IT was a rugby match with a difference as men in full firefighter gear tackled determined women in pink in memory of a popular Millom man.

Millom Rugby League Club hosted a special charity contest between ladies and veterans in a fitting tribute to Glyn Robinson, of Fairfield Road, who died last month after battling a brain tumour .


Glyn Robinson with his dog, Ronnie. The 45-year-old was known as a father-of-two, a skilled rugby player nicknamed 'The Scarf' and a dedicated firefighter.

Huge support

Around 1,000 supporters turned up to the Devonshire Road venue on Sunday to watch the ultimate mash-up of all those things.

The veteran team was given a handicap of playing in full firefighter kit, producing come hilarious results as helmets and wellies went flying.

The usual ferocity and brutality of rugby was replaced with laughs and giggles in what proved to be a hugely successful fundraiser.

'Super emotional'

Polly Robinson said her husband would have been proud of the community effort.

She said: "It was amazing. I was really, really proud. For everybody it was super emotional.

"Glyn was adamant that he would play a bit or referee but obviously things changed and Glyn got really ill and died so we turned the match into a memorial.

"At one stage I would say we had at least 1,000 people there.

"We had all the firefighters supporting and ex-players and their families travelled especially.

"It was fantastic. It might be something that we do again as an annual thing."

Fundraising success

The event was set up while Mr Robinson was alive to raise money for Hope and Cope Support Group in Millom, Autism Around The Combe and Hospice at Home West Cumbria.

And while some money was still to be counted, incredibly, the total collected from the match and various sales runs into the thousands.

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Mr Robinson's two children, Noah and Charlotte, played an important role on the day, captaining the two teams, with the ladies ultimately emerging triumphant.

In a surprise even for Mrs Robinson, the ladies team wore a kit especially for the day, with Mr Robinson's playing number 'six' on the back and nickname strapped across the front.

Ultimately the ladies emerged triumphant, lifting what could become the inaugural Ladies vs Veterans trophy in a regularly contested fixture.