Year 10 Girls Rugby League
Sirius Academy Year 10 Girls played their first game of contact rugby league, and they did not disapoint, coming up against some very strong teams, who have a lot of rugby experience, but they did not take a backwards step and did the Academy proud. The tournament was played at De Lacy Academy, Knottingley, where five teams entered and played each other once in a straight through 12 minute game.
De Lacy Academy 2 Sirius 0
Sirius Academys first game saw them take on the hosts, De Lacy Academy. Sirius were there own worst enemy by losing the ball on the first tackle in their first two sets of six and could not keep out some of the De Lacy big strong players, who crashed over from close range. Sirius settled into the game and created some chances of their own, with captain Paris Turpin and acting half back Shannon Kay leading the way. The defence improved as the game went on, with Georgia Garrod, Shannon Armstrong and Melissa McCann putting in some good tackles. Louise Turner, Taylor Kemp and Zoe McCann were willing runners and made some good yards going forward, but could not find the breakthrough they needed to get over the tryline. With eleven of the fifteen in the squad making their debuts, you would never have though it as they really got stuck in and held their own.
Sirius Academy 2 Freeston 3
A much improved performance in the second game saw the girls score their first try of the tournament, some great play down the middle from Robyn Everett and Abbie Longley gave Megan Kay some great field position, and when she passed the ball quickly from the play the ball to Louise Turner, she used her strength and speed to barge her way over the tryline. Then is was Carmen Coates (Year 9) who went over for Sirius Academys second try, when she found some space out wide and outpaced the Freeston defence. Sirius did concede three tries in the later stages of the game, but it was an evenly matched contest and it was always going to be the team that controlled the ball the best that would go on to win.
Castleford 5 Sirius Academy 0
Sirius Academy had to face the National Champions in their third game, and you could see why they had been crowned National Champions, their strength and experience was there for all to see. But credit to Sirius, they never once gave up and continued to battle hard against very good opposition. Courtney Thompson, Courtney Ferrie and Abbie Longley put their bodies on the line with some superb tackles, and Paris Turpin nearly got over for try of her own when her kick bounced nicely for her but she was just held up over the line.
Sirius Academy 3 St Wilfreds 5
Injury hit Sirius Academy were not about to give up without a fight, and came up with their best attacking display of the tournament scoring three tries. Paris Turpin burst over the line for her first of the tournament, which was well deserved. Then it was two tries from Carmen Coates late on in the game, which showed her pace and strength to go over in the corner for two outstading solo efforts. Abbie Longley and Robyn Everett impressed in this game with some good strong runs. The Sirius defensive line was tiring and it showed, as St Wilfreds were breaking through the tackles with ease, but take nothing away from the Sirius team, it was a gutsy performance and they deserved a lot of praise.
Considering this was the Year 10’s first outing, there were a lot of positives to come out of it, when they controlled the ball well they did the opposition some damage, but defensively they need to tighten up a bit, which is something they are all looking to work on over the next month, before they take part in the Yorkshire Carnegie Championships, which will be played on Thursday 25th April. The girls deserve a massive congratulations for their effort, commitment, attitude and behaviour.
