Third time lucky...

Dinnington Rugby Club’s Under 9s made it third time lucky, claiming victory alongside Sheffield in the Sandal Festival.

The two teams agreed to share the trophy, after an exhausting final game that ended 0-0.

It was a very cold, wet and windy day as the Dinnington youngsters looked to go one better than the previous two seasons, when they finished runners-up. A tough draw gave them West Park Leeds, Old Brodleians, Sandal A and Otley in the group stage.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But they beat West Park with a strong showing, and then drew against Old Brodleians. As the pitch worsened Dinnington squeezed past Sandal A, the team who beat them in the last two finals, with a single try. The last group match was against Otley, for a place in the final, and a score with the last play of the game saw the Lodge Lane boys go through.

The final was against Sheffield, a strong side well known to Dinnington, and after a tiring battle with the score locked at 0-0, the trophy was shared. Dinnington’s victorious squad included Josh Briggs, Craig Cameron, Harry Clowe, Conor Cobbe, Marcus Haywood, Harvey Hibberd, George Hill, Rebecca Hinchcliffe, James Hindle, Tom Lambert, Jay Jessop, Oliver Morton, Sonny Morton, Archie Ruczenczyn and Baine Russel.