Year 9 Boys Rugby – Castleford Academy 8 Sirius Academy West 30

[06 Mar 2018]

Castleford Academy 8 Sirius Academy West 30

In the quarter final of the Yorkshire Plate the Sirius Academy Year 9 Rugby Boys were given the toughest draw in the competition by playing two years in a row National Finalists Castleford Academy. In all age groups Castleford Academy are always difficult to beat and usually make the National Final every year, but the boys seemed very confident in the warm up and looked up for this one!

The game didn’t start as the Sirius West boys had hoped for as the Castleford side scored off their first set of six with a fine kick into the corner. This did not phase Sirius as they immediately replied with a try of their own, also from a kick, where Keiran Welburn placed a pin point grubber kick into the corner and Year 8 Macauley Medlam was on hand to dive on the ball and make the scoreline 4 – 4. The game from then on was evenly matched in the first half, with both teams defence looking strong. Sirius looked to have the more powerful runners and the forwards of Alfie Marsden and Wesley Holmes were causing the Castleford side all sorts of problems. Half backs Keiran Welburn and Mason Palmer were running the show in the middle of the park as Sirius grew in confidence, knowing that Castleford was there for the taking. Just before the halftime break, Sirius got the try they deserved to take them into the lead, a mistake on the Sirius 20 meter line by Castleford from the scrum saw Jack Mortimer pick up the loose ball and run 80 meteres to score under the sticks, Keiran Welburn converted to make it 10 – 4 at the halfime break.

It wasn’t long into the second half when the Castleford side went over in the corner to make the scoreline 10 – 8. The determination and desire was there for all to see from the Sirius side as they responded in a positive way with probably the try of the game. A quick play the ball from Harry Norton caught Castleford numbers down on the left, and this was exploited immediately by Mason Palmer and James Abdull who sent in Tyler Leighton in the corner to extend the lead to 16 – 8. Sirius got themselves in some good field position again and got a penalty under the sticks, they were going to go for the two points on offer but quick play from Harry Norton saw him crash over from close range, Keiran Welburn slotted over to make it 22 – 8. Sirius wasn’t finished there and noticed that the right side of the Castleford team was a weakness, and started to attack that side more, the powerful Alfie Morgan got his rewards from a strong run, bouncing off four defenders and go over, 26 – 8. Sirius knew they had won the game with only five minutes remaining, but rubbed salt in the wounds of the Castleford side by going over again, this time is was Harry Norton to get his second of the game and see Sirius Academy West through to the semi final of the Yorkshire Plate.

The boys have certainly done the Academy proud with an outstanding team performance that showed, character, determination and desire throughout, they deserve a lot of credit to beat a very good Castleford Academy side and they completely deserve to be in the semi final.

Squad:-
Jack Mortimer
Kai Shaw
Spencer Bennett
Ronaldas Sokolovas
Tom Mclellan
Keiran Welburn
Mason Palmer
Alfie Marsden
Dylan Norrie
Wesley Holmes
Leo Meiklenham
James Abdul
Harry Norton
Macauley Medlam (Year 8)
Tyler Leighton

Special thanks to Mr Basile for his support with the team.

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