate after winning the National Conference League Grand Final

Karl Dixon has become one of the amateur game’s hot properties especially after a sensational performance in Sunday’s Grand Final triumph.

A host of professional clubs, both Championship and Super League, are said to be targeting the stand-off prodigy who recently represented England at under-18 level. Whitehavenare among the interested parties.

Chief executive Barry Richardson said: “We’d love to have Karl. He’s an outstanding young player who has the potential to go right to the top of rugby league.”

The club have invited 11 leading players from Wath Brow, Egremont and Kells to join in pre-season training at The Recreation Ground in the hope they can be tempted to consider turning professional.

Aussie head coach Dave Woods said: “There’s a lot of talent in the area. If we can add some of it to our squad then that will be great.”

Haven hope to be able to skim the cream of the talent but know they face strong competition especially in luring Dixon.

But for now Dixon, like the rest of his Hornets team mates and loyal club officials, are basking in the glory of Sunday’s victory over Myton Warriors in the National Conference League’s grand final.

In the aftermath of the latest triumph, Dixon said: “It’s been a great year for me individually but this means so much more right now. My team mates have been superb and I can’t begin to say how much effort has gone in to get to this stage.

“It’s absolutely fantastic – the best feeling I’ve ever had.

“To win the league and the grand final is something else and it’s never been done before at this club. I’ve always thought we were the best team in the competition this year - this proves it for me.

“Leroy Joe pulled out the stops and helped us home – unbelievable I’ve learned so much from him. This is the start of big things all over again for our great club and my thanks to Ian Rooney (head coach) and everyone else involved here.”

The man of the match award went to the evergreen 37-year-old Joe enjoying a Indian summer to his career but Dixon – 19 years his junior – ran him so close. But together they proved an irresistible halfback combination on the back of a superb team performance.

Said Leroy: “This is right up there for me, one of the highlights of my career, I’m almost speechless. The boys worked superbly, I was just on the end of one or two really good passages from our forwards.”

First published at 11:24, Thursday, 22 November 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk