Year 11 Girls Yorkshire Cup Final: Sirius West 30 Castleford Academy 36
Sirius Academy West Year 11 girls rugby league team found themselves losing out to the current National Finalists by a late try in the corner in the last play of the game. Sirius had seen themselves in the lead throughout the whole of the game, but unfortunately could not hold on in the dying seconds of the Yorkshire Cup Final against Castleford Academy.
Sirius started the strongest and managed to keep out Castleford with some great defence on their own line with Saffron Jones and Amelia Longden putting in some big hits. Sirius were playing smart rugby and was keeping the ball well and making good yards forward. With five minutes gone the deadlock was broken, Kayleigh Waller had got Sirius near the Castleford tryline and a quick play the ball let Mia Duke to run across the line and bring in Jordan Shakespear on a drop off at pace and she went through the gap and over the try line. Mia Duke converted. Sirius grew in confidence and scored another try shortly after, again it was Mia Duke who was looking dangerous as she crashed over from acting half back. Kayleigh Waller converted to make the scoreline 12 – 0. Castleford responded well from this and when a knock on put them in good field position they capitilised on it and got a try back of their own. Just before the halftime whistle Sirius managed to get over for another try, this time it was the quick thinking from Molly Bigby who took the ball up well and drew in the Castleford player to send away Paige Fletcher who finished the try well. Kayleigh Waller converted. The halftime scoreline was 18 – 6 to Sirius Academy.
The second half Castleford came out all guns blazing and got over for quick try to put panic into the Sirius side. Kayleigh Waller was coming into her own and making some good strong runs and Mia Duke was working overtime in attack and defence. Georgia Travagli was causing the Castleford defence problems and nearly went over for a try of her own but the referee had already given a high tackle instead of playing the advantage. From the resulting penalty Molly Bigby found a gap in the defensive line and raced over for a superb individual try, which was converted by Kayleigh Waller. Again though Castleford got themselves back in the game to make the scoreline 24 – 18. The game looked to have been won by Sirius when Kayleigh Waller showed real skill and strength to get over the tryline and extend the scoreline to 30 – 18, but again Castleford replied immediately. With five minutes remaining unfortunately Kayleigh Waller had to leave the field due to an injury, this seemed to put a bit of belief in the Castleford side and when another knock on was made on the Sirius tryline Castleford were able to level the scores. It looked like it was going to extra time, but then Castleford made their way down the pitch and scored in the corner on the final whistle to seal the game.
The Year 11 girls should be very proud of their performance against a very strong Castleford Academy side and should have probably won the game, but they will get another shot at playing them in the National Final in two weeks time and the way they performed today should certainly feed them with confidence in knowing that they can become the National Champions at Year 11.
Please congratulate the Year 11 Girls squad on their outstanding performance, attitude and behavior:-
Kayleigh Waller, Paige Fletcher, Amelia Longden, Georgia Travagli, Aimee Harris, Shauna Jones, Molly Bigby, Saffron Jones, Mia Duke, Carla Manuel, Jorden Shakespear, Georgia Wardell, Emily Savage, Shannon Thornton, Danny Fulton
Special thanks to Chloe Williams, Glen Bilton and Andy Kay for their support with the team.
