Sirius Academy Year 10 Girls Rugby League Team make it National Finals
Sirius Academy Year 10 Girls Rugby League Team make it National Finals for the fourth year running!
The Year 10 Girls have made it to the National Finals for the fourth year running, with this year being the toughest yet.
Sirius Academy West 6 Settle 0
Sirius had good opponents for their first game and knew they would have to be at their best from the start if they were to win this one. Sirius looked solid in defence, but uncharacteristically was making errors in attack, with a few knocks ons early in the set. But once Sirius had settled down they started playing some good rugby, and it was Saffron Jones who crashed over from close range for the only try of the game.
Sirius Academy West 12 David Young 0
Once again, the Sirius defence was absolutely incredible against a very big, strong David Young team. Amelia Longden, Saffron Jones and Cameron Shakespear were putting in some big hits, and not taking a backwards step. In attack, the ever impressive captain Mia Duke was running the show from acting half back and managed to get over for the first try. David Young got near the Sirius line and had a good set of six trying to barge their way over, but the defence was just too strong, as every player gave absolutely everything to ensure they didn’t get the equiliser. Some good runs from Danny Waters and Molly Bigby got the Sirius side near the David Young tryline and quick thinking from Mia Duke sent a long ball out to Ellie Cone who scored in the corner.
Sirius Academy 18 Ossett 6
Sirius Academy knew that games against Ossett are always difficult as they have some fast players who can cause problems, but Sirius were really up for this one and started the game with a fantastic individual try from Kayleigh Waller, who went the full length of the pitch from the kick off. This settled Sirius down and they started to put on some good moves in attack. Saffron Jones extended the lead after great work down the middle of the park from Danny Fulton and Shannon Jordan. Sirius continued to defend well and cause Ossett to knock on. From the resulting set of six Molly Bigby spotted a gap in the defence and jinxed her way through to score a great solo effort. A consolation try late on from Ossett came from a kick that Sirius could do nothing about as they conceded their first try of the tournament.
Sirius Academy 24 Archbishop Sentamu 0
Sirius Academy had no mercy against the Hull side, and again Kayleigh Waller scored from the kick off as she showed real pace and power to get through the Archbishop side. Year 9 Danny Waters started to come more into the middle in this game and really cause Archbishop Sentamu problems and went over for a well deserved try. Molly Bigby showed her skill as she went over shortly after before Danny Waters went over for the final try of the game. This meant that Sirius had come top of their group and would play the second placed team from the other league, which was Castleford Academy.
Semi Final
Sirius Academy 18 Castleford 12 (AET)
Sirius Academy knew that this would be the most difficult test they had come up against, with the whole Castleford side playing rugby outside of school for a team and a couple of England players in there it was going to the a hard ask for the Sirius girls, but as always they showed a lot of determination and desire and managed to take an early lead through great agility and power from Kayleigh Waller to go over in the corner. Castleford replied back immediately from their set of six and crashed over from close range. Neither team were making any errors, it was as all about the defence of both sides, which was looking solid and organised. Sirius gave away a few high tackles which saw Castleford get near the tryline and power over again. Sirius made their way down to the Castleford tryline again and when awarded a penalty, a quick tap from Waller caught the defence out as she went over to level the scores, which would take the game into 5 minutes of extra time.
The game was evenly matched in extra time, with neither team backing down in a superb spectacle for girls rugby league. Castleford thought they had got a try in the corner, but the defence of Cameron Shakespear, Danny Waters and Emily Andrews was incredible as they managed to tackle the girl into touch. The game-breaker came shortly after, Kayleigh Waller made a great break down the left and offloaded to Danny Waters in space who sprinted over in the corner for what would be the winning try to take Sirius Academy through to the National Finals for the fourth year running.
Please congratulate the girls on their success, determination and attitude:-
Mia Duke, Kayleigh Waller, Rio Cambell, Saffron Jones, Amelia Longden, Ellie Cone, Georgia Wardell, Danny Waters, Emily Andrew, Danny Fulton, Molly Bigby, Cameron Shakespear, Shannon Jordan, Jess Delph and Jamie Watson.
Special thanks to Miss Martin for her continued support with the girl’s rugby teams.
