Year 8 Girls Rugby
The Year 8 Girls travelled to Castleford Academy to play in a friendly rugby league tournament against Osset, Freeston, Castleford and St Wilfreds. This tournament was used as a friendly to warm the girls up for the Yorkshire Finals, which is on Thursday 21st March.
Six of the squad of fifteen from Sirius Academy were making their debut in a full contact rugby match, but did not disapoint in a very tough and physical compeition.
Sirius Academy 0 – Ossett 2
The first game saw Sirius Academy go down 2 – 0 to a very strong Ossett team, it was a couople of individual errors on the first tackle which gave Ossett some good field position, which they capitilised on. Sirius were dealt a huge blow early on in the game, with Carla Manuel having to leave the field due to injury, and was not able to return for the remainder of the tournament. Forwards Megan Jordan and Jordan Shakespear came close on a few occasions but were just held up short. Phoebe Ashton at acting half back did not take a backwards step and distributed the ball well. The girls were unlucky to concede two sloppy tries but were to learn from this in the next game.
Sirius Academy 3 Freeston 3
In an outstanding second game, Sirius should have won, only for a last minute try from Freeston. Mia Wilkinson started this game and made a big impact in defence and attack, her performance and contribution was capped off with two fine individual tries, showing great agility and speed. The other try came from Jordan Shakespear, who had been a threat throughout the game, she broke through a few would be tacklers and outpaced the defence to score a great solo try. Captain Shauna Jones was at the heart of everything and was leading by example in defence, organising the line well. Amelia Watson had also come on at acting half back and was passing the ball well from dummy half.
Sirius Academy 0 Castleford High 3
In a very tough encounter against a massive Castleford side, the girls did themselves proud, with some fantastic defence, Molly Harrison at fullback came up with a couple of crucial last ditch tackles, with Emily Savage and Demi Leak also contrubuting well in defence. Braxton Adams had come into her own and made some very good yards going forward. Again is was Jordan Shakespear causing lots of problems in the Castleford defence, and actually got over the line but was unable to ground the ball. The scoreline flattered Castleford, who had no fewer than 10 players who play for amatuer clubs.
Sirius Academy 1 St Wilfreds 3
In the final game of the tournament, the girls were starting to tire and pick up a few niggling injuries, but all credit to them, they got stuck in and was all raring to get on. It was Natalia Butler, Paige Fletcher and Ellie Hewitt who impressed in this game, getting more involved in the attack, and again making some good yards. St Wilfreds were a strong team and managed to crash over from close range on three seperate occassions. But Sirius had the final word and Jordan Shakespear went over for a try just before the final whistle.
Special thanks to Natasha Pearson for travelling and supporting the girls.
Please congratulate the following girls on their outstadning effort, performance, attitude and behaviour:
Shauna Jones, Molly Harrison, Braxton Adams, Mia Wilkinson, Natalia Butler, Tory Byas, Carla Manuel, Amelia Watson, Megan Jordan, Ellie Hewitt, Jordan Shakespeare, Paige Fletcher, Phoebe Ashton, Demi Leake, Emily Savage
