01/06/2026
Combined Lancashire Police Rugby League 42 - 54 Chester Gladiators Rugby League
Over the weekend a 96-Point thriller took place in the sunshine as combined lancashire took to the field for the first time in 2026. Head Coach Damion Pickles provided the following report after the game:
"In a breathtaking, high-scoring showcase of Rugby League, the GMP / Lancs Combined Police side put in a monumental shift, ultimately falling just short in a 54-42 thriller against a clinical Chester Gladiators outfit.
Going up against an established Open Age club side that trains and plays together week in, week out is always one of the toughest assignments for a representative police squad. Compounding the challenge, the Police side had to contend with a mounting injury toll throughout the 80 minutes, forcing desperate reshuffles across the park.
While the Gladiators' regular match fitness and cohesion ultimately saw them edge ahead on the scoreboard, the 42 points racked up by the Police side speaks volumes about the sheer heart, talent, and attacking flair of this squad.
First Half: Trading Blows.
The match started at a frantic pace, with Chester looking to use their fluency to stretch the Police line early on. However, the Combined Police hit back with clinical precision. Despite some early knocks and forced positional changes, the forwards laid a massive platform down the middle, allowing the backs to strike with some brilliant creative rugby.
Points flowed thick and fast in a wide-open first 40 minutes. Every time Chester threatened to pull away using their match-fitness edge, the Police responded with brute determination and clinical ex*****on, ensuring they stayed right in the thick of a high-scoring arm-wrestle.
Second Half: Grit, Guts, and Maximum Effort.
The second half tested the Police squad’s depth and resolve to the absolute limit. As the injury list grew, players were asked to put in massive shifts out of position, digging deep into their energy reserves against an OA team that trains consistently.
Chester relied on their regular-season conditioning to rack up 54 points on the day, but the Combined Police simply refused to take a backward step. The communication and work ethic when the tank was emptying was first-class, with the lads continually crossing the whitewash to keep the pressure firmly on the Gladiators until the final whistle.
Big raps to Jack Morrison for 7 tries a massive MOM performance.
