Year 10 Rugby boys produce sensational team effort to gain victory!
The Sirius Academy West Year 10 Rugby team matched their Year 11 counterparts from the previous week by overcoming the significant disadvantage of playing with only 11 players to finally overcome Kelvin Hall to gain a victory which sees them qualify for the RFL Yorkshire Cup stages. The boys showed an unbelieveable work ethic for one another and battled hard depsite falling behind at times to produce a stunning win.
The game started poorly for Sirius with Kelvin scoring off their 1st set of 6 with one of their stronger players barging his way over for a 6-0 lead. Back battled Sirius as Robbie Jones shrugged off three defenders to score wide out before Year 9 student Sam Hassard created space for the excellent Harry Norton to cross wide out with Kieran Welburn adding the extras for a 10-6 lead. Despite the best efforts of Wesley Holmes, Alfie Marsden who struggled on through the game despite injury and James Abdull, Kelvin eventaully made numbers count and crossed for two tries to lead at half-time 18-10.
The Sirius boys could have easily thrown in the towel and blamed lack of numbers as Kelvin scored again early on in the 2nd half to lead 22-10 however the boys dug deep and refused to take the easier option. The outstanding Mason Opie-Palmer who had a superb game, making constant breaks dragged Sirius back into the match with a fine individual try with Welburn goaling before Abdull used his strength to get over wide out to pull the score back to 22-20. The boys were now on the front foot with Renaldas Sokolovas, Billy Fenby and Welburn taking the pressure off the tiring forwards with excellent defence and willing runs. Kelvin crossed again to take the score to 28-20 with 6 minutes left but Hassard dummied his way over before Sokolovas sent the Sirius lads wild after grounding Welburns kick through to level the scores at 28-28.
Extra-time began and both sides knew that the first point would win the game. Drop goal efforts came and went however it was left to the elusive Dylan Norrie to trick the Kelvin defence to dive over to send Sirius through!
Special thanks to Martin Smith for again giving up his time to help with the team and to drive the mini-bus.
Please congratulate the following boys on an excellent team performance and attitude:
Mason Opie-Palmer, Billy Fenby, James Abdull, Renaldas Sokolovas, Dylan Norrie, Sam Hassard (Year 9), Alfie Marsden, Kieran Welburn, Wesley Holmes, Robbie Jones, Harry Norton.
