Congratulations to the Year 7 girls from Corpus Christi Catholic College who became the first girls Leeds team to win the Champions Schools Final.
The team were the first girls team ever from Leeds to make it to the National Final after beating Castleford Academy.
Corpus Christi took on Wade Deacon in the final held at Warrington and it was the Widnes based school who opened the scoring. Corpus Christi hit back to take a 12-4 lead at half-time, thanks to two tries by player of the match Demi-Leigh Abbott and both tries were converted by Keira Gittins.
Blessing Dundo added a try in the second half try for Corpus, but Wade Deacon fought back to lead 22-18. A hat-trick try from Abbott levelled matters in the last minute, with Gittins’ fourth goal giving Corpus Christi a hard-earned and exciting 24-22 victory.
As well as the Year 7 girls’ triumph, Corpus Christi have achieved well in other national and regional competitions. The Year 7 girls won the Yorkshire Cup, as did the Year 8 girls. The Year 8 boys lost a close national final, 22-16, to Castleford Academy, who also beat them in the Yorkshire Final. The Year 7 boys were runners-up in the inaugural national nine-a-side competition and Corpus Christi have also dominated this season’s Leeds & Hunslet Schools’ Rugby League competitions, along with Brigshaw, who this year also won the Year 11 Yorkshire Cup.
Lois Forsell, women and girls development officer for Leeds Rhinos Foundation said: “I am so proud of the girls at Corpus Christi and this is great reward for all their hard work and the dedication from their teachers, James Endersby and Tom Wandless.
“I have been working with Corpus Christi for many years, both in my role at Leeds Rhinos Foundation and before, and rugby league and participation has never been as strong in the school.”
James Endersby, associate senior leader and coach of the Rugby League team, said: “Girls rugby is now well established at the school after years of hard work. This involved including it within our curriculum, weekly after school clubs and support from Leeds Rhinos Foundation. We also try to support rugby in our feeder primary schools too.
“Lois Forsell has been instrumental in supporting the school for nearly 10 years now, firstly in her role at Hunslet and now at the Rhinos Foundation.
“All staff at the school are incredibly proud of the students and our Headteacher Steve Mort is also a keen rugby fan and cheered the girls on in their Yorkshire Cup Final success and the Champions Schools Final. The parents of all the students have also been fantastic in encouraging their girls to take up rugby outside of school at local clubs like East Leeds. Getting these girls active and playing sport is our ultimate aim and we hope a few will follow in the footsteps of Lois in progressing into the Rhinos U19s and senior team in a few year’s time.”
For more information on playing women and girls rugby league CLICK HERE