Stanningley U14s 22 v Stanley Rangers U14s 20 (AET)
BARLA NATIONAL YOUTH CUP UNDER 14S FINAL
29.05.11

This BARLA National Youth Cup Under 14s Final had everything from superb tries, superb defence and a definitive game of four halves as the game went into extra time and a last gasp finish. Sadly in finals there has to be a loser and this final didn’t deserve one but the best way to describe the occasion was that rugby league was the winner and the game is in good hands with the youth which is coming through the ranks.

Stanningley took the game to Rangers with some superb attacking running rugby league and took the lead on three minutes as they threw the ball to the left then the right before switching back to the left and Jordan Lilley went over for a try and also added the extras.

From the restart Stanningley scored a sensational second. Fullback Nial Walker took the downfield punt on his 20 metre line and ran across the line of onrushing Rangers defenders before streaking on the outside along the touchline to go ingoal and under the posts for a magnificent second try.

There was little that Rangers could do apart from steadfastly defend but they could do nothing about centre Ian Crow on 16 minutes who scored wide out following a penalty.

16-0 down at the break things looked bleak for Rangers but they got a lifeline on 34 minutes when a bout of pressure paid off and Tom McGretton who had showed some neat touches supported a powerful Nathan Stone break to score and McGretton added the extras.

It was Stanningley’s turn to defend and Rangers to attack and they scored a second converted try when Dom Jones took Danny Sowerby’s inside ball to drive in.

Stanningley continued to defend and in the last minute of the game Rangers regained possession after Nathan Barker lost the ball. Sowerby and Keiron Holt combined to put Eddy Daley in at the corner. McGretton missed the conversion and the referee blew for fulltime.

The first half of extra time began and Stanningley went down to twelve players after Crow was sin binned. Stanley Rangers took control and after a bout of pressure and a scrum they retook the lead when Ben Cornell scored from the play the ball but Max Jowitt missed the conversion.

Both sides went for the decisive try with attacking rugby and defence winning the day until the final tackle of the game when Stanningley’s Brandon Douglas deservedly plunged over in the corner.

Lilley then converted magnificently from the touchline to put the ball between the posts to win the game as the referee who together with the touch judges had a magnificent game blew for time at the end of an outstanding spectacle

STANNINGLEY: 1. Nial Walker, 2. Kieron Roche, 3. Liam Ellis, 4. Ian Crow, 5. Ashley Halliday, 6. Ashton Golding, 7. Brandon Pickersgill, 8. Sam Hallas, 9. Danny Halmshaw, 10. Fahan Shahzad, 11. Nathan Barker, 12. Brandon Douglas, 13. Jordan Lilley. Subs: Sean Connolly, 17, Jack Vincent, 18. Haaris Stockdale, 21. Mikal Handel

Tries: Lilley, Walker, Crow, Daley

Goals: Lilley 3

STANLEY RANGERS: 1. Max Jowitt, 2. Alex Hobson, 20. Hallam Day, 4. Kieran Holt, 5. Eddy Daley, 6. Tom McGretton, 7. Danny Sowerby, 8. Jonny Holmes, 9. Ben Cornell, 10. Callum Sanderson, 11. Matt English, 12. Jack Dunnagon, Ben Hardaker,. Subs: 14. Dom Jones, 15. Brandon French, 16. Nathan Stone, 17. Sam Walker.

Tries: McGretton, Jones, Daley, Cornell

Goals: McGretton 2

Half Time: 16-0

Referee: Ian Scott

Touch Judges: Dave Bradshaw, Robert Wood

Man of match:
Stanningley; Jordan Lilley
Stanley Rangers; Daniel Sowerby

Reserve Official: Ben Hayward

Attendance:2,300

Report courtesy of BARLA website

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