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BBC News
17-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Nerves & excitement before Wigan v Saints derby
Wigan Warriors welcome St Helens to the Brick Community Stadium on Good Friday as Super League's rivals round continues for another last time these two faced each other, Wigan scored 20 unanswered points at last season's Magic Weekend in victory was the first of eight in a row which sent Matt Peet's Warriors on the way to a historic what does the Good Friday derby mean to those involved and is this the chance for Wigan to push on for another successful season? Or can St Helens force a memorable win on away ground and reboot their campaign?BBC Sport takes a look at what's at stake on Friday. One of the fiercest rivalries in English sport, those who have played in the fixture know how vital it is to seal the bragging rights and bring home two ask Wigan half-back Harry Smith."I don't think it'll ever lose the feeling of adrenaline it gives you, the fear of losing and the excitement of playing in front of so many people," Smith told BBC Radio Manchester."It's brilliant and one of the highlight games of every year. It's not a fear like you're scared but you want to get on the right side of the result to make the fans happy and make your team-mates and yourself happy."It's just that bit of anxiousness to get on the right side of the result."It is a sentiment shared by St Helens prop Alex Walmsley, who has been on the winning side at Wigan on three occasions."The last thing you want to do is lose on Good Friday. Especially coming to Wigan where getting a win can have the feeling of winning a final," Walmsley told BBC Radio Merseyside."Losing feels like losing in a final as well. It does mean that much. The normal games against Wigan are intense. But the Good Friday one has that extra feel about it. Whether that's because it's an afternoon kick-off, I'm not sure. But it definitely means more on Good Friday." Bringing nerves, excitement and tradition St Helens boss Paul Wellens was the victorious head coach the last time these two sides met in a Good Friday fixture as his side ran out 12-4 winners at the Totally Wicked Stadium last the significance of the game and its place in the calendar means that there is added anxiety."I'm nervous but excited and the two go hand in hand with these sorts of big games," Wellens told BBC Radio Merseyside."I've said to the players, the opportunity to play in these games means we're very privileged. Particularly a Good Friday Wigan v Saints game, there's always going to be an extra significance to it."Wigan are neck and neck with Saints in the table, having both recorded five wins from seven Super League into this campaign off the back of winning a historic quadruple last term, Wigan are now growing into the season and will welcome their rivals off the back of beating league leaders Hull KR last Helens, on the other hand, have had an inconsistent start in comparison despite how evenly matched they are, but Wigan boss Matt Peet thinks they will be tough opponents."We're at similar points in the league so I think they're doing alright. They don't leak a lot of points. They're always tough to play against. I think every team they play against would say that," Peet told BBC Radio Manchester."They've got some of the best players in the competition and best English players available so I see them as a top team."
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Vaughan set for quick return after finger injury
Warrington Wolves prop Paul Vaughan is expected to make a quick recovery after suffering a gruesome finger injury in their Challenge Cup quarter-final win over St sustained a compound fracture to his finger just two minutes into Sunday's Cup victory at the Halliwell Jones receiving treatment he was able to return for the latter stages of the contest, but boss Sam Burgess said he will now be assessed before a full return is considered."You've got to be careful with them because the possibility of infection can be pretty bad," Burgess told BBC Radio Merseyside."We've got great medics on hand who cleaned it out and stitched it up. I thought he was brilliant. Regardless of the bump on his hand he managed to get us forward in the second half when we really needed him."It shouldn't be too long depending on what procedure we go with." The Wire edged out St Helens in a bruising encounter which also saw their opponents lose three players to head injury assessments during the course of the 80 his injury, Vaughan was insistent he wanted to return to the field in order to help his side reach the semi-final stage."He wanted to come back on. I don't think he wanted to come off," Burgess added."Once they strapped it up and they put some anaesthetic in to take the pain away he was good as gold."They're all committed to the cause so they wanted to get back on the field."I just think it's part of the game at the moment whether it's head knocks or injuries, you're probably always going to lose someone during a game because of the physical nature of the contest."
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Land Before Time: Chester girl, 11, cast in remake of classic
An 11-year-old girl from Chester has been cast in the lead role of a remake of the 1980s classic, The Land Before Saunders will play the character Littlefoot in the reboot of Steven Spielberg's 1988 animated film was given the role after a successful second audition, in which she put pencils in her mouth to sound like she was "eating like a dinosaur".The new movie, Littlefoot, will be directed by British filmmaker Joey Lever, who is best known for creating fan film, Spiderman: Lost Cause in 2014. Speaking about the audition process, Saunders said: "There weren't many actors in [the studio] because the actor I was with was from America, on a little computer."For some parts I had to put pencils in my mouth because I'd be eating like a dinosaur and there was lots of moving around." Summer-Joules is the daughter of talent agent Joanne Saunders, who founded the Chester-based Majestic Academy of Performing Arts."I grew up in this and as I grew up with my mum's talent agency so I joined that.", Summer-Joules told BBC Radio Merseyside."When I'm older I still want to be an actress and a performer, but also a barrister."I'd like to use my acting to be a barrister because it's like you're on a stage and having to push your case to the judges."Her mum added: "I'm really, really proud. I just open doors and let [Summer-Joules] decide whether she wants to keep them open."This kind of environment helps raise confidence and self-esteem, all issues children are going though at the moment." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
05-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Liverpool fish and chip shop owner retires after 48 years
A fish and chip shop owner from Liverpool has served his final customers after nearly half a century in the provided chippy teas for generations, Eddie Lockhart closed the doors of Lockharts EC, on Warwick Street, for the last time on asked about his plans for retirement, 72-year-old Eddie quipped "doing nothing for a month" before going on a much-needed holiday and, ironically, going joined his family business on a full-time basis in 1977 before taking over from his father a few years later. "My family was always in the fruit and vegetable business," he told BBC Radio Merseyside."We had two shops - one just over the road from here where my Auntie Teenie worked, and then one on New Henderson Street."Then they were demolished just after the war and these buildings were built."Eventually we fell into the fish and chip business."The chippy opened in 1959 and has remained a firm fixture ever since. Menus over the years have evolved in response to customers' tastes."When we first started, we were serving pies, chips, and fish," Eddie explained."But then Chinese [takeaways] started coming in and selling sausage dinners, so we had to do that."We didn't even have gravy - just peas - and then we started doing a gravy dinner."While the future of the business remains unknown, Eddie was more certain of his own plans."I'm going to do nothing for the first month!"Me and the wife will go on holiday, and then I'll have a bit of time to do a bit of fishing."And I'll probably go to the pub with my friend Paddy." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Surreal feeling' to be named in England squad
Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah says "it is a surreal feeling" to be named in Thomas Tuchel's first England 22-year-old is yet to make a senior international appearance, despite being included in Gareth Southgate's training squad before Euro then, he has made 21 appearances for Liverpool and has been impressive at the back when called upon by Arne Slot."I was in the last camp but it was to just step in, so this is the first one where I feel part of the squad," he told BBC Radio Merseyside."Football is about ups and downs and I wasn't picked for the Euros, so it was about bouncing back and being in a better position this season."Listen to more on BBC Sounds
