Community Foundation supports schools finals

Wigan Warriors Community Foundation recently supported the Wigan Schools, North West Schools and National Champion Schools finals to celebrate the end of the school terms.

Following a busy year of delivery in local high schools with development officers, Wigan Warriors Community Foundation were pleased to support the end of term schools finals. It was great to see a variety of schools competing in finals with a huge amount of growth within schools rugby across the borough this academic year.

Wigan Schools Finals

The Wigan & Leigh schools finals were held at Robin Park Arena on 26th June with Standish High and St Peter’s performing best across the five year groups.

• Year 7 – The Year 7 final saw Bedford High of Leigh beat St Peter’s from Orrell.
• Year 8 – Standish High ran out winners against Hawkley Hall in the Year 8 final.
• Year 9 – Standish High were also victorious in the Year 9 group stage, as they beat St Mary’s.
• Year 10 – St Peter’s of Orrell were the winners as they took on St John Fisher.
• Year 11 – The highly anticipated Year 11 final saw St Peter’s also run out winners in a fantastic tie against Standish High.

RFL National Education Manager, Andrea Murray: “Thanks to the staff at Wigan Warriors Community Foundation for their support of our Education events throughout the 22/23 academic season. We rely on the work of our Club Foundations to increase the reach of the game and Wigan Warriors have again contributed to multiple competitions, assisting our wider growth strategy for the game in schools.”

North West Schools Finals

Held at Orrell St James the North West Schools Finals were also another huge success and a huge congratulations goes to all participating teams.

Boys

• Year 7 – The Year 7 North West Schools Final was a repeat of the Wigan & Leigh Schools Y7 final, as Bedford High once again ran out winners against St Peter’s.
• Year 7 Plate Final – In the plate final, Deanery were the winners as they overcame St John Fisher.
• Year 8 Plate Final – In the Year 8 category, St Edmund Arrowsmith were the winners as they faced St Peter’s.
• Year 9 – Standish High came out on top in the Year 9 Final.
• Year 10 – St Peter’s, who won the Year 10 category in the Wigan & Leigh finals also added the North West title to their tally.

Girls

• Year 11 – St Peter’s were also victorious in the girls Year 11 final.

National Champions Schools Finals

The last set of Finals were the National Champions Finals held at Kingston Park, Newcastle and broadcast Live on OurLeague. Leigh’s Bedford High will face Hull’s Archbishop Sentamu at Wembley Stadium ahead of the Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 12th August.

• Year 9 – The Year 9 final saw Standish fly to 30-16 victory over Warrington’s Bridgewater High.
• Year 10 – A thrilling Year 10 final saw St Peter’s put on a late rally to beat Castleford Academy. It was the Yorkshire team who though they’d stole the win late on but a penalty allowed St Peter’s to complete a late set with a try to steal a 14-12 win at the death.

Community Development Officer, Tom Marsh, said: “I think all the events have been a great success, Neil Ashton and Andrea Murray have done a great job on organising the events. The standard of the games over the Wigan Schools and the Champion Schools was amazing. From the Girls Y7’s who played first in the Champion Schools finals, to the Y10 Boys closing the event – all showed some great ability in the games.

“I would like to congratulate all the Wigan and Leigh schools who have taken part in all the events from the Emerging Schools 9’s to the Champion schools in Newcastle, they have all been a great success. I would again like to congratulate Neil Ashton, Andrea Murray, Andy Duncalf and Andy Unsworth on creating all of the amazing experiences for the pupils of Wigan and Leigh to take part in.

“I am looking forward to the next school year to hopefully see more Wigan and Leigh schools get some silverware but to also see players new to Rugby League taking part in festivals and joining Community Clubs on the back of this.”