Year 10 Rugby team into the last 8 of Nationals!
The Sirius Academy Year 10 Rugby team advanced into the Quarter-Finals of the Champion Schools National Cup after a hard-fought victory over Welsh champions, Strade High (Llanelli). The boys toughed out the victory despite disruption to the team for a variety of different reasons including injury and other Academy fixtures. The team now look forward to a Quarter-Final showdown with either last season’s National Finalists, Great Sankey (Warrington) or this season’s Lancashire Cup Finalists, St Peters (Wigan) as they chase their chance of winning the only cup to evade them as a school team.
The match started poorly for Sirius with several unforced errors and some ambitious attacking play from the opposition seeing Strade score for a 6-0 lead. Sirius then began to work their way into the game off the back of good go-forward around the ruck from George Tyson-Wilson, Kai Thorpe, Tom Jordan and Josh Lomax. When the ball was moved wider, the strong running of Brad Elliott, Josh Jarvis and Jay Kirkland caused issues for the opposition defenders. Harry Whittles got Sirius on the score-board, stepping past two would-be defenders to score a fine individual try to reduce the deficit to 6-4. Callum Whilsher, playing in the dummy-half position proved his versatility, leading the forwards around the pitch, with Brett Dorley and Josh Atkinson making good yards from their own half. Jordan Richmond’s introduction saw him go close as he stepped through but had the ball knocked out of his grasp over the line as did Tyson-Wilson. Thorpe made no mistake from close range as he powered over to put Sirius 8-6 up at half-time.
The 2nd half started with a smart play from Whittles who kicked early for Jarvis and Dorley to chase and it was Jarvis who got there to score for 12-6. Declan Jackson and Jacob Smith came more into the game with some excellent carries and strong defence with Connor Cape-Melbourne having a great impact from the bench with several strong runs. Whittles dropped Elliott inside for a well worked try with Richmond goaling for 18-6 before Sirius scored their try of the match with Whittles and Richmond combining to create space for Atkinson to send Jackson over wide-out. Lewis Hewitt on his return to the team proved his smartness around the ruck with several good options. Jarvis scored his 2nd with good footwork seeing him cross with Thorpe adding the extras. Strade who refused to give in then scored from an opportunist kick before Richmond sealed the win with a late drop-goal for a 29-12 score as Sirius moved into the last 8 of the competition.
Special thanks to Rachel Gay for her help coaching the team and to 6th Former Harry Brigham for his assistance.
Please congratulate the following boys on their success, attitude and behaviour:
Josh Atkinson, Josh Lomax, Harry Whittles, Kai Thorpe, Tom Jordan, Brad Elliott, Jay Kirkland, George Tyson-Wilson, Declan Jackson (Year 9), Connor Cape-Melbourne, Jordan Richmond, Josh Jarvis, Jacob Smith, Brett Dorley, Callum Whilsher, Lewis Hewitt.
