Year 10 Girls outstanding performance in the Yorkshire RL Finals
The Year 10 Girls are the most improved team at Sirius Academy West, managing to win 3 out of the 4 games in their group stages to finish second in the group, but unfortunately missing out on getting the National Stages when they faced National Champions Castleford Academy in the semi final of the competition. The Sirius West side were without influential players Shannon Jordan and Millie Jordan, but welcomed to their squad on debut Leander Haywood and also Year 9 Codi Brown.
Sirius Academy West 0 St John Fisher 6
First up for Sirius Academy West was a very tough game against St John Fisher, with all their squad playing for clubs outside of school. But Sirius Academy had the best of the game and managed to get into some good field position but failed to go over near their tryline. Great runs from Cameron Shakespear and Mia Husband were causing the St John Fisher team a lot of problems, and if Sirius had of been a bit smarter with the ball there was plenty of gaps out wide which they failed to capitalise on. The St John Fisher fullback, who is one of the fastest players I have ever seen managed to run round the Sirius defence and go over in the corner in the final stages of the ten minute game. There was no way back for Sirius as the time was against them. The Sirius girls knew they had given it their best against a very good side which filled them with confidence that hat they could go on and win all the other games in the league .
Sirius Academy West 6 Settle Academy 0
Sirius were looking good in defence in this game, great tackles from Chloe Dunn and Danny Waters prevented the Settle side from getting anywhere near the tryline and it wasn’t long before Sirius went over after some smart play from Mia Husband who scooted her way through the gap to score the first try of the game, Danny Waters converted to make it 6 – 0. Lauren Sutton was working hard from the acting half back position with accurate passing for the likes of Beth Dixon and Cameron Shakespear to run onto. Sirius could have extended the lead further as they dominated in possession, but the referee blew for fulltime as they were close to the line.
Sirius Academy West 6 Cockburn 4
Sirius knew they needed to win the next two games in order for them to come in the top two of the league. The effort and commitment the girls put into this game was incredible as they took an early lead when Danny Waters found space outwide and outpaced the defence to go over from 60 yards out with a great solo try, which she converted. Amy Purdon and Ellie Hinchcliffe were coming more into the game with some good runs forward as the full squad worked hard to get the win. Cockburn did manage to get over for a try of their own but they was unable to convert, with the final score of 6 – 4 in Sirius favour.
Sirius Academy West 6 Featherstone 0
Featherstone had just drawn with St John Fisher so Sirius knew they needed to win this one, a draw would be no good as Featherstone would finish in second place. Once again, the Sirius side showed real grit and determination to stop Featherstone going over from close range with great defence on their own line. Some good runs downfield saw Sirius ten metres out, a great move for Danny Waters to drop off Cameron Shakespear saw her go over to score an outstanding try. Danny Waters converted to make it 6 – 0. With a few minutes remaining on the clock Sirius needed to hang on, some great defence from Kalisha Quantock and Leander Haywood stopped them from going over in the corner. Featehrstone looked threating in the final stages, but a great determined tackle from Chloe Dunn, Cameron Shakespear and Danny Waters saw them keep the player up and bundle her into touch to win the game.
Sirius finished second in the group stages which meant they would play against the top of the other group, which was National Champions Castleford Academy, who again had a full squad of players that play for clubs on a weekly basis.
Castleford Academy 12 Sirius Academy 0
Unfortunately from the kick off to Sirius the referee deemed a knock on, which put Castleford in good field position, which they capitalised on well going over for an early try. Sirius tried their best to get one back and managed to get to the Castleford tryline but lost their way and ended up having to handover the ball on the last tackle. Injuries to Ellie Hinchcliffe and Danny Waters didn’t help matters as Castleford put on a great move outwide to seal the game.
Sirius Academy West Year 10 Girls can hold their heads up high after todays performance, they have improved immensely as a team and that is credit to each and every one of them and the hard work they have put in. They showed real commitment by coming in over the halftime for extra training and are really improving on the back of that. I am sure that if they keep working hard they will get their rewards in their final year at the Academy as they are not far off at all.
Squad: Alisha Pearson, Chloe Dunn, Mia Husband, Danny Waters, Lauren Sutton, Cameron Shakespear, Amy Purdon, Beth Dixon, Ellie Hinchcliffe, Kalisha Quantock, Lydia Walker, Leander Haywood, Codi Brown.
Special thanks to Miss Williams for her support with the team.
