Year 8 Girls Rugby Team
The Year 8 Girls played in their first Yorkshire Carnegie Schools Championships, and credit must go to each and every one of the squad for their fantastic performances throughout the tournament. In 6 x six minute games, the girls won 3 and lost 3, however, this did not reflect how well the team played at all, and in all honestly the Sirius team was one of the best on show at the tournament. The girls had some important calls go against them and was very unlucky not to make the National stages, but they can certainly take a lot away from this tournament and next year be real contenders.
Game 1
Park Lane 0 V Sirius 4 – A well contested game, with some fantastic defence on show from both sides. Sirius had an early try disallowed when Olivia Young used her speed on the wing to go over in the corner, but was deemed to have gone past the dead ball line. Strong running from Charlotte Winton and Megan Whittles got Sirius in good field position. However, it was Ebony Hepworth who got the all impotant try by running over 60 meters to outpace the Park lane defence and score a try in corner, ensuring that Sirius got their first victory of the day.
Game 2
Sirius 12 Bruntcliffe 0 – In another outstanding defensive performance, the Sirius girls were put under some real pressure on their own line, but some last ditch defending from Megan Whittles, Leoni Campbell and Ebony Hepworth saw that they did not concede a try. Jodie Shimmels was first to crash over, showing real determination to shrug off two would be defenders and dive over the try line. It was another long range try from Ebony Heporth that sealed the victory for Sirius, with Megan Atkinson converting both tries.
Game 3
North Halifax 0 – Sirius 18 – Sirius made it three out of three in a convincing victory over North Halifax, confidence was flying high, and some smart footwork saw Megan Atkinson dodge her way through the broken defensive line, for her first try of the tournament. Megan Kay was pulling the strings from the acting half back position, making some superb choices with her passing. Next it was Carmen Coates, who was solid in defence and attack, got a well-deserved try, using strength and speed to get over the whitewash. Esther Godwin rounded off the scoring when she followed up a pint point accurate kick from Megan Atkinson and was on hand to pick up the ball and go over for Sirius Academy’s third try in six minutes. All three tries were converted by Megan Atkinson.
Game 4
Sirius 6 St Wilfreds 12 – The game started well for Sirius with a fine individual try from Esther Godwin who just could not be brought down by the St Wilfreds defence, converted by Megan Atkinson. But from then on SIrius Academy just could not get hold of the ball as St Wilfreds controlled it well in their sets, testing Sirius on their own line. Sirius stood strong and when Jordan Longden made a last ditch tackle on the St WInifreds player the girl dropped it over the line. Much to the amazement of the players and the spectators, the referee deemed it to be a try. This really frustrated the girls, and they seemed to lose their way a little bit, and on the last play of the game St WInifreds crashed over for their second of the game, leaving Sirius Academy with their first defeat, but in very dubius circumstances.
Game 5
Sirius 6 Royds 8 – Once again it was Sirius who started the strongest, and it was Esther Godwin who went over for her third try of the day, showing strength, speed and determination to go in at the corner again, Megan Atkinson converted. Royds made some good breaks, but some fine one on one tackles from full back Melissa Tulley kept them out. As the rain started to beat down, this did not help Sirius, who knocked on twice in their next two sets, which Royds took full advantage of, going over twice in quick succession, meaning that Sirius could not make it through to the semi finals.
Game 6
Sirius 0 – Settle 10 – On the last game, knowing they had not made it to the next stage, the girls seemed to switch off a little bit and not play the flowing rugby they had done previously, this showed as Settle managed to get over the try line twice in the six minutes, with Sirius having no reply.
Please congratulate the girls on their achievements today, the girls have a lot of potential, and showed today that they can take their Sirius Rugby careers a lot further. All of the squad was an absolute credit to the Academy and need a big pat on the back for their outstanding display.
Squad: Melissa Tulley, Casey Davis, Leoni Campbell, Megan Whittles, Ebony Hepworth(Tries: 2), Esther Godwin (Tries: 3), Jodie Shimmels (Tries: 1), Megan Atkinson (Tries: 1, Goals: 7), Megan Kay, Carmen Coates (Tries: 1), Jordan Longden, Rachelle Longbone, Charlotte Winton, Sophie Potter, Olivia Young
Special Thanks to Ms Stephenson for her support with the team.
