Martin Ainscough is a halfback that could really burst onto the scene this
season.
After excelling in a junior career with Leigh Miners, Ainscough initially
joined Wigan as a youngster before later moving to Widnes where he was part
of their scholarship programme.
Over the next two seasons, Ainscough worked his socks off and made a lot of
people sit up and take notice at the Halton Stadium. He won the Vikings
Academy Player of the Season award in 2003 and scored many tries for the
Junior Academy to force his way into Senior Academy plans.
Ahead of the 2004 season, Ainscough was invited to join the Vikings first
team for pre-season training in Australia. He trained with the first team
for a month in their camp and a glittering first team career looked set to
start as Martin played in a couple of friendlies and gained selection to the
GB Academy training squad.
Unfortunately, a broken leg sustained against Bradford Bulls Senior Academy
at Odsal in March 2004 not only saw him sit out the remainder of the season,
it scuppered hopes of a first team debut and hampered progress. The break
was a bad one and Martin spent a week in hospital at Bradford before
starting the long rehabilitation process. Widnes stood by Ainscough and gave
him another contract but it was only a year later when he stepped back out
on a playing field.
Typically, Martin fought back and continued his studies at Liverpool John
Moore University for a BSC in Sports Science. His status as a student made
him eligible for the England Students and he returned to Australia in 2005
to play for England in the Student World Cup. Ainscough became one of the
stars of the tournament, playing scrum-half and taking main goal-kicking
responsibilities for his team.
He returned to help guide Widnes into their Senior Academy Grand Final
against Leeds but the young Rhinos were too good on the day and took the
trophy with a 42-12 win.
This past season has seen Ainscough return to form, and in addition to the
loan period with Batley that yielded his first senior appearance, and a
couple of Senior Academy tries for the Bulldogs, Martin also scored 15 tries
for the Vikings Senior Academy as they marched to the Grand Final before
finally losing to Halifax.
Ainscough was one of several youngsters that impressed during the Centurions
50-0 Boxing Day friendly defeat of Swinton, creating two tries in a
productive cameo.
