<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yorkshire Junior and Youth Under 12s Division 1 Winners 2017<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/OultonRaiders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OultonRaiders</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rugbyleague?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rugbyleague</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/futureofthegame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#futureofthegame</a> <a href="https://t.co/nW4lUOJd1F">pic.twitter.com/nW4lUOJd1F</a></p>— Yorkshire Juniors (@YorkshireJunior) <a href="https://twitter.com/YorkshireJunior/status/939588773972766727?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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"Oulton Raiders started their first competitive season with an away fixture at a chilly Thornhill Trojans, but I'll start the story three months earlier, when the Raiders, away at Heworth, were cruelly knocked out of the BARLA Cup by golden point at the quarter final stage - the Raiders tasting defeat in the cruellest of ways.
"After the disappointment had subsided, the players knuckled down in pre-season.
"With this is mind, Oulton thought of themselves as arguably within the top eight teams in Yorkshire, so when we were placed in league 3, the team were slightly bemused.
"However the lads got on with the job of playing the games against what ever opposition were put in front of them. After only 5 games in the league and Cup, it was clear the Raiders were in the wrong league after amassing over 200 points and conceding just 10.
"The league gave them the option of moving up leagues and were originally placed in league 2, but after a space arose in league one, the coaches having every confidence in them, very quickly accepted and the Raiders started life in division one, all be it up to 6 games behind the rest.
"The team started with a tough away fixture at Heworth, the scene of their heartbreak months earlier, Oulton picked up where they had left off in Division 3, with a comprehensive win, keeping the home side scoreless.
"A thread that was to run right through the raiders season, their impressive defence ending the season averaging just 5 points conceded per game. Oulton continued to have impressive results, no more impressive than when beaing Lock Lane, both away and at home on successive weeks, breaking a losing streak hoodoo stretching back years, the latter result being with only 14 men.
"The six week holiday break came at the wrong time really and the first fixture back was against who would come to be their closest rivals, Fev Lions, at home - it would be Fev who won a nail biter by two points, the celebrations at the final whistle by Fev a clear indication of how far the Raiders had come.
"It would be the next two games that could potentially shape the Raiders' season.
"Oulton had a semi final away at Stanningley on the Thursday night, in which they played superb, again keeping the hosts scoreless and scoring 22 points of their own, and then just 2 days later they had to go away to Milford, a team that they had beaten comprehensively previously in the season.
"A much-improved Milford team turned up, with Oulton looking fragile after Thursday’s efforts, resulted in an unlikely draw. This was without doubt Oulton worst performance of the season, in an otherwise near on perfect season. Oulton continued to win right up to the last game of the season.
"The last game of the season arrived and you couldn’t have written the script any better if you tried.
"Oulton had to go away to Fev, a team who had not lost at home in over 4 years and a team the raiders had also never beaten.
"With everything on the line, a win or a draw for the Raiders would secure them the league title. A a win for the Lions would mean a last game victory over Lock lane would give them the title. Games don’t get more tense than this!
"The pressure was immense and after a shaky start by the Raiders, it was them who went in at half time with a deserved 12-10 lead. The second half was equally as tense, with the raiders eventually gaining a six point advantage with just 2 mins left.
"After another mistake by the Raiders gave the Lions one last shot, but it was to be Raiders' superb defence which again held strong and wild celebrations ensued at the final whistle.
"The Raiders had finished their first competitive season with the league one title, and tag of ‘best team in Yorkshire’, coupled with winning the continuation cup back in July and the Leeds and district cup won in October meant the raiders had a league and cup treble.
"The Raiders had played more games than anybody else, losing just one game all season. Equally as impressive was the fact they hadn’t used any postponements all year, and hadn’t taking advantage of the transfer system, finishing with the same players they started with way back in February.
"An amazing effort by this bunch of 12 and 13 year olds, who have showed immense skill, dedication, teamwork, patience and grit to finish the season with an unlikely League and cup treble – a tale worthy of ‘Roy of the Rovers’ I’m sure you’ll agree."
By Rob Kirk
