Year 8 Rugby boys superb in defeat!
The Sirius Academy Year 8 Rugby team eventually bowed out of the Champion Schools Yorkshire Cup, but not before they gave last season’s Finalists and National Cup qualifiers, Temple Moor (Leeds) an almighty fright. The boys refused to give up even when they fell behind on the score-board, and could have easily won the game in the final few minutes. The boys will now enter the Champion Schools Yorkshire Plate competition.
The match got off to a great start for the Sirius boys with the Temple Moor kick-off been fielded by Sam McCauley and after a strong Lewis Walker drive, the ball was spread to Ali Alsherife who broke through and raced away from 80 metres to score under the posts with Lewis Wilson goaling for 6-0. Unfortunately the resulting kick-off by Moor was dropped by Sirius and despite strong defence from the excellent Joe Grant who defended well all match, Moor crashed over to level the score at 6-6. The game began to settle down, with Leon Stewart, Alsherife and Connor Foster making good yards with every carry, and in defence Tom Wilkinson, Walker and Grant excelled. With half-backs McCauley and Wilson moving the ball well, finding willing runners wide out in Luke Taylor and Harry Blackham, Sirius continued to press forward. Moor were next over with two quick-fire tries both scored off last tackle kicks, to leave Sirius 16-6 down at half-time.
The Sirius boys now started to believe they could win the game. Alex Dunne came onto put himself about in defence, with good defence out-wide from Leon Dalee, Omali Mukelenge, Harry Gould and Kristian McMahon. Moor again scored off a last tackle kick and added another quick try as Sirius began to tire to take a 24-6 lead with only ten minutes left. Sirius showed tremendous courage and attitude to fight back with a smart kick from Wilson been gathered by Stewart who raced away for 24-10. From the kick-off an excellent Foster run created space again for Stewart to race away and score under the posts with Wilson adding the extras to cut the lead down to 24-16. With only two minutes left, Sirius continued to attack and an Alsherife break put Grant in the position to move the ball wide to Blackham who raced over wide-out to pull the score back to 24-20. With only forty seconds remaining, Sirius tried to keep the ball alive but just as it looked like another break was on the way, a knock-on put an end to the game and leave Sirius as narrow losers but with plenty of credit gained!
Please congratulate the following boys on their attitude, behaviour and effort:
Harry Blackham, Omali Mukelenge, Connor Foster, Leon Dalee, Kristian McMahon, Nathaniel Walshaw, Lewis Wilson, Sam McCauley, Lewis Walker, Tom Wilkinson, Joe Grant, Ali Alsherife, Leon Stewart, Luke Taylor, Alex Dunne, Harry Gould, Ali Hussein, Kieran Simpson.
