Charity rugby match in memory of Doncaster brothers killed in crash

A rugby tournament held in memory of two teenage brothers killed in a horrific car crash has raised £4,000 for charity.
Memorial tournament at ThornesiansMemorial tournament at Thornesians
Memorial tournament at Thornesians

Thornensians RUFC organised the event in memory of Ashley Isle, 13 , who played for the club and his brother Thomas, 18, who both died after an accident in Dunsville.

A minute’s applause took place before the tournament at the Thornensians’ ground in Coulman Road in Thorne – where Ashley played for the Under 14s team.

The match raised £4,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

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Thornensians Under 14s coach Josh Walker said: “It was an emotional day but we wanted to make the day a celebration and raise as much money as possible .

“All the lads pulled together as a team and one of the teams got through to the final.

“Thomas and Ashley’s family came along on the day.”

The two brothers, of Armthorpe, were travelling in a red Seat Ibiza when it crashed on the A18 High Street, close to Wyndthorpe Hall near Dunsville at around 6.40pm on Saturday, November 7.

Thomas, who was driving the car, died at the scene, and Ashley died two days later in Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

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Speaking about Ashley, who joined Thornensians last year, Mr Walker said: “He really stood out from the crowd and wasn’t afraid to make tackles and take chances.

“We were all completely devastated by what happened but we are one big family here and we all pulled together.”

This is the first in a series of fundraising events the club plans to hold to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The team are training for a Tough Mudder event in August.

Mr Walker said: “We want to continue to raise money to hopefully help other people in the future.”

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Hundreds of tributes poured in for the brothers following their tragic deaths in November.

Thomas was a former student at Ash Hill Academy, while Ashley was a Year Nine pupil at the school.

Paying tribute to the pair Ash Hill Academy headteacher David Williams said: “Thomas was well-liked by the pupils and the staff and was extremely popular.

“Ashley was a lovely young man who was also well-liked. He was a member of the academy rugby team.”

An inquest concluded the pair died as a result of a road traffic collision.