Year 9 Rugby team move into last 8 of National Cup!
The Sirius Academy Year 9 Rugby League team moved safely into the Carnegie Champion Schools National Cup Quarter-Finals after a 36-8 victory over St Peters (Manchester). The team showed tremendous focus against a team whose Rugby knowledge was limited but contained several strong, athletic individuals who constantly challenged the Sirius defence. The team now move into the last 8 which is an open draw, with teams from all over England and Wales remaining, we will hope for a home draw.
The match could not have started any better for Sirius after Kai Thorpes short kick-off was caught by Ryan Addinnal and possession was regained. Patient build-up play saw Jay Kirkland barge over on the last tackle for a 4-0 lead. Sirius then controlled the ball well with George Tyson-Wilson, Thorpe and Kirkland making strong yards forward, supported well by Declan Jackson and Joe Petty. Another try quickly followed through Thorpe for 8-0. Peters began to get some ball possession but the Sirius defence was up to the challenge and when we got the ball back, Kieran Sewell and Josh Atkinson were causing their defence all kinds of problems with quick intelligent runs. Atkisnon grabbed the final try of the half after good build-up play from Harry Whittles and Mikey Lewis.
The 2nd half began in similar fashion with Sirius controlling the ball well, creating opportunities out-wide. Thorpe was over for his 2nd after a neat short ball from Sewell, before Josh Lomax span the ball wide for Luke Moss to finish with great athleticism with Thorpe goaling for 22-0. Thorpe was next over again to grab his hat-trick for 26-0, before Atkinson spotted a gap and raced away with Whittles goaling for 32-0. Whittles deservedly grabbed the final Sirius try before Peters gained two late scores to pull the score-line back to 36-8.
Please congratulate the following boys on their continued success, attitude and behaviour:
Josh Atkinson, Callum Whilsher, Josh Lomax, Kieran Sewell, Mikey Lewis (Year 8), Tom Jordan, Jordan Richmond, Declan Jackson (Year 8), Brad Elliott, Jay Kirkland, Ryan Addinnall, George Tyson-Wilson, Connor Cape-Melbourne, Joseph Coates, Kai Thorpe, Harry Whittles, Joseph Coates, Josh Kirby, Luke Moss (Year 8), Morgan Winters.
Special thanks to Rachel Gay for her assistance with the team and to Janice Hall for dropping the boys off.
