Congratulations to South Leeds Academy Year 8 rugby team who have made it through to finals of the Carnegie Champions Schools Competition for the second year in a row. The team beat St Peter’s High School (Wigan) 34-16 at Oulton Raiders in this year’s semi-final.
The aggression of Connor Chadwick and raw pace of Scott Sharp helped South Leeds Academy overcome their tough opponents St Peters. These two players set the tone of the game early on with a neat interchange of passing between themselves to run in two quick tries with the first scored by Sharp, his first of four tries, and the second by Chadwick, his first on the way to a hat trick.
Callum Bains impressed for St Peters and managed to cut the lead down but the St Peters’ defence could not cope with the speed of Sharp who helped South Leeds run away with the game in the first half. Luke Brown also added a try after a brilliant kick from Chadwick enabled him to latch on to the ball and cross over.
St Peters put up more of a fight in the second period and looked rejuvenated. John Hurfins and Keenan scored but the damage was done in the first half as South Leeds ran out comfortable winners in the end. Dyson Nicholson kicked three goals for South Leeds while Chris Wilson scored two out of three of his attempts at goal for St Peters.
After the game Sharp said the team needed to set the record straight. “We got to the final last year but lost. We had to prove a point.”
Temple Moors Year 10 team was also involved in the Carnegie Champion Schools semi-final but lost to Outwood Grange (Wakefield) 22-6
Outwood Grange scored three unanswered tries from Kieran Holt, Sam Wood and Max Jowlitt and a single conversion from Jowlitt ensured that Outwood led 16 – 0 at the interval.
Temple Moor showed glimpses of getting back into the game when Matty Stables squeezed between the Outwood defence, before he touched down underneath the posts.
Kieran Holt, scored his second try of the match after he crafted an opportunity to sneak between the Temple Moor defence.
Temple Moor certainly made a strong account for themselves, whilst Outwood Grange carry on their 4 year unbeaten run.
Leeds Rhinos Community Manager Jonny Wainhouse commented “To have Leeds schools progressing to this level of the competition is so pleasing and is an example of how partnerships coming together are benefiting rugby league in Leeds. The Leeds Rugby Foundation and Leeds City College Leeds & Hunslet Schools have been the driving force.”