Year 9 Rugby team reach Yorkshire Final again!
The Sirius Academy Year 9 Rugby League reached their 3rd successive Carnegie Champion Schools Yorkshire Cup Final after a thrilling 26-20 victory over the strongly acclaimed Castleford Academy (Wakefield) side. The team who lost at Year 7 age but won the trophy as Year 8’s, scored some fantastic tries but know if they are to retain their Cup they must defend better. Their opponents in the Final which will be held at professional ground, Featherstone Rovers RLFC, will be South Holderness (Hull), a team who defeated the Sirius boys in this year’s Hull Schools League competition.
The match started with Sirius retaining possession with Tom Jordan and Kai Thorpe lying a solid platform with strong runs. Captain George Tyson-Wilson, Brad Elliott and Jay Kirkland supported this with quick, strong drives allowing Kieran Sewell to scoot from acting-half and make excellent yards. The outstanding half-backs in Harry Whittles and the opposition selected Man of the Match, Jordan Richmond, the controlled the field position with a smart kicking game. Richmond found Josh Lomax wide for the 1st points for 4-0 before Castleford hit back for 4-4. Centres Ryan Addinall and Lomax were looking dangerous wide out with Joseph Coates and Josh Kirby making tackles when needed. Josh Atkinson was returning balls well but it was Richmond who dropped the ball inside for Thorpe to crash over, with his goal giving Sirius a 10-6 lead. On the stroke of half-time Castleford levelled for 10-10.
The 2nd half saw Declan Jackson, Elliott and Thorpe lay the ground work with Tyson-Wilson constantly taking the ball forward in tough places. Atkinson was 1st over as Whittles and Richmond combined to create space outside but Castleford hit back for 14-14. With Mikey Lewis adding spark around the play-the-ball, targeting tiring defenders, it allowed Atkinson to produce a moment of individual brilliance to step three defenders and race away from 40 metres with Thorpe goaling for 20-14. With the game seemingly won, Castleford again bounced back to level at 20-20 with four minutes remaining. Step up Man of the Match, Richmond who dummied through from the half way line, drew the full-back and sent Kirkland away for the winning try, with Whittles goaling for 26-20.
Special thanks to Rachel Gay for her support with the team and Kenny Provan and Danny Rouse for stepping in last minute to transport the boys to the venue!
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, Brett Dorley, Joseph Coates, Josh Kirby.
