Yorkshire Schools' Rugby
14th Annual Yorkshire Schools' Rugby Football Union Cup Finals
Hosted by The Yorkshire Regiment at the Army Foundation College, Harrogate, on Saturday 28th March 2009.
Six finals were played from under 14's to under 18's. All the teams had photographs taken before they played. The weather was rainy at the outset and brief showers occurred during the day, but the keen, cutting wind was a constant factor, robbing the heat from the sunny periods.
Queen Elizabeths Grammar School, Wakefield, and Harrogate Grammar School Under 14's Kicked Off at 12.30 pm with Q.E.G.S. running out winners 27-7 at the end, but both teams exhibited some enterprising rugby.
In the Under 15 final Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley, beat Longcroft School, Beverley, 35-0 which was a very surprising result as Longcroft had not given away any points before the final. It is fair to say that the score did not reflect the vigorous game played by Longcroft.
At 2.00 pm the Under 16 Cup and Plate Finals kicked off. Crossley Heath School, Halifax, played Harrogate Grammar School in the cup. Harrogate got off to a fine start when Ollie Rossillo scored a fine try storming down the right wing to score behind the posts, but he sustained a nasty injury to his hand which required treatment from Professor Ralph Kester, the Y.R.F.U. doctor. It was nip and tuck after that with Harrogate always managing to keep one score ahead to win 24-21 and take the cup.
In the Under 16's Plate Richmond School played Allerton Grange School, Leeds. Richmond sailed into a good lead but later, towards the end of the first half, a fracas broke out and 2 Richmond players were sent off, reducing them to 13 players, for the remainder of the game. This disadvantage seemed to bring the best out of them as they added to their score to win 25-14 and receive the Phillip Ardron Plate - the first time it has been awarded.
Hipperholme and Lightcliffe School played Tadcaster Grammar School in the U18's Plate. A most exciting game Hipperholme and Lightcliffe sat on a 15-7 lead for a large part of the game but Tadcaster scored a try to make it 15-14 with 3 minutes left to play and then went over to score a winning try to make it 15-21 and take the Yorkshire Regiment Trophy for the U18's Plate for the first time.
The final match of the day the Under 18 Competition for "The Duke of Wellington's Regiment Shield" was between Crossley Heath School, Halifax, and Hall Cross School, Doncaster. A very absorbing game was played by two tenacious teams. Hall Cross maintained tremendous effort to the very end. They did not make best use of the wind and slope in the first half and suffered the penalty. Christian Georgiou, the Crossley Heath fly half, had an outstanding game. His accurate kicking put his team in the driving seat throughout the game; Crossley Heath won 28-0 and collected the Shield at the presentation in the NAAFI after the game.
We are extremely grateful for the Sponsorship provided by the Army, the Foundation College and the Yorkshire Regiment who combine to put on an unequalled day of outstanding rugby. The hospitality, programme, timing - in fact the whole running of the day was superb. Thanks to all the staff for their efforts in making it such a memorable day.
Yorkshire Schools Rugby 2009