St Cuthbert's victorious

St Cuthbert RC High School: Glen Khabi, Brad Goulding, Jonny Deba, Andrew Riley, Jake Spellacy, Ross Mallinson, Tom Hughes, Aidan McGrath, Jack Holt, Jake Robinson, Curtis Halcroft

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St Cuthbert's RC High School won the under 15s Rochdale Hornets Supporters Association School Boy Trophy on Sunday beating Matthew Moss at a sun swept Spotland Stadium.

The match swung both ways all game, but it was St Cuthbert's who dominated the first ten minutes.

The first kick off went dead and from the resulting play the ball Jonny Deba evaded everyone for an impressive full length opener.

Nerves were showing for Matthew Moss, as a knock on from Moss allowed Deba in for his second from the resultant scrum.

A good run from Keiron Byron after a kick on first tackle sparked Matthew Moss into life, and he was held up inches from the line.

It was St Cuthbert's who struck again, however, Deba scooted from the ruck and powered over to cap a disasterous opening ten minutes for Moss.

Byron again grabbed the opportunity to lift his team and with a good kick chase from Matthew Moss, possession was regained and Keiron Byron edged in for the first try.

Minutes later, Byron again made a break, popping a neat offload to Tom Sheerans for Moss’ second try.

Matthew Moss could sense a comeback, and with an error forced off kick off, Saif Malik proved powerful, scoring in the corner. Scores level on 12 minutes!

Deba struck, leaving a trail of bodies to run in his fourth.

Then it was the turn of Keiron Byron, after taking a hit around the head, to take his own tap penalty to score in the corner.

Deba finished the half with his fifth, giving St Cuthbert's a 4 point lead at half time.

Defences were on top for opening 5 minutes of the second half until that man again, Deba, broke the deadlock for his sixth!

Hamad Ahmed replied for Matthew Moss with a classy try, going in on the edge with a turn of pace to bring the score to 24-20.

The game then got a little scrappy, as teams traded knock ons and penalties, before Spellacy dived in at the corner for St Cuthbert's.

Matthew Moss would not lie down, with Byron responding for Moss, reducing the deficit to 4 (28-24).

As St Cuthbert's pushed for the line, it took Jake Longthorn, with a try saving tackle in the corner, to keep Matthew Moss' hopes alive and when Spellacy knocked on with the line at his mercy, the crowd sensed a Matthew Moss comeback.

It was not to be, however, as an handling error by Moss left a loose ball, which inevitably fell to Deba to race away for his seventh.

Still anxious of a Matthew Moss comeback, Cuthies’ continued to push forward and nearly sealed the game, but another knock on over the line, by St Cuthbert's Mallinson, kept the game close!

The game was finally won by year 8 Andrew Riley, who weaved his way to the line, capping an impressive display, 36-24 to St Cuthbert's.

Matthew Moss responded, however, after good team play allowed Byron in the corner, before Deba went in for his eighth , bringing the game to a close.

Man of the Match awards were presented to Jonny Deba (St Cuthbert's) and Keiron Byron (Matthew Moss), before Rochdale Hornets Head Coach John Stankevitch presented St Cuthbert's with the Rochdale Hornets Supporters Association School Boy Trophy.

Teams:

ST CUTHBERT: Glen Khabi, Brad Goulding, Jonny Deba, Andrew Riley, Jake Spellacy, Ross Mallinson, Tom Hughes, Aidan McGrath, Jack Holt, Jake Robinson, Curtis Halcroft.

MATTHEW MOSS: Adeel Aidress, Jordan Brown, Jake Longthorn, Tom Sheerings, Kieron Byron, Dale Walker, Zafar Junaid, Saif Malik, Hamad Ahmad, Spencer Gregg.