HUDDERSFIELD St Joseph’s Sharks Under 13 girls’ team travelled to Hull for their first games of the year.
Unfortunately, the festival age groups meant the girls had to split into Under 12a and Under 14s – the former teaming up with four players from Wakefield-based Outwood, some of whom were playing their first match.
Yet they dominated against a young Stanningley team.Good distribution from Lucy Walter enabled Amy Plowman to record five tries, while Beth Swift, Alys Senior and Dionne Webster all notched two.
The second game proved to be more of a test with the Sharks being on the wrong end of a 12-2 try scoreline against Castleford – Amy Plowman and Dionne Webster scoring.
The girls got back to winning ways in the third match against Haworth Park. Scores by Amy (3), Dionne (2) and Alys were added to by two from the Outwood players – the final scoreline being 8-5 to the Sharks.
The Girl of the Game award voted for by the parents went to Dionne Webster for her hard runs and strong defence.
Sharks Under 14s were joined by two Middleton and two Stanningley players against Haworth Park, who scored four tries, with St Joes new girl Jordanne Newsholme scoring a try in her first-ever game.
The odds were stacked against them as they faced an older Castleford outfit, but they battled well to restrict the score to 7-0.
But then Middleton and Stanningley players helped the St Joes to their only victory of the day, beating Keighley 4-1.
In their final game, they scored four tries, including two for Jenny Doughty and one for Lucy Eastwood, in the 4-5 defeat to Farnley.
Player of the Match was Jordanne Newsholme for strong running and awesome defence.
Under 14 Cup
Sharks 6 Moldgreen 36
The home side failed to remember the lessons learned from the last encounter, allowing the visitors’ star player to run the show.
The first half was a defensive disaster and it wasn’t until the last five minutes that they woke up and were already 24 points down.
The second half was better, with Sharks’ tackling improving considerably. Sharp passing and dogged determination from MOM Mohammed Awad unfortunately, was not rewarded with a try.
Top driver Sam Whitworth scored the Sharks’ only try of the game after some outstanding drives. Jakob Garside added the goal. Most improved Michael McGowan and Tom Swift were unlucky not to add to the score, both denied by good defence.
Under 16
Eastmoor Dragons 0 Sharks 28
Sharks travelled to Wakefield for what proved to be a hard encounter.
The home second rower proved to be a constant pain for them with his never-say-die attitude.
It seemed an age before Joes broke through with Callum Simms showing good support play, pace and power as the ball was moved out to the winger.
Not long after Nicholls showed his speed of hand with a bullet-like pass which found Sukky to power his way over – and it was 8-0.
Yet, some of the passing at times was well below par, although Mann, Cassidy, Mitchell and Noel just scooped up everything. The latter, playing at fullback for the first time, showing just how safe he is after being tested on numerous occasions and giving a flawless performance.
Gill was solid as usual and Hargreaves impresses week in week out.
Just before half time, Eastwood, who was going down in a tackle with two men on him, off-loaded in what must have been the pass of the match and found Luke James showing great support play and anticipation to go over for St Joes’ third try and concluded the scoring for the half.
As Joes came out for the second half James Nee was brought on to freshen things up and he did not fail to impress with his constant strong runs. Hitting the ball at speed he proved to be just the catalyst the team needed.
Eastmoor found him more than a handful – as were Sukky, Eastwood and Samo. The latter linked up with Eastwood and Nicholls on several occasions. The James brothers put plenty of work in throughout the match and it was not long before Nee crossed for the first score of the half to give Joes a 20-point lead.
As the Eastmoor team tired, Samo crossed for his second – showing plenty of power and pace . Eastmoor gave a good account of themselves and as fatigue started to set in the fitness of the St Joes lads started to show and MOM Eastwood wasn’t going to be outdone, breaking from the scrum and powering his way over the try line to cap a good all round performance. Luke James added the conversion.
Under 17
West Bowling 20 Sharks 18
Another week and another below par performance.
This time they were made to pay a high price as the missed the chance to go to the top of Division 1.
They started brightly enough and were in front after just two minutes. A penalty close to the line saw Ash Newman power over. James Usher added the conversion to give Joes the dream start.
But, West Bowling hit straight back when a kick was fumbled in goal and they reacted faster to level the scores.
Luke Nelmes restored the advantage for St Josephs with a typically powerful try but soft penalties gave West Bowling the field position they needed to square it up at 10-10 at half time.
The second half started with loose forward Ben Cole’s pass releasing centre Josh Long, who sprinted 80m for his 14th try of the season.
From that point on it all went terribly wrong. A number of consecutive penalties combined with dreadful ball retention resulted in West Bowling dominating the entire half.
To be fair the defence held well but it was only a matter of time before it failed and West Bowling went in front with two quick scores. James Usher levelled it up again at 18-18 with a penalty goal, but with four minutes to go another penalty in front of the posts was converted to give the Bradford side the points.
