Draft:Gravesend Dynamite

Gravesend Dynamite
Club information
ColoursBlack and White
Founded2013; 11 years ago (2013)
Records
Challenge Trophy4 (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Gravesend Dynamite is a sports disability club that plays wheelchair rugby league in England that is inclusive for all genders, ages and disabilities.[1] It has seen major success regionally across the country.

Club History

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Gravesend Dynamite are a wheelchair rugby club located in Kent that competes nationally. The club was founded in Gravesend in 2013 by Jason Owen, having been inspired by the 2013 World Cup held at Medway Park the summer of that year.[2][3]

In 2015, Gravesend were one of the teams to take part in the inaugural Challenge Cup but were knocked out in the quarter-finals.[4] The following season they defeated Hereford Harriers 102–32 to reach the quarter-finals again but were drawn against defending champions Halifax.[5][6] However, in the league competition the club won the 2016 South Development League.[7]

The club has won the Challenge Trophy four times. In 2019 they beat Hull, taking an early deficit but then coming back to win.[8] In 2021 they beat Warrington in a narrow match which was hotly contested.[9] In 2022 they beat Mersey Storm, and then in 2023 they beat Sheffield Eagles.[10] In the 2024 Challenge Trophy they finished top of their group beating Bradford, Wakefield and York without conceding a try, but lost in a tightly fought game against Edinburgh after receiving a yellow card.[11] Also, they remained undefeated in the south league for 10 years between 2013 and 2023.

Many players have gone on to represent their country, with players receiving the call up for Scotland, Ireland and Wales, as well as having players attend the England National Performance Squad.[12]

Tournament Success

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Challenge Trophy

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In 2018, the RFL introduced a Plate competition as part of the Challenge Cup.[13] It was planned to continue in 2019,[14] but was instead replaced by the inaugural Wheelchair Challenge Trophy.[15] The Challenge Trophy is played alongside the Challenge Cup, for teams outside the Super League. Gravesend Dynamite has entered the tournament on five occasions, winning it four times.

List of finals
Year Winning team Score Losing team Venue Ref.
2019   Gravesend Dynamite 75–48   Hull FC English Institute of Sport, Sheffield [16]
2021   Gravesend Dynamite 19–12   Warrington Wolves Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, Warrington [9]
2022   Gravesend Dynamite 82–40 Mersey Storm Allam Arena, Hull [2]
2023   Gravesend Dynamite 88–8   Sheffield Eagles English Institute of Sport, Sheffield [10]

Honours

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Cups

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Leagues

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  • RFL Wheelchair Rugby League South Development League
    Winners: 2016
  • RFL Wheelchair Rugby League South Championship
    Winners: 2022

Notable Players

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  • Jason Owen - Founder, coach and player who has attended the England National Performance Squad, and currently plays for Super League side London Roosters.[12]
  • Dan Grant - Player and current club captain who is also captain of the Scottish national team, making three appearances for his country in the 2022 World Cup.[17]
  • Michael Grant - Scotland International who was an integral part of three Challenge cup successes.[18]
  • Ken Maloney - Ireland International and Gravesend coach whose also played in many of the successful Challenge Cup Campaigns.[19]
  • Max Owen - Vital keystone to all four Challenge Cup successes, who was voted Player of the Match in Sheffield for a dominating performance.[20]
  • Euan Huckle - Veteran player known for speed played a key part in two Challenge Cup successes as well as winning Southern Championships.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Gravesham honours community-spirited volunteers". Gravesham Borough Council. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b Reeves, Thomas (23 July 2022). "Rugby League Challenge Trophy success leaves Gravesend Dynamite on a roll as they prepare for 10th season of wheelchair rugby action". Kent Online. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  3. ^ Caldwell, Luke (17 July 2023). "'This sport means everything!' Wheelchair rugby league side celebrate milestone". Kent Online. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Leyland progress at the expense of the Dynamite". www.rugby-league.com. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Challenge Cup round up". www.rugby-league.com. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Review | Halifax 110 Leeds Rhinos 32". www.rugby-league.com. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  7. ^ "2017 WhRL season preview". www.rugby-league.com. 28 May 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Wheelchair Challenge Cup triumph for Leeds Rhinos". www.rugby-league.com. Rugby League. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  9. ^ a b England, Rugby Football League. "Big weekend ahead for Wheelchair Rugby League". Rugby-League.com. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b Ltd, Go Media. "Wheelchair Trophy Final Report". Sheffield Eagles. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Hereford Harriers crowned Wheelchair Challenge Trophy champions". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b Reporter, KentOnline (17 October 2023). "Duty calls for Owen!". Kent Online. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Wheelchair RL boasts growth for 2018". www.rugby-league.com. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Give Wheelchair Rugby League a try at the 2019 Season Launch this weekend". www.rugby-league.com. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Hull FC Wheelchair Rugby League". Hull F.C. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Wheelchair Challenge Cup triumph for Leeds Rhinos". www.rugby-league.com. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Dan Grant Profile". NRL. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  18. ^ Golden, Ian. "Wales retain Wheelchair Celtic Cup after historic draw". Rugby League International Federation. International Rugby League. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Scotland and Ireland name squads for wheelchair rugby league international". Rugby League International Federation. International Rugby League. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  20. ^ Reeves, Thomas (27 August 2023). "Four-midable Dynamite!". Kent Online. Kent Messenger. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  21. ^ Reporter, KentOnline (11 October 2022). "Dynamite end season with a bang". Kent Online. Kent Messenger. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
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