St Cuthberts take three out of five titles in schools rugby league

Year 11 teams Matthew Moss (blue), St Cuthbert's (Red) and Balderstone Technology College (Green) pictured at the end of the tournament.

The schools Rugby League season kicked off last week with the annual Rochdale schools 9s festivals being held to determine who would represent the borough in this years Carnegie Champion Schools Cup Competition.

The week started with the year 11s taking to the field for the final time in school colours. Matthew Moss and hosts St Cuthbert’s both recorded wins in their opening matches against Balderstone Technology College. In the deciding fixture, St Cuthbert’s equalised with the final play of the game, forcing golden try extra time. St Cuthbert’s joy was short lived, however as solid forward play allowed the Moss backs to crash over on the first set of extra time.

The year 10 festival was won by a strong Hollingworth team, who showed great craft in attack and ruthlessness in defence.

The year 9 festival on Wednesday saw Falinge Park High and Beach House added to the mix in what was to be one of the toughest competitions of the week. Hosts St Cuthbert’s were strong throughout and recorded comprehensive wins against each of their opponents to take the title.

St Cuthbert’s then added the year 8 title on Thursday, although not without a scare. Strong running and determination from an inexperienced Beach House saw them take the lead early in the game following a superb individual run. Beach House could not hold on, however, as St Cuthbert’s experience saw them come through as winners.

A bruising encounter on Monday saw St Cuthbert’s clinch the year 7 spot. After 40 minutes of intense, hard hitting action, St Cuthbert’s scored with a dive from dummy half on the 5th tackle, much to the heart ache of the impressive Hollingworth team.

The standard of Rugby throughout the week was promising, showing that this year's Rochdale Schools Cup will be fiercely contested throughout the coming year.

All of the winners from this week’s festivals will go into the draw for the first round of the national Carnegie Champion Schools Cup Competition, which will see them drawn against opposition from Lancashire, Salford or the winners of last year's emerging schools competition.

Full Results

Year 11. Winners: Matthew Moss
Balderstone Technology College 0 Matthew Moss 5
Balderstone Technology College 1 St Cuthbert’s 5
Matthew Moss 2 St Cuthbert’s 2 (Matthew Moss won with Golden Try)

Year 10. Winners: Hollingworth
Matthew Moss 1 Hollingworth 5
Hollingworth 5 St Cuthbert’s 2
St Cuthbert’s 6 Matthew Moss 3

Year 9. Winners: St Cuthberts
St Cuthbert’s 4 Hollingworth 1
Hollingworth 3 Beach House 2
Falinge Park High 2 Hollingworth 3
Beach House 1 St Cuthberts 5
St Cuthbert’s 4 Falinge Park High 1
Falinge Park High 3 Beach House 2

Year 8. Winners: St Cuthberts
Hollingworth 3 Matthew Moss 2
Beach House 0 Hollingworth 6
St Cuthbert’s 4 Hollingworth 2
Matthew Moss 5 Beach House 3
St Cuthbert’s 4 Matthew Moss 2
Beach House 2 St Cuthbert’s 6

Year 7. Winners: St Cuthberts
St Cuthberts 9 Hollingworth 9 (St Cuthbert’s won with Golden Try)