Rochdale school reach national final

Sophie Holden (captain) lines up alongside Chloe Webster, Jessica Hopkins and Hayley Fielding in their new green kit

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Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College Year 10 Girls Rugby League team hope to make it a hat-trick of national titles when they take on Yorkshire Rivals Castleford Academy High School in the Carnegie Champion Schools Rugby League final at Odsal on Thursday 23 August.

Semi-finalists in year 8, the girls have already secured victories in year 7 and 9, although 2011/12 has been the girls most impressive season to date, as they fielded 2 teams in the North West rounds, before combining for the national festival held in Derby, where they dominated Group A of the Year 10 Carnegie Champion Schools tournament as they won four successive matches without conceding a point.

Hollingworth beat 360 Academy 24 – 0, after a 30 – 0 victory over Feltham and 18 – 0 victories over President Kennedy of Coventry and group runners up Freeston.

Hollingworth had proved a force throughout the day, winning every one of their game, whilst Wade Deacon scraped past St Benedicts for their place in the tie.

Confident Hollingworth  made the more impressive start, Courtney Steele’s try was added to by a Sophie Holden conversion to give them a healthy lead.

Wade Deacon had plenty of possession, but couldn’t turn it into chances and were made to pay when Hayley Fielding broke to touch down, Holden again converting.

Holden touched down for another try, this time it was Holly Coburn who made no mistake from the conversion, and put her side in the final.
 

The girls will take to the field in a kit designed by the players -  a traditional looking white kit with a green ‘V’.

Captain Sophie Holden commented: "We have always played in the school colours, which are blue. We wanted something a bit different and out of the 17 players, 15 chose green, so it was pretty easy really."

When asked about reaching the final, Sophie added: "We are obviously a bit disappointed the final isn’t in London this year, but understand why with the Olympics.

"We have trained really hard over the summer and most of us are currently playing up an age group for the under 16s at our clubs, so we will be well prepared for what Cas will throw at us."

Sophie is one of the many Hollingworth girls who play club rugby league at nearby Rochdale Cobras, while other members of the school team play for Barrow. There is no mistake, however, that club loyalties will once again be put to one side as Hollingworth Business and Enterpise College looks to represent Rochdale with pride.

The team will be supported by the Bolton, Bury and Rochdale Rugby League Development officer and will sport he Rochdale Rugby League World Cup logo, to promote the Fiji Vs Ireland fixture at Spotland in October 2013.

The final kicks off at 4.25pm on Thursday 23 August at Odsal Stadium, Bradford.