Wigan Warriors’ stars of the future descended on Fallowfield Park at the weekend as part of their bonding sessions ahead of the new rugby league season, writes Paddy McAteer.

Former Warrior, Barrow Raider, and Great Britain star forward Mick Cassidy brought his talented under-19 team to the National Conference League club for a weekend of tough work.

They arrived last Friday and camped out on the area behind the pitch. They took part in a training session with the players from Askam’s under-14 and under-16 teams before taking part in an opposed training game with the Askam first team.

Askam went into the game under newly appointed coach Gary Bolton and came out on top 16-14 in the three sessions of play controlled by former Raider and Askam coach Dave Clarke.

Tries for the Villagers came from Grady Slater, Josh Bayliss and Lee Alexander with two goals from the boot of Brad Jackson.

The new boss Bolton said “It was a good run out for the lads and also myself in my first game as coach.”

After another night camping out, the young Warriors set off for Coniston Old Man where they were to climb with beer barrels.

Askam’s first competitive game of the season is just over a week away, as they’ll be facing Hindpool Tigers in the quarter finals of the Barton Townley Cup, ahead of their campaign in NCL Division Three.