WEST Park Bramhope's Kiwi Ralph Bennett (pictured right) returned home this week after four years at the club.

Together with wife Jenny and children Georgina and Harley, he left Bramhope with happy memories and no small amount of sadness.

"I am sad to be going and I will miss the club and the people. The thing I will miss most about England are the pubs though," he joked. "We have nothing like that at home."

Ralph played his last game for the club on Saturday in the Tetley Bitter Trophy game against Driffield, which Park lost 10-16.

"I will miss it a lot. We have made some great friends here and we have been able to have a nice lifestyle living in this part of the country.

"But I have been away from home for 12 years now and so it is time to go home with the children and let them meet their grandparents.

He intends to carry on playing when he gets home and reckons he has another couple of seasons left in him yet.

"The big difference between clubs at home and over here is the social side. West Park has a great social atmosphere, back home things are a lot more intense.

"I think I have a couple of seasons in me yet and so I hope to carry on playing when I get home and hopefully we will be back to England, although it won't be for a few years.

"Maybe when we are old and grey we'll come back over and visit," he said.

Whenever he does return, Ralph can be sure of a warm welcome from the club whose colours he has done proud service for over four years.

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