MORE than 20 volunteers turned out to tidy up and deep clean Northallerton Rugby Club and its surrounding areas at the weekend.

Helpers came from the men's team, ladies team, juniors, sponsors, family and even two non playing elder statesmen of the club.

Indoor jobs included a substantial deep clean of the kitchen, painting of doors and woodwork and a thorough clean of the toilets.

Outdoor work consisted of painting the goalposts and benches, pressure washing of all sponsors signs and temporary repairs to potholes on the driveway.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

The Baker family of father Bob and his two sons Jonny and Dave also cut the grass, strimmed the exterior and marked out the second team pitch.

After five hours of arduous toil, the workers were treated to refreshments and a barbecue in accordance with government social distancing guidelines.

The Sunday was a shorter day with a general tidy up and wipe down of all surfaces. The weekend was held as part of the RFU’s NatWest Rugby Force 2020 promotion.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

This Saturday, September 12, the club will hold a Pitch Up For Rugby event, a scheme encouraged by the RFU to gradually get rugby going again after the coronavirus-enforced halt. The club will be holding an inter club five-a-side touch tournament for teams of male and females of all abilities.

Chancellor and Richmond MP Rishi Sunak is due to attend to observe how local rugby is recovering and to follow up on Northallerton RUFC’s various projects to help the local community during lockdown.