Year 7 Boys Rugby: Castleford Academy 14 Sirius Academy West 20

Castleford Academy 14 Sirius Academy West 20

 

In the group stages of the Yorkshire Cup, Sirius Academy West played their first and probably most toughest game in their league of 4 teams. Castleford Academy are known for producing quality players and generally get to the National Final at Year 7 every year. 

 

The home team started the game well, with the Sirius Academy West team looking a little disorganised. Castleford capitalised on poor defence and went over for the first try of the game after having 3 sets of six in the Sirius half. This shook the Sirius side who had won their two previous two Hull Schools games convincingly. On Castlefords next set of six the Sirius side defended well but the high ball on the last was knocked on and they went over to extend the score to 10 – 0. It went form bad to worse for Sirius as they knocked on twice in their next two sets and Castleford went over again after a precision kick to corner just before the break to make it 14 – 0.

 

Sirius knew they needed to compose themselves and have some belief that they could come back from this. The next try was crucial and it was Sirius who scored it in the first few minutes of the second half, talented half back Matty Grant noticed the overlap on the right hand side and his dummy and go saw him go over 80 meters to make it 14 – 4. This give Sirius some confidence and not long after it was Jay Dawson who rounded the defence from a scrum and went in under the sticks after running nearly the full length of the pitch, 14 – 10 with ten minutes to go. Sirius defended well as Castleford threw everything at them, and when a last ditch tackle from Bailey Medlam caused them to knock on it was back in the hands of Sirius to be on the attack. From the resulting scrum, great combination play with Matty Grant and Jay Dawson once again saw Jay prove too strong and fast as he raced over the tryline to score under the sticks, captain Alfie Wilson kept his composure and put Sirius in front for the first  time at 14 – 16. But Sirius was not finished there as Clifford Appiah showed how dangerous he is as he brushed off three attempted tackles and went over in the corner to make it 14 – 20 with one minute remaining and a nervous finish to the game. But Sirius held their nerve when Castleford somehow got the ball back from the kick off, but they held on for 5 more tackles to keep them out and go on and win the game.

 

The full squad should be extremely proud of what they have just achieved, as Castleford are generally one of the best teams in the country at most age groups, so to go to their place and get a win is a real achievement. They also deserve massive praise for their character and desire to come back from 14 – 0 at halftime, showing real belief in themselves. Next up for the Year 7 Sirius side is Ryburn next Thursday (12th December) at home and then the Tuesday after (17th December) also at home. If they win both of those games then they will book themselves a place in the semi final of the Yorkshire Cup and a place in the National stages.

 

Please congratulate the following boys if you see them around the Academy:-

1 – Alfie Phillips

2 – Charlie Smith

3 – Alex Atkinson

4 – Mason Hilton

5 – Bailey Medlam

6 – Billy Whittle

7 – Matty Grant

8 – Kye Dennett

9 – Alfie Wilson

10 – Cohen Cass

11 – Jay Dawson

12 – Clifford Appiah

13 – Louis Coultass

 

Subs

Reece Carter

Jayden Willingham

Corban Denton

Jude Holt

Special thanks to Callum Blowman for his support with the team.