Stanley Rangers Under 13s had a fantastic 30 points to 16  victory away at Stanningley in the quarter final of the Yorkshire Cup. The game was extra special for the Stanley boys as we all look to Stanningley as one of the best and dynamic junior sides in the north of England.

The day started with only 11 players - 2 getting lost on route to the game, and with Will Hudson, Alex Keaney, Sam Mawson, Matty English, and Eddie Daly out on holiday, or injured we thought this would be a task too far.

 

The boys with 13 on the park, and with a 10 points to nil score line against them in the first 10 minutes looked everything but winning materiel. The game however is not that simple and in the latter part of the first half going up hill we struck with a face ball from Danny S to Luke Smith who raced 60 metres to score. The next try was a superb effort from Alex Hobson who took the ball after some great play in the backs, jinked, swerved and stepped his way to the line, and Jowitt adding his second kick to take us into a 12 - 10 half time lead.

 

The boys stood tall and found the massive Stanningley forwards a real threat coming down hill at them, and were pleased to go in with only the two scores behind them. The entire Stanley pack shone against some fantastic and physical defence from the Cougars, but led by Callum Sampson and Jonny Holmes we laid a real platform for the backs to play off. Tom McGretton produced a very good defensive effort in the middle of the park, and Sam Walker just back from holiday without any sleep made a huge contribution to the win.

The second half started and we looked the fitter and more composed side and with the attack coming down the Stanningley right hand side we looked great. The try of the game came next with a turn up play on the half way line, with Cal Sampson drawing two defenders to him and off loading to Daniel S who dummied and went through a gap, and threw a face ball to Keiran Holt who blasted a full 30 yards to score under the posts, with Jow adding another.

 

The next try was another fantastic effort, with some great drives from Sampson, Holmes, Donnegan and Hardaker, Danny S switched play from right to left and put up a pinpoint perfect bomb for the sensational Max Jowitt to climb above every other attacker and defender to catch and score, taking the score to 24 points to 10.

 

The next 10 minute period was dominated by Stanningley who capitalised on some very basic errors from kick off's and in general play, and as such forced themselves up field to score a very good try from a superb kick to the corner.

 

Stanley fought to regain control of the game, but it was hard, and after opening the Stanningley defence on 3 occasions down the right side we bombed every one due to some super last-gasp defence.

 

The game was a real arm wrestle, and with what looked like a 3 on 2 overlap for the cougars Dom "jesus" Jones intercepted a ball to race 40 metres to put the game beyond reach.

 

Jowitt added all 6 conversions, with some wonderful strikes of the ball.

 

The Stanningley players gave their all, with Jordan Liley, Ian Crow, Sam Hallas, and Nathan Stone being the pick of the bunch for effort, execution, and a never say die attitude.

 

The Stanley team all played well, and to single anyone out would be unfair. The boys were under-strength and against a sensational team produced a vintage performance, and earned a place in the semi final at Milford who will be chomping at the bit to take us on.