Rugby League: Yorkshire U17s 38 – 24 Lancashire U17s

The Lancashire U17s side were defeated by a rousing performance from rivals Yorkshire in the Barla U17s Three Counties final at Milford on Sunday (10 November).

Harrison Chappell from Rochdale was selected by Lancashire and started the game. Harrison plays for Mayfield Mustangs Under 16s.

Key to Yorkshire's victory was a hat-trick from gun centre Max Kirkbright and the dangerous running of fullback Wesley Bruins.

Yorkshire opened the scoring after 13 minutes but only after the Lancashire number 8 was held up over the line.

Yorkshire advanced downfield at a rate of knots and opened the scoring when Kirkbright slipped the net for the first of his treble. Lancashire roared back at their hosts and made the most of an error, after which Luc Slater (Orrell St James) drove in from close range. Stand-off Jack Houghton (Orrell St James) added a goal to make it 4-6.

Lancashire then had a try chalked off by Callum Gregory with a tackle adjudged to have taken place in the air and Yorkshire again went the length of the field in the set to score through second-row Alex Kirk (Oulton Raiders). Fisher added the first of five goals and it was 10-6 to Yorkshire.

The hosts then had a brilliant effort from Wesley Bruins (Shaw Cross) ruled out due to a knock on after the fullback had gone 75 metres and Lancashire toiled before Ajay Hussey (Newton Storm) used his strength to go over despite the attentions of three defenders. Houghton scored the conversion to edge Lancashire in front again but when Kirkbright was put free by Bruins there was only one outcome.

A Yorkshire error in their own twenty-metre area resulted in Lancashire zipping the ball along the line and Ben Sheils (Saddleworth) went over at the corner. Substitute Jack Kenway (Saddleworth) goaled and the red rose were in front at half-time 14-18.

Yorkshire made a super start to the second half when Callum McGrath (Wibsey) blasted over and he was soon followed to the line by prop Ethan Lewis (Siddal). Fisher goaled both to ensure an eight-point advantage but Lancashire and Sheils had other ideas and a quick change of direction took the winger inside a host of defenders to finish. Kenway goaled to make it 26-24.

Just as the game was in the balance, Yorkshire advanced through the middle and there was no denying Bruins as he collected a pass and raced the last thirty metres. Fisher goaled and saw a try of his own ruled out minutes later.

Yorkshire then made the game safe with the final play of the match, the ball moved quickly for Kirkbright to go over and Fisher completed his haul and ensured the trophy returned to Yorkshire for only the second time in ten years.

YORKSHIRE: Wesley Bruins (Shaw Cross), Elliott Bell (Castleford Panthers), Max Kirkbright (Lock Lane), Rhys, Tyler Fisher (West Hull); Kyle Cranswick (Castleford Panthers), Tom Verity (West Hull); Paul Chitakunye (Shaw Cross), Kian Lister (Shaw Cross), Ethan Lewis (Siddal), Alex Kirk (Oulton Raiders), Luke Roe (Normanton), Alex Hindle (Heworth).
Subs: Martin, Callum McGrath (Wibsey), Byron Lisle (West Bowling), Ethan Davidson (Stanningley).

LANCASHIRE: Dan McGahan (Widnes Moorfield), Callum Gregory (Thatto Heath), Michael Los (Bury), Sam Worrall (Thatto Heath), Ben Shiels (Saddleworth), Jack Houghton (Orrell), Cameron Hague (Oldham St Annes), James Hall (Oldham St Annes), Toby Goodmarsh (Leigh Miners), Tom Yates (Thatto Heath), Harrison Chappell (Mayfield), Connor Davies (Thatto Heath), Oliver McMahon (Thatto Heath).
Subs: Luc Slater (Orrell), Ajay Hussey (Newton Storm), Jack Kenway (Saddleworth), James Downham-Clark (Saddleworth).