For the second year running, West Lakes Academy’s Year 9 girls rugby league team reached the national finals of the Champion Schools competition.

The team travelled to Victoria Park, Warrington on Friday 5th July to play Castleford Academy, again for the second year in a row.

Unfortunately WLA were missing two key players due to injuries and up against a strong Castleford side the academy lost 52-26, however this means that WLA have been named national runners up.

Thank you to WLA parent Mr Henderson for the below match report:

“West Lakes Academy Year 9 Girls put on a fantastic display of rugby at the National Finals at Victoria Park Warrington on Friday.
In a game that had remarkable parallels with last year’s final, WLA were once against out-gunned and out-paced by a big Castleford team.
Holding them even at 18 each at half-time (12-12 last year), WLA looked strong and fit in contrast to the sometimes sluggish looking Cas’ girls. However, again, like last year, strength in depth won through. With two key players sporting NHS dressings on the bench – WLA were at the limit of their ability to put together a full squad. Conversely Castleford who probably had to leave a number of good players at home (and who probably incorporate some rugby training into their maths lessons) continued to chip away at West Lakes’ defence gradually but relentlessly opening up a gap on the score board. The match was by no means over and Cumbria’s champions continued to put in converted tries.
However, under a strong Warrington sunshine that we can only dream about in Cumbria, the full time whistle blew after a final conversion kick from Castleford put a score on the board of 52-26 (42-18 last year).
For a second year West Lakes Academy are the second best in the country. That’s a pretty good place to be. Mr Price is sure to push even harder to ensure that next year, as Year 10s, a full strength side don’t come away as runners up.”