Sharks Youngsters Lose To Quins In The Academy Final

It was a cautious start from both sides before Harlequins demonstrated their forward dominance after 4 minutes, with a good driving maul. However good defence from Bevan Rodd forced the London side to give away a penalty, and Cameron Redpath cleared upfield.

The Sharks first attack of the game came after seven minutes, when they spotted an overlap on the left wing. Redpath spotted the opportunity, and went for the counter-attack. He sprayed the ball wide to George Chatterton on the wing, who ran over halfway, and he chipped the ball to chase. The Quins defence covered well, and managed to clear the danger.

After huge pressure on the Quins tryline, Sale managed to get the first try of the game after 14 minutes, with scrum-half Matt Sturgess dummying one defender and darting his way over from the ruck to score. Wilkinson missed the conversion to make it 0-5.

Harlequins fought back immediately and put some good phases of rugby together, however the Sharks defence was superb, and Arron Reed forced Quins to hold on to the ball and Sale earned a penalty.

21 minutes of the game had gone, and the Sharks applied huge pressure to the Quins try line once again. They earned a penalty infront of the posts, which Kieran Wilkinson kicked to make it 8-0.

On the half-hour mark, Matt Sturgess made a superb break downfield, making 40m, he chipped ahead and went to chase, and forced Quins to touch down over their own try line.


With two minutes of the first half to go, Harlequins got their first points of the game, thanks to a penalty from Marcus Smith. The scores remained the same to the half-time interval, which meant the Sharks had a 8-3 lead.

The second half began and Harlequins started the quicker, scoring a try within two minutes of the restart. Flanker Luke James crossed in the corner. Smith got the conversion to give Quins the lead for the first time in the game, 8-10.

Calum Owens demonstrated some superb defensive skills after 45 minutes, when Quins spread the ball to the wing, and looked like they were certainly going to score a try. However, the full-back covered well, and tackled the Quins attacker into touch.

The Sharks were looking for a way back in the game, and started to counter-attack from their own 22. However they were penalised for coming in at the side of the ruck, which gave Harlequins a chance to extend their lead. Marcus Smith stepped up and slotted the long range penalty to make it 8-13.

The killer blow for the Sharks came after 55 minutes. Matt Sturgess made a superb break downfield, and attempted to offload to Rouban Birch. However, the replacement just couldn't hold on and knocked on. Quins gathered the ball and looked to counter attack from their own 22, and made it up to the 10m line, the ball came loose but Miles McDuffus pounced on it and raced home under the sticks to seal the crucial score. Smith got the conversion to make it 8-20.

Despite the result tonight, the squad can be proud of what they've done this season #Under18sFinals #JoinTheHunt ?? pic.twitter.com/SWwozMwoVV

- Sale Sharks Academy (@SaleSharksAcad) February 16, 2017

@SaleSharksAcad They most certainly can. Great spirit in the squad typified by the camaraderie shown after the final whistle blew. pic.twitter.com/HRQBmtryMr

- Jon Dorsett (@jonpdorsett) February 16, 2017

A good game on the whole @Harlequins pressured @SaleSharksAcad on and beyond the gain line. Great achievement on all accounts. #jointhehunt pic.twitter.com/pkUezwmo4a

- Seano Tatler (@SeanoTatler) February 16, 2017

Sale Sharks U18s:
15. Calum Owen (Lancaster Royal Grammar School)
14. Arron Reed (Kirkham Grammar School)
13. Conor Doherty (Kirkham Grammar School)
12. Cameron Redpath (Sedbergh School)
11. George Chatterton (Stockport Grammar School)
10. Kieran Wilkinson (Kirkham Grammar School)
9. Matt Sturgess (Myerscough College)
1. Bevan Rodd (Sedbergh School)
2. Nic Dolly (Eastwood RUFC)
3. Monty Weatherby (Sandbach High School)
4. Josef Murphy (Lymm High School)
5. Charlie Pozniak (Manchester Grammar School)
6. Ciaran Booth (St Ambrose)
7. Teddy Leatherbarrow (Kirkham Grammar School)
8. Sam Dugdale (Kirkham Grammar School)

Replacements:
16. Sol Neild (Manchester Grammar School)
17. John Blanchard (Myerscough College)
18. Rouban Birch (Sedbergh School)
19. Charlie Papworth (Sedbergh School)
20. Luke James (Wilmslow High School)
21. Tom Walsh (Sedbergh School)
22. Alex Burrage (Bishop Heber High School)