Harrogate Festival match report, Old Rishworthians rugby club Under 14's lose to National Champions Sandal in the Final

Old Rishworthians took an under 7's squad to the Harrogate Rugby Festival and came away as tournament winners beating teams from Ripon and Harrogate.

Both games were played on half of a full size pitch allowing teams to field 9 players each.

Rishworthians 8 - 5 Ripon

Scorers: Jacob Bower (3), Will McDonnell (2), Thomas Cockroft (2), Billy Whyte.

Old Rishworthians first match was played against a team from Ripon. The game began well for Old Rishworthians with an opening try in the first few seconds. JACOB BOWER taking the ball on the half way and sprinting down the left wing to score in the corner. Ripon replied soon after, but excellent defensive play from the whole squad, particularly captain EMMA BOWER, in her first full match, produced further well worked tries from THOMAS COCKROFT, BILLY WHYTE, and two from WILL MCDONNELL, taking Rishys into an impressive 5 - 1 lead.

The game then evened out with both teams exchanging tries. Old Rishworthians took advantage of the open spaces and produced two further tries for JACOB BOWER'S hat trick, and a second of the match for THOMAS COCKROFT. Ripon scored the last try to make the final score 8 - 5, but the result was never in doubt. A good start to the tournament for Rishys. Team coaches were impressed to see the team stick to the pre match game plan.

Rishworthians 8 - 5 Harrogate

Scorers: Will McDonnell (4), Jamie Highley, George Radcliffe, Thomas Cockroft, Gregory Day.

After a 5 minute break Old Rishworthians then played tournament favourites and home team, Harrogate, who had also beaten Ripon earlier.

Harrogate started the match strongly, racing into a 2-0 lead. A try from WILL MCDONNELL reduced the lead but a third try from Harrogate was scored far too easily. At this stage it appeared that the exertion from the first game and back to back matches were taking their toll on the Rishys youngsters.

But Rishys then got their second wind. Good ball handling and discipline throughout the team along with some probing runs from SAM BRANT, EMMA BOWER, BILLY WHYTE and GREGORY DAY allowed WILL MCDONNELL to show his speed again. Leaving the Harrogate defence stranded he scored 2 further stunning tries. Other tries from JAMIE HIGHLEY, GEORGE RADCLIFFE and THOMAS COCKROFT took Rishys to a deserved 6 - 3 lead.

Harrogate scored again but Rishys were in the ascendancy and maintained good ball control in the middle of the park. SAM BRANT, JACOB BOWER and BILLY WHYTE were all denied scores by the Harrogate defence, but a fourth try for WILL MCDONNELL and a well deserved tournament try for GREGORY DAY took the lead to 8 - 4. Harrogate scored a consolation try in the dying seconds making the result 8 - 5 to Old Rishworthians, and worthy tournament winners.

Player of the tournament...WILL MCDONNELL
Squad: Will McDonnell, Sam Brant, Thomas Cockroft, George Radcliffe, Jamie Highley, Emma Bower, Jacob Bower, Billy Wythe, Gregory Day. All players played in both matches.

Report by Dave Mc Donnell

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