01-03-06
HI Group Sport & Travel Division - Pre Season Training 2005/2006
As the New Year broke, January brought on the pre-season period for the Rugby League clubs, firstly
Hull FC returned to Torremolinos for the fourth year running after winning the Challenge Cup in 2005,
St. Helens soon followed on, for their first time with us.
Both teams stressed the importance of a good camp, where the conditions are conducive to a week of ball skills, gym work and some fitness work, all of which Torremolinos could offer, along with good food and comfortable surroundings, which the Hotel Amaragua has in abundance.
As Hull left Torremolinos,
Middlesborough FC took advantage of a break in their fixtures between the FA Cup run to come out again with us to
MPF Marbella and the Hotel Westin La Quinta. The weather was good and Steve Mclaren made good work on team play, which would have been difficult in the wet, windy and cold conditions back in the North East. It seems to have paid off as the team have returned with some excellent form and a great result in Europe!
February saw the arrival of the Irish teams, as their season begins in March,
Drogheda United came down to Torremolinos for the first time and had a fantastic week of sunshine and two tough games. Torremolinos was certainly a good base for the team, and the results of their friendly matches (see below) suggest the team will be strong this season!
Shelbourne and
Longford Town was next into the area, Shelbourne were returning with the HI Group for the third year, but to a new destination in
Antequera and Longford were returning to Antequera for the second year in succession.
Shelbourne loved the excellent quality of the hotel and pitch so much that they are all ready planning to return next season. The team stayed for five days due to the Satanta Cup back in Ireland and only required one game against good opposition, which we arranged with
Shinyang Jinde from the Chinese First Division.
