Sirius Academy West Girls College RU Team finish 3rd in Yorkshire Finals
After finishing as champions in the East Yorkshire Rugby Union Festival last week, the team travelled to York in the Yorkshire Finals. From last week the team was without Jodie Shimmels, but welcomed into the squad Georgia Travagli from Year 12 and also Mia Duke and Saffron Jones from Year 11.
Sirius Academy West 1 St John Fisher 0
In a very evenly matched first game both teams were extremely strong in defence and making the other team work hard in attack to get anywhere near the oppositions tryline. Both teams were keeping the ball well with very few errors in the match. It looked like St John Fisher may have taken the lead, but an outstanding last ditch tackle from Georgia Travagli prevented them from going over in a corner with a real try saver. As St John Fisher started to tire Mia Duke was brought on off the bench and rounded the defence with some great footwork and pace to go over in the corner. Saffron Jones, Lauren Clark and Angelika Bobkovica were taking the ball up strong in the middle making some good yards forward. With a few minutes left on clock it looked like St John Fisher had equalised but again another last ditch tackle prevented the player from scoring, this time it was the determination of Mia Duke who forced the player to knock on over the line. Captain Shauna Jones was key in seeing the game out as the Sirius team celebrated their first victory of the competition.
Settle 3 Sirius Academy West 0
Sirius started this game on the front foot and could have scored from their first phase of attack, but unfortunately a knock on in the corner saw the chance go begging. Settle were a very experienced side and had the upper hand on rucks on mauls as the Sirius side struggled to get any sort of attack going as the ball was handed over to Settle regularly. Good hands down the line saw Settle go over for the first try of the game. Megan Whittles and Paige Fletcher were strong down the right hand side and ensured no-one was to get past them. Megan Kay was looking lively in attack and jinxed her way near the tryline, but the good rucking from Settle got them the ball back and they went over to double their lead. Just before the final whistle Settle went over to seal the game with a 3 – 0 win.
Sirius Academy 2 Ripon 4
Next up for Sirius was another experienced Rugby Union team, but Sirius held their own for a long period of time making some good tackles in defence. A scrum for Sirius Academy on their own line saw the Ripon side contest the scrum and win the ball back to go over for a try. They scored their second not long after with good hands down the wing to create an overlap and score in the corner despite the efforts of Saffron Jones sprinting across the field to catch their speedy winger. Sirius got a try back of their own after Emily Savage carried the ball up well, found Aimee Harriss in support who provided a good offload to Mia Duke who went over to give Sirius some hope of getting back into the game. A couple of niggles to some of the bigger girls in the middle of the park affected the team as their biggest player burst through the defensive line and go over to make it 3 – 1. Sirius replied immediately and a great ball from Megan Whittles put Paige Fletcher away in the corner to make for an exciting finish. But it was Ripon who finished the strongest to go over and make the final score 4 – 2.
Sirius Academy 5 Wolfreton 1
Sirius finished the tournament in style with a convincing win over Wolfreton. Saffron Jones was leading the way with her intelligence and quick thinking in the ruck to win the ball back for Sirius near the Wolfreton tryline and send away Lauren Clark to barge her way over with a fine try. Some great defence again from Sirius, this time is was Angelika Bobkovica who put in a big tackle forcing the Wolfreton player to drop the ball, Megan Kay was quick to pick up the loose ball and double the lead. Winger Ella Beedham was supporting the player with the ball well and when she got a quick offload away to Mia Duke she outpaced the defence to make it 3 – 0. Wolfreton managed a try back of their own, but Sirius finished the game well with two more tries. Support play was key again as Lauren Clark went over for her second of the match before Megan Kay rounded off the scoring with a powerful determined run to make it 5 – 1 to Sirius.
Please congratulate the College Team on their success in Rugby Union. Most of them are mainly Rugby League girls and the only thing that let them down today was the experience of other schools who play Rugby Union as their main sport, which showed in the rucks, mauls and contested scrums. The girls improved in all areas as the tournament progressed and played some great attacking rugby and defended extremely well as team. They should be very proud of finishing 3rd overall in the Yorkshire College tournament.
Squad:
Shauna Jones
Paige Fletcher
Aimee Harris
Lauren Clark
Georgia Travagli
Meg Whittles
Megan Kay
Ella Beedham
Angelika Bobkovica
Emily Savage
Mellissa Tulley
Mia Duke
Saffron Jones
