Year 10 Boys – Yorkshire RL Plate Champions
Sirius Academy West 22 St Wilfreds 14
Sirius Academy Year 10 Boys Rugby League team won their first piece of silverware by beating a very strong St Wilfreds team in the Yorkshire Plate Final. St Wilfreds came into the game as clear favourites after beating the same Sirius side last year by over 50 points, but they underestimated the progress and improvements by these very committed set of players as Sirius came back from a ten point deficit to win the game in the late stages of the match.
Sirius Academy got off to the worst possible start when they knocked on near their own tryline on the second tackle, St Wilfreds took full advantage of this and crashed over from close range and converted the try for an early 6 – 0 lead. Another error from Sirius gifted the St Wilfreds side another set of six 40 metres out. Sirius Academy were struggling with their quick play the ball, as they got a roll on in attack, and when players could not get across to the right edge quick enough, good hands down the line sent the St Wilfreds player in at the corner to make it 10 – 0. Sirius started to pick up their game and play some of the good rugby that had got them to the final. Good runs forward from Alex Dunne and Joe Aitcheson set the standards going forward as they got into the St Wilfreds half for the first time. Brandon Sargesson started to dictate play and get the ball wider for the centres and wingers to run onto, which seemed to be causing St Wilfreds problems. Just before the halftime whistle Sirius managed to get a try back when a couple of good runs and a quick play the balls saw Taylor Eastwood use his pace to run through the defensive line and then jinx his way through the cover defence with a great solo try in the corner to make it 10 – 4 at the break.
Sirius knew that they were back in the game and that the first score in the second half was crucial. They forced the mistake from the St Wilfreds team with good defence from Leon Stewart and Harry Kynman. The resulting set of six in the St Wilfreds half was outstanding as they got themselves into good field position for a kick on the last, the high bomb was chased well by fullback Harry Coulbeck, and when the St Wilfreds player knocked on he was there to ground the ball, Kai Green converted to level the scores at 10 – 10. The game was evenly matched for the next ten minutes with both sides defending strong. But it was St Wilfreds who managed to get over to take the lead again as their third set of six on the Sirius line was just too much as they went over to make it 14 – 10 in their favour as the conversion was missed. St Wilfreds continued to put the pressure on and thought they had extended their lead but a correct call of forward pass was given by the referee. The character, desire and determination of the Sirius side was there for all to see with ten minutes remaining. Another good set of six and carries forward from Tom Wilkinson and Joe Burazin got Sirius to 30 meters out, the kick on the last tackle from Harry Kynman was a good one and once again the chase was just as good as Harry Coulbeck got up higher than their fullback to take the ball in the air and go over, Kai Green kept his nerve at the conversion to put Sirius in the lead by 2 points as the last five minutes approached. St Wilfreds started to chase the game and take risks and force passes, which resulted in a knock on and a scrum to Sirius on their own 20 meter line. From the resulting scrum good hands down the line found Leon Stewart who rounded the defence, cover came across but Leon was too strong to handle as he burst through and outpaced the St Wilfreds chasing players to score under the sticks for a fine individual try that would win the Sirius Academy Year 10 Boys their first piece of silverware. Kai Green converted for an 8 point lead and shortly after the final whistle went, as the boys celebrated their fantastic victory. An amazing achievement for this squad of players, who should be very proud of what they have accomplished this year. They now turn their attentions to the Hull Schools Cup Final when they take on Winifred Holtby next week.
Please congratulate the boys on their character, attitude and determination to succeed:-
Harry Coulbeck, Leon Stewart, Taylor Eastwood, Matty Coulter, Tom Boreman, Brandon Sargesson, Joe Aitcheson, Jackson Davis Barker, Joe Burazin, Harry Kynman, Alex Dunne, Jack Wilson Grey, Jack Bone, Joe Layden, Tyrone Wilsher, Tom Wilkinson, Kai Green
Injured players who helped get the team to the final were Joe Kennedy and Ben Canvass
