Lockwood Park fell silent in memory of George Sawyer prior to Huddersfield RUFC’s A-Team game against Burley 2nds on Saturday. The 18 year old was knocked down and killed in an accident on the A64 near York in the early hours of Monday 27th March. George was a first year student at Askham Bryan Agricultural College near the city.
George was a member of Huddersfield’s Academy team and had played rugby at the club since he was 6 years old. Academy manager Tracy Davis said, “George was loved and respected by his team-mates and coaches. He was a wonderful young man and it has been an absolute pleasure to have him play at HRUFC through our age grades. I am sure George’s family have some great memories of their time at Lockwood Park.
“We would like (parents) Sarah, Phil and (sister) Lucy to know that at this time of unimaginable grief, their rugby family has their arms around them and are here to offer all the support we can.”
The two senior teams were joined on the field by George’s team mates from the Academy for the minutes silence. Members of George’s family were in attendance and the crowd was swelled by many of George’s friends and former school mates from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Wakefield who had come to the game to pay their respects. Nine of his academy teamates played in the game, Archie Stancliffe making his second senior appearance, as well as Maxwell Shelton, Alec Kay, Charlie Otter, Edward Leonard, Ryan Haythornthwaite, Oliver Rushby, Leo Gardner and Alex Broadhead making their senior debuts as a tribute to George.
A minutes silence was also held up in Northumberland where Huddersfield First XV were taking on Tynedale in their National 2 North match.
Written by Richard Sykes.
