The Y8 rugby team knocked out the defending champions Lowton High in the quarter finals of the Wigan & Leigh Cup last night!

Following on from an excellent display last week, the team have done it again and booked their place in the Semi Finals vs Standish High (to be played after half term). The team got off to a very slow and poor start, quickly finding themselves 12 points down in the opening 6 minutes of the game. However, though a brilliantly worked attacking set, we opened our scoring through Daniel Alvarado (converted by Will Doyle).  The following 2 tries were amazing solo efforts by Oliver Petichakis (both converted by Will), the SEA boys were 18-12 up by half time. Facing a much bigger opposition, and no subs! The boys were out on their shields at half time. 

Lowton started the 2nd half well and quickly found themselves level. The game became a set for set battle of tight rugby were neither team could crack the other. It took a forced error and a penalty restart deep into the opponent's half for us to come up with points... Another fantastic Alvarado try got us ahead. Following on from the try, Lowton threw a lot at the team and we again found ourselves defending our line. Some excellent defence from Ethan Ackers forces the error. From that set, we went down the other end, gained a repeat set and scored what looked certain to be the match winner with a nicely worked try out wide from captain Joel Sumner.  With 5 minutes to play and 2 scores ahead, the game seemed dead and buried. With the last play of the game Lowton scored and converted a consolation try, this meant the end result was 26-24 to SEA. 

The team, all the supporters, the coaches Mr Hind and Mr Lindley were absolutely over the moon to hear the full-time whistle!  To knock out the reigning champions whilst depleted on numbers due to injuries really is a massive feat. We host Standish High in the next round looking for revenge after a painful defeat in the NW Plate earlier this month.

The team deserve huge congratulations on another win! 

Full Back = James McCabe; Right Wing = Reece Prentice; Right Centre= Daniel Alvarado; Left Centre= Jack Rogan; Left Wing= Joseph Williams; Stand Off= Ethan Ackers; Half Back= Will Doyle; Right Prop= Lucas Smith; Hooker=Leighton Hock;

Left Prop= Jacob Pickering; Left Second Row = Oliver Petichakis; Right Second Row = Kian Gordon; Loose Forward= Joel Sumner (c)