Year 7 Boys Final

South Leeds 16
Brooksbank 20

By Joe Whiteley at Wembley Stadium

Brooksbank were crowned Year 7 Carnegie Schools Champions at Wembley as they defeated South Leeds Academy 20 – 16 in a thrilling curtain raiser to the Challenge Cup Final.

They opened the scoring through second rower Dakota Whylie within the first few minutes. Whylie took an offload from Sam Borough who had barged his way through a number of South Leeds defenders, before Whylie evaded the corner flag whilst spinning his way to the line.

Whylie then produced a fantastic solo effort to extend Brooksbanks lead further. The Halifax side spread the ball wide, where Whylie was on hand to race down the touchline before diving over in the corner. A fine conversion from Jamie Greenwood gave Brooksbank a 10 – 0 lead.

However, it was not long before South Leeds managed to score their first points of the game. Scott Sharp took on the Brooksbank defence with a diagonal run, fending off opposing defenders before crashing over to cut the deficit.

Sharp then added his second following a fantastic offload in mid play from Connor Chadwick. He collected the ball and sprinted 40 metres to level the scores at 10 – 10.

Stand off Sharp then completed his hat trick with another breakaway try; sidestepping his way past Brooksbank’s defence. A conversion from Dyson Nicholson gave South Leeds a 16 – 10 lead going into half time.

Brooksbank found a reply just after half time though, Sam Senior shrugged off four defenders to power his way over the line. A missed conversion meant Brooksbank still trailed 16 – 14.

A second hat trick of the game, this time from Brooksbank’s Dakota Whylie decided the game. Whylie found a hole in South Leeds’ wide defence and surged over to give his side a 20 – 16 lead and earn the title of Carnegie Schools Champions.

As well as grabbing a hat trick, Whylie also received the man of the match award and was delighted with the way the game went.

“It was great, definitely the best day of my life. We saw the year 10 boys win it three years in a row, and we want to do the same,” said the speedy second rower.

South Leeds Academy
1 Liam Wilkinson
2 Sam Firth
3 Dyson Nicholson
4 Tammio Hoffman
5 McKenzie Haigh
6 Scott Sharp
7 Craig McShane (c)
8 Callum O’Connor
9 Marcus Broadhead
10 Eddie Clark
11 Jamie Walsh
12 Robert Wingate
13 Connor Chadwick

Interchange
14 Kye Trainer-Clark
15 Jack Connor
16 Morgan Terrace
17 William Annable

Brooksbank
1 James Stansfield
2 Charlie Lister
3 Leland Heslop
4 Tom Sweeten
5 Dan Smith
6 Sam Bake
7 Jamie Greenwood
8 Sam Senior
9 Troy Ambler (c)
10 Jack Davies
11 Tom Metcalfe
12 Dakota Whylie
13 Sam Borough

INTERCHANGE
14 Callum Holroyd
15 Lewis Hoyle
16 Max Spolverato
17 Sheldon McFadzean

Year 7 Girls Final

Castleford Academy 6
St Peter’s 10

By Joe Whiteley

St Peter’s of Manchester marked their first ever season in the Carnegie Champion Schools competition with a fine win over a strong Castleford High side in the final.

What makes their feat even more remarkable is that none of the girls in St Peter’s squad had even played Rugby League before they entered the competition.

The game made a fairly uneventful start as both sides battled with the wet conditions at the Twickenham Stoop.

Nevertheless, it was Castleford who made the breakthrough just before the half time hooter as substitute Maisie Cooper powered her way over for a try following a spell of pressure on St Peter’s line. Taylor Loveday added the conversion.

However, it was the Manchester outfit who had the better of the possession in the second half, and made it pay when hooker Hope Adex showed her strength by taking out a number of Castleford defenders on her way to the try line. Adex then converted her own try to level the scores.

With only minutes remaining, it was left to the fleet footed Sherna Wallace to showcase her talents, weaving her way through the Castleford defence before diving over in the corner. Wallace’s try proved to be the final score of the game, meaning St Peter’s collected the trophy at the first time of asking.

Player of the match Sherna Wallace was understandably delighted with her solo try.
“I felt very happy when I scored the try because I knew we were drawing and that it would mean we’d win the match,” said the winger.

And Head Coach Ceris Dixon was equally ecstatic with her side’s performance, especially considering the inexperience of the team at the beginning of the year.

“The girls have done absolutely fantastic, because this was a brand new sport to them.  To get this far in their first ever year of playing Rugby League is just brilliant,” said St Peter’s coach.

Castleford Academy  
1 - Alysha Brassington
2 - Beth Longhorn
3 - Hollie Smith
4 – Jenny Surr
5- Jasmine Bell ©
6 – Imogen Riding
14 – Courtney May
8 – Taylor Loveday
9 – Elysha Huddlestone
10 – Abbie Sharpe
11 – Natalie Cunnington

Interchange
12 – Maisie Cooper
13 – Freya Atkinson
7 – Suru NcCube
15 – Ellis Dent

St Peters
1 – Juanita Smith ©
2 - Sherna Wallace
3 – Olutomi Akinsete
4 – Porscha Coo
5 – Aisha Gbadamosi
6 – Sharise Smith
7 – Janice Asamoah
8 – Hope Adex
9 – Samira Saud
21 – Isy Ijeh
11 – Adina Miles

Interchange
12 – Sophie Holloway
13 – Chakka Simms
14 – Chantelle Finegan
15 – Bertha Njai


Year 8 Boys Final

St Joseph’s 38
Temple Moor 28

By Joe Whiteley

Welsh side St Joseph’s were crowned the Year 8 Carnegie Schools Champions after they defeated Temple Moor 38 – 28 in a sensational match at the Twickenham Stoop.

They took the lead within the first minute as captain Rollin Menayese took the ball from the scrum and danced his way through Temple Moor’s defence before diving over under the sticks.

Temple Moor soon made amends for their earlier defensive frailties by drawing level thanks to a superb grubber kick from their stand off and captain Jacob Thompson. Harvey Hallas had the simple job of picking the ball up and diving over the line.

They were soon over the line again when Luke Barraclough went on a sideways run before spotting a gap in St Joseph’s defence which he powered his way through.

Rollin Menayese then went over for his second try after a stunning break on half way, leaving the Temple Moor defenders trailing in his wake on his way to the line. Once again, he converted his own try to level the scores at 12 – 12.

Harvey Hallas’ second of the game, and a breakaway try from Roy Raitin gave Temple Moor a 24 – 12 lead going into the half time break.
Raitin scored his second of the game just after half time, running across the St Joseph’s defence and heading straight for the corner to take the score to 28 – 12.

Despite being 16 points down with only 20 minutes remaining, it was the two Menayese brothers who were to take centre stage, masterminding St Joseph’s stunning comeback.

Firstly, Rollin completed his hat trick when he robbed Temple Moor of possession and surged through the line to take the score to 28 – 18 before brother Elvis grabbed his first of the afternoon; an 80m breakaway try, showing pure speed and power to soar past a number of Moor defenders.  

A missed conversion attempt left the scores at 22 – 28 in Temple Moor’s favour.

Rollin Menayese then produced a magical piece of attack to draw the scores level, breaking free in his own half before turning Temple Moor’s defence around and stepping inside to dance his way over the line for the fourth time in the game.

With the scores level, there was only going to be one person to separate the two teams. Lo and behold, Rollin Menayese scored his 5th try of the game, a powerful effort straight through the centre of Temple Moor’s defence, which gave his side the lead and completed the turnaround.

He converted his own try before his brother Elvis went over in the corner to seal a sensational 38 – 28 victory.

Rollin was delighted with not only his own personal achievements, but that of his team, the first Welsh school to win the Championship in six years.

“It’s unbelievable. Even though we were down, we kept our heads up to go on and win the game. It’s the best feeling ever,” said the loose forward, who along with scoring five tries, also kicked five goals.

St Joseph’s
1 Dan Buttler
2 Jack Hobbs
3 Max Williams
4 Elvis Menayese
15 Andrew Ogun
6 Jordan Davies
7 Jack Canavan
8 Keenan Bird
9 Tom Davies
5 Brad Yearsley
16 Dan Ralphs
12 Emerson Clarke
13 Rollin Menayese©

Interchange

14 Arad Samsanov
10 Sean Conlan
11 Jo Fullwood
17 Matt Waters

Temple Moor
1 Brad Sutcliffe
2 Danny Quarmby
3 Harvey Hallas
4 Luke Barraclough
5 Tom Whitaker
6 Jacob Thompson ©
7 Josh Jordan-Roberts
8 Jonny Hynes
9 Mackenzie Colley
10 Roy Railton
11 Nathan Cooper
12 Ben Wright
13 Brad Coates

Interchange
14 Tom Norfolk
15 Ben Goddard
16 Jimmy Malthouse
17 Adam Waring


Year 8 Girls Final

Castleford Academy 12
Settle Middle School 6

By Ashley Lambell

Castleford Academy saw off the valiant challenge of Settle Middle School, securing a 12-6 win, to be crowned 2011 Year 8 Girls Carnegie Champions at the Twickenham Stoop.

Castleford took the lead on 11 minutes following a powerful run and score from Katie Innes. After moving the ball well through the backs, Innes muscled her way through the Settle defence to go over the line, with Katie Proud adding the extras from an excellent conversion.

Innes got her and Castleford’s second try of the game just five minutes after half-time with another storming run through the Settle defence. The hooker powered through a sea of blue shirts to charge over with scrum-half Proud converting once more.

As umbrellas appeared all around The Stoop in the driving rain, Settle found a way back into the game with a try from interchange Emily Corns. Swerving around six players in the Castleford defence, Corns went over right in the corner and with Niamh Benson adding the extras, Settle halved the deficit with a few minutes remaining.

However, it proved only to be a consolation as the hooter sounded just two minutes later and confirmed Castleford Academy as the Year 8 Girls Champions for 2011 following a tight but enthralling encounter.

Castleford Head Coach Keith Bullimore said after the game: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the title – Settle Middle battered us in the Yorkshire Cup a couple of months ago so we knew it would be a tough game. But the girls were superb, they defended well and attacked aggressively and the performance was outstanding.”

Castleford Academy
Mollie Harrison
Lucy Norton
Ellie Lamb
Mica Matthewman
Caitlyn Kelso
Jessica Hargreaves
Georgie Hetherington
Katie Innes
Katie Proud
Amber Tudor
Millie Simmonds
Scarlett Loftus
Kayla Clark
 Libby Finnigan
Georgia Beaman

Settle Middle School
Katie Handford
Alice Jones
Georgia Holgate
Niamh Benson
Lucy Dean
Jules Thompson
Mary Davis
Lois Procter
Martha Pickles
Leah Coultherd
Ellie Coatsworth
Emily Corns
Emma Kayley
Libby Norwell
Olivia Akrigg

Player of the Match – Katie Innes


Year 9 Girls Final

Castleford Academy 12
Hollingworth 28

By Ashley Lambell

Hollingworth were crowned 2011 Year 9 Girls Carnegie Schools Champions with an entertaining 28-12 win in the final against Castleford Academy at the Twickenham Stoop.

A bright start to the game saw both sides attacking each other but it was Hollingworth who had the lead as early as the fifth minute. A sustained spell of pressure was too much for the Castleford defence and back-row Armani Khaliq crashed over to score. Holly Coburn converted from under the posts to put Hollingworth 6-0 in front.

Two minutes later, and in a carbon copy of the Hollingworth try, Castleford drew level. Brogan Churm took advantage of an opening in the Lancashire side’s defence to power over for Castleford’s opening score. Front row Lizzie Beckett converted well to bring the game level again after a fantastic opening ten minutes.

There was no hold-up in the pace of the game and Hollingworth soon regained their lead. A penalty given for a high tackle on Patsy Lindley instigated a flowing move which led to Holly Coburn going over the line. Coburn converted her own score to put her side back in front.

Castleford, and in particular Churm, would not lie down though and quickly put themselves back on terms. Firing her way through the Hollingworth defence at ease, Churm went over to score her second try of the match and with Amy Tait kicking the conversion, the scoreboard read 12-12 after 15 minutes.

In a final that was fast becoming a straight battle between Coburn and Churm, it was the Hollingworth full-back who struck just before the half-time interval. Once again carving through the Yorkshire side’s defence, Coburn made scoring a try look simple as she recorded her second score and converted it to give her side the six-point lead back.

Four minutes into the second half, Holly Coburn grabbed her hat-trick try and extended the Hollingworth lead. A large gap opened up in the Castleford line and Coburn made no mistake in exploiting the hole and going over. This time however, Coburn could not convert her own score but the Lancashire side still led 22-12.

Castleford threw everything they could at Hollingworth but couldn’t find the elusive score that would bring them back into the game. And with the final action of the game, Hollingworth captain Sophie Holden crashed over the line to score and seal the game for her charges.

Coburn again converted well to give Hollingworth a well deserved 28-12 victory, a win which makes them Year 9 Girls Carnegie Schools Champions for 2011.

Castleford Academy
Amy Tait
Amy Foster
Soda Beckitt
Beth Heaton
Sophie Lund
Hollie Powell
Lizzie Beckett
Cec Patten
Olivia Riding
Brogan Churm
Megan Crowther
Beth Smith
Frankie Sutton
Lauren Allen
Millie Fradgley

Hollingworth
Holly Coburn
Holly Mellor
Shannon Laycock
Alex James
Chloe Webster
Sophie Holden
Jessica Hopkins
Patsy Lindley
Armani Khaliq
Courtney Steele
Rachel Warburton
Holly Richardson
Lauren Emmett
Beth Land
Hannah Kenton

Player of the Match – Holly Coburn


Year 9 Boys Final

Outwood Grange 30
 Priesthorpe 10

By Joe Whiteley

A 30 – 10 victory over local rivals Priesthorpe ensured that Outwood Grange of Wakefield were crowed Year 9 Carnegie Schools Champions at a sodden Twickenham Stoop.

Outwood Grange grabbed the first try of the game as Will Hudson managed to bundle his way over in the corner following a few neat passes from Grange’s half backs. Tom Megretton added a fine conversion from the touchline to make it 6 – 0.

Outwood extended their lead ten minutes later, when captain Jacob Ware finished off a flowing passing move in which the ball was spread across the width of the pitch before the centre stepped outside of his marker to finish the move off in style. Max Jowitt added the extras.

Priesthorpe soon replied after a cut out ball from scrum half Ashton Golding found Nathan Benson who crashed over the line, taking a number of Outwood defenders with him, to make the score 12 – 4.

They cut the deficit further just after half time when towering centre Liam Ellis forced his way over straight from the scrum. A successful conversion from Golding took the scores to 12 – 10.

Their revival, however, was cut short by Outwood Grange full back, and man of the match Max Jowitt who took a pass ten yards from the line and darted back across the pitch to find a gaping hole in Priesthorpe’s defence. Another Megretton conversion gave Grange an eight point lead.

Outwood Grange centre Jacob Ware jinked over for his second try of the game to extend their lead to 22 – 10.

Grange were then gifted two points after Sam Hallas was penalised twice for dissent, giving Tom Heggreton the easiest of penalties to convert and take the score the 24 – 10.

Connor Morgan was the next to get on the scoresheet for Outwood, finishing off a slick move as the ball was spread left, leaving him the easy job of diving over for his side’s fifth try. Another stunning touchline conversion from Megretton as the final hooter sounded ensured that Grange were crowned champions, claiming a 30 – 10 victory.

Grange’s Head Coach Roy Sampson paid testament to his squad after they won their third consecutive championship.

“I took over the side at the beginning of this year and they’re a magnificent set of lads.
“They’ve done fantastically well to get to this stage three years in a row,” said Sampson.

Captain Jacob Ware was also full of praise for his teammates, who had to battle to the end to defeat a stubborn Priesthorpe side.

“The lads have dug in well and it’s been great to be able to do it for a third year running. We got to play at Wembley two years ago, but to play at the Stoop again is fantastic,” said the centre who scored two tries on the way to help his side lift the trophy.

Outwood Grange
1 Max Jowitt
2 Sam Wood
3 Jacob Ware
4 Connor Morgan
5 Sam Mawson
6 Tom Megretton
7 Alex Parker
8 Oliver Stockton
9 Jack Ledger
10 Callum Sampson
11 Will Hudson
12 Kieran Holt
13 Jordan Hall

Interchange
14 Ben Fisher
15 Harry Sowerby
16 Henry Helland
17 Ben Roberts

Preisthorpe High
1 Jake Hrintchuk
2 Callum Wilkinson
3 Liam Ellis
4 Hasan Habib
5 Ben Maddison
6 Eddie Child
7 Ashton Golding
8 Elliot Matthews
9 Nathan Benson
10 Jordan Cook
11 Josh Bower
12 Harry Chatband
13 Sam Hallas

Interchange
14 Danny Cleary
15 Adam Chahal
16 James Horne
17 Jack Bennett

Year 10 Girls Final

Deanery High School 6
Settle College 6

Deanery High and Settle College shared the 2011 Year 10 Girls Champion Schools Trophy after a hotly-contested 6-6 draw in torrential rain at the Twickenham Stoop.

The first half was a tight and tense affair with neither side wanting to give away points to the other. Both teams battled well in awful conditions at the Stoop, with thunder, lightning and driving rain making it difficult for both sets of players.

Just five minutes before the half-time interval though, the deadlock was broken by Deanery High. Right wing Nicola Holmes cut inside and through the Settle defence to opening the scoring with a try. Chelsea Newton converted the score with a well-taken conversion to give Deanery a 6-0 lead.

Two minutes into the second half, Settle captain Lauren Dugdale grabbed a well-worked try to bring her side back into contention. Some good offloads allowed Dugdale to crash over and with Hannah Baines adding the extras, Settle were level almost straight after the break.

Following the score, the game became scrappy and handling errors were frequent as the conditions worsened in West London. Settle camped themselves on the Deanery line for much of the second half but could not find the all-important score that would give them the win and the title.

As both sides fought keenly for the ball and the win, the final whistle sounded to ensure the game finished as a 6-6 draw and the 2011 Carnegie Champions Schools Trophy for the Year 10 Girls would be shared.

Deanery Head Coach Kris Ratcliffe said: “For me this isn’t about not winning the trophy, there are two winners here after that fantastic game. We’ve always had tight games against Settle because we are two similar sides and this was no exception. It was a great game and a fair result in the end.”

Settle College Manager Anthony Shepherd said: “The draw was the fair result because it would have been unfair for one side to lose the game and go home with nothing.

“Considering the conditions it was a superb effort from all the players and with thunder and lightning mixed in aswell, it made for an interesting but excellent game!”

Deanery High
Nicola Holmes
Megan Foster
Jess Teasey
Jenny Williams
Chelsea Newton
Robyn Houghton
Esther Oyeniyi
Chloe Hammond
Rebecca Cooksey
Liz Robson-Deluce
Seyda Grey
Poppi Blundell
Abena Otchere
Mica Thornton
Nicole Marsh

Settle College
Gemma Varley
Hannah Bolland
Amber Duxbury
Hannah Booth
Lauren Dugdale
Hannah Baines
Faye Ambler
Imogen Doyle
Jess Gibbs
Laura Barron
Ella Martin
Foo Milligan
Abi Jerger
Jess Perry
Molly Beresford

Player of the Match – Poppi Blundell

Year 10 Boys Final

Sirius Academy 18
Brooksbank 28

By Joe Whiteley

Brooksbank finally got the better of their arch rivals Sirius Academy of Hull to become the Year 10 Carnegie Schools Champions.

They opened the scoring after loose forward Aron Manger dived over in the corner following good work in the middle from Kruise Leeming and Nick Rawsthorne, to give the Halifax side a 4 – 0 lead.

However, it wasn’t long before Sirius found themselves back in the game. Stand-off and man of the match Jordan Abdul worked a two man overlap, and threw a dummy to work his way through the last Brooksbank defender. Abdul then landed an exquisite touchline conversion to give his side a 6 – 4 advantage.

Brooksbank scrum half Nick Rawsthorne evaded a number of Sirius defenders to squeeze in at the corner despite being under intense pressure, to give his side the lead once more. He converted his own try from the touchline to send Brooksbank into half time with a 10 – 6 lead.

The first score of the second half went to Sirius Academy as Abdul pounced on a mistake made by Kruise Leeming. As he was headed for touch, Leeming instinctively tried to pass inside, but waiting was Abdul who then powered his way over from close range. He himself added the extras to give Sirius Academy a 12 – 10 lead.

Leeming quickly made amends for his earlier mistake by darting in for a try from dummy half. His quick feet and upper body strength were too much for Sirius’ defence. Another conversion from Rawsthorne sent Brooksbank into the lead by 16 – 12.

The end to end nature of the match continued when Sirius scored in the corner through James Buttery. The centre took Abdul’s offload and dived over in the corner for their third try. Another sensational touchline conversion by Abdul gave Sirius a two point lead.

Brooksbank once again clawed their way back into the game with another fine solo effort from Chester Butler. The second rower sidestepped his way under the posts to help the Halifax side regain the lead.

With five minutes to go, the ever influential Aron Manger skipped and weaved through the Sirius defence to extend Brooksbank’s lead to 28 – 18 and help his side become crowned Carnegie Schools Champions.

Sirius Academy
1 Will Cower
2 Liam Gordon
3 James Buttery
4 Steve Marshall
5 George Scottow
6 Jordan Abdul
7 Harry Tyson
8 Liam Robinson
9 Stephen Batty
10 Ryan Brown
11 Andy Ogden
12 Macaulay Hallett
13 Jansin Turgut

Interchange
14 Brendon McCourt
15 David Lindsay
16 Macaulay Longley

Brooksbank SSC
1 Zak Thomson
2 Liam Phillips
3 Harry Craze
4 Josh Dean
5 Charles Cocking
6 Tom Ettenfield
7 Nick Rawsthorne
8  Liam Whiting ©
9 Kruise Leeming
10 Tom Goddard
11 Robert Voreta
12 Chester Butler
13 Aron Manger

Interchange
14 James Gill
15 Scott Miller
16 Ben Gaskin
17 Gareth Nicholson