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Leigh Academy make Rugby League History
Mark Roughsedge27 Aug 2013 - 09:36
Leigh Academy Girls Year 9 Rugby League team from Dartford in Kent made history on Friday at the Richmond Athletic Association ground when they became the first girls team from the South to win a Champion Schools Final and become national champions.
Yet their prospects looked far from bright when their opponents, Outwood Grange Academy from Wakefield, got the first points on the board. Following early Leigh pressure, Chloe Pickersgill intercepted a loose pass and ran the length of the field to touchdown and converted her own try to give the Yorkshire side a 6-0 lead.
Undeterred, the Kent girls soon got into their stride. Captain Leah Goss got them back on terms, touching down following a sparkling run from just inside her own half and converting.
Rachel Pollard then gave them the lead with a dart from dummy half, Goss again converting the try. The Wakefield team fought hard to get back on terms and it took some tough defending from the Leigh girls to keep them at bay.
But just before half time they went further ahead following a break from deep inside their own half from the strong running Damoy Stewart who touched down, Goss adding the extras to make it 18-6 at the interval.
Druanne Brown increased their lead in the second half with a try following a break down the right with Goss again converting. The skipper secured her side’s historic victory with a fine individual effort from deep inside her own and completed her 100 per cent kicking record with the conversion to make it 30-6 at the final whistle.
Outwood’s Pickersgill was awarded Player of the Match but it could have easily gone to a number of Leigh Academy girls with Goss leading by example, Stewart always a threat and Rosie Jackson-Ward working tirelessly both in attack and defence.
Matt Stamato, PE Subject Leader at Leigh Academy said: "This is a fantastic achievement for the girls, Leigh Academy and Rugby League in the South of England. There were many people from outside Kent who failed to believe or wanted to believe in our ability but we played great rugby at every stage and this shone through in the final for everyone to see.
“I'm so proud of the girls and their hard work has paid off. They are rightly overjoyed with their achievement.
A big thank you must go to Julie Austin and Mark Roughsedge for their continued help and support through our campaign. Looking forward to next season already!"
Undeterred, the Kent girls soon got into their stride. Captain Leah Goss got them back on terms, touching down following a sparkling run from just inside her own half and converting.
Rachel Pollard then gave them the lead with a dart from dummy half, Goss again converting the try. The Wakefield team fought hard to get back on terms and it took some tough defending from the Leigh girls to keep them at bay.
But just before half time they went further ahead following a break from deep inside their own half from the strong running Damoy Stewart who touched down, Goss adding the extras to make it 18-6 at the interval.
Druanne Brown increased their lead in the second half with a try following a break down the right with Goss again converting. The skipper secured her side’s historic victory with a fine individual effort from deep inside her own and completed her 100 per cent kicking record with the conversion to make it 30-6 at the final whistle.
Outwood’s Pickersgill was awarded Player of the Match but it could have easily gone to a number of Leigh Academy girls with Goss leading by example, Stewart always a threat and Rosie Jackson-Ward working tirelessly both in attack and defence.
Matt Stamato, PE Subject Leader at Leigh Academy said: "This is a fantastic achievement for the girls, Leigh Academy and Rugby League in the South of England. There were many people from outside Kent who failed to believe or wanted to believe in our ability but we played great rugby at every stage and this shone through in the final for everyone to see.
“I'm so proud of the girls and their hard work has paid off. They are rightly overjoyed with their achievement.
A big thank you must go to Julie Austin and Mark Roughsedge for their continued help and support through our campaign. Looking forward to next season already!"
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