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Newcastle Thunder stars swap the rugby pitch for the road with Moody Logistics

ByMaggieB

May 27, 2019 #charity

North East rugby league stars have swapped the pitch for the road as part of their longstanding partnership with Moody Logistics.

Newcastle Thunder players Carne Doyle-Manga, a Cook Island international, and Alex Donaghy, from the club’s U19s squad, visited Moody’s depot in Cramlington to learn new skills and take up ‘driving lessons’ with the company’s heavy goods vehicles (HGV).

Moody’s has supported and sponsored the Thunder since 2018, which is the North East’s only professional rugby league club.

To mark the visit and its ongoing partnership with the club, Moody’s named its latest truck ‘Geordie Thunder’

The visit by Carne and Alex formed part of the Thunder’s annual ‘Big Day Out’ for the region’s grassroots rugby league clubs as the club engages with the community and its partner organisations.

Moody’s also co-hosted the Moody Cup & Festival at Kingston Park, which provided youngsters the opportunity to take part in a series of games and activities, as well as Under 12s and Under 14 players to challenge for the competitive Moody Cup. The youngsters were also given Moody rugby-inspired ‘goodie bags’ that included branded rugby stress balls along with confectionary and refreshments on the day.

Moody’s has a longstanding affiliation with sports clubs and supporting good causes in the North East. One of its sister businesses, Heathline Accident Repair Centre, is a sponsor of local football side Wide Open FC, which it has supported for the last three years as Moody’s Transport Logistics Planner, Mark Fisher, manages the team.

Caroline Moody, Managing Director of Moody Logistics, said: “It was great to welcome Carne and Alex and to provide them with an insight into the company, as well as hone their HGV driving skills!

“The community is very important to us, as is supporting children and celebrating their achievements and enjoyment of sport, which also helps them to keep fit and get more out of life. We are proud to be supporters of the Newcastle Thunder and many other deserving clubs and causes in the region and look forward to co-hosting the Moody Cup & Festival again in the future.”

Carne Doyle-Manga said: “The driving lesson was real fun, a lot different from driving a normal car as you have to gauge a wider turning circle, but it was really exciting, and I enjoyed it.

“We are really grateful that our partners at Moody have created this awesome opportunity for our upcoming stars to practice and hone their skills.”

Alex Donaghy added: “I’ve only just passed my driving test in February and it was quite scary – it’s a lot different from driving a little car! The HGV is more moveable and responsive than I thought it would be. I was driving it like a normal car then I realised that I had a 20ft trailer on the back and I was turning it too early!”

By MaggieB