The Leeds Rhinos Foundation hosted the year 7 and 9 Leeds and Hunslet Schools finals yesterday at Headingley Carnegie Stadium with Corpus Christi Catholic College winning both year group competitions against John Smeaton Academy and Brigshaw High School in spectacular fashion.
In one of the most dramatic finals in memory, Corpus Christi year 7s won the first matchup of the evening with a last minute try and conversion to steal a last gasp 26-24 victory against Brigshaw High School, coming back from an 18-0 first half deficit.
Brigshaw wasted no time in taking the initiative in the opening period and lead early on through a well taken try by one of the stars of the evening Josh Thornton, who followed his opening try with a second not long after team mate Harry Stephenson scored the second try of the game to give Brigshaw a 14-0 start.
Thornton took over goal kicking duties to add the extras to his second try before Lindon Ciesinki capped off a fine first half display from Brigshaw to make it 18-0 with a try of his own just before the half time break.
With pride to play for Corpus Christi and three converted tries required to bring back some second half parity, Corpus rallied early on scoring through the strong running Nehemiah Mensah and later through Joe Gibbons to make the scores 18-12, thanks in part to the accurate boot of James Smith converting both tries.
Despite the second half riposte from Corpus to bring the game within one try, Josh Thornton remained a constant threat and completed his hat-trick with a sensational try from his own half, going under the posts to make the scores 24-12 after Dan Ford kicked the resulting conversion.
With 10 minutes to play in the second half, Corpus replied again to keep the game alive with a try from Alfie Crawford to make it 24-16, and to bring the game even closer, Brandon Morgan added a further try to make it 24-20 and everything to play for in the dying minutes.
In the final moments, Corpus were afforded one last possession and a chance to complete the unlikely comeback and Terry Sweeney took full advantage by getting over the line to make it 24-24 with a conversion to follow.
The dramatic comeback victory was confirmed when James Smith proved to be reliable under pressure to convert his sides fifth try of the evening to seal the 26-24 win.
The second showcase of the event saw the Year 9s take to the field with Corpus Christi this time pitted against John Smeaton Academy.
Corpus set the tempo at the start and were on the ascendancy early on, sprinting to a 26-0 lead in the first half with two tries from Kian Linley, followed by tries from Matty Goulden and place kicker Ciaran Edwards, before Linley completed an impressive first half hat-trick.
John Smeaton finally gained a foothold in the game before half time with a try of their own to from Luke Mullen and the conversion from Ashley Harvey to make it 26-6 giving his side something to build on in the second half.
Despite John Smeaton ending the half with more of the territory, it was Corpus again who answered back through David Coates, who got on the score sheet that was being consistently filled with points from Corpus' kicker Ciaran Edwards, who added his 4th conversion of the evening.
Another try from John Smeaton through Arron Kibbler was then followed up by Edwards himself becoming the third hat-trick hero of the finals with two more tries of his own, converting the latter to make it 42-10 and complete his personal haul of 28 points that also included an unselfish assist to put Dedan Simpson over the line for the final try to make it a resounding 46-10 and complete the double for Corpus Christi.
The teams were greeted by Leeds Rhinos stars of the future, Ashton Golding, who had played in the finals himself for Priesthorpe earlier in his rugby career, along with Robbie Ward to present the winners shield and medals and cap off a fine evening of Rugby League at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.