The University Rugby League Regionals were back with a bang on Saturday 27th November, played out in sub-zero conditions at the University of Birmingham.
But with the absence of representative Rugby League in the student game for almost two years, the temperatures soon rose for both the players and the volunteers involved with both the regional teams and the England Universities team who came together to deliver an action packed day of Rugby League.
The three games played offered England coaching duo Richard Tate and Kevin Deighton the opportunity to see 120 of the university game’s players in action, with players who impress being selected to the annual University Rugby League Origin game which takes place in February 2022, seeing the best of the North take on their Southern counterparts.
In game 1, Midlands v South East, the snow lying on the ground did nothing to deter the players from getting stuck in from the off. Christian Gale and Will Budd scored first half tries for the South East, with Sam Hughes accurate with the boot, whilst Midlands ensured a close game with scores from Ollie Rees and Noah Lancelot and a conversion from Tom Hackett, although they trailed 10-12 at the break owing to Ben Littlewood’s missed kick.
Joel Aggus got the South East off to a perfect start, pouncing on a loose ball from the kick off to push them further ahead, with Hughes again on target with the boot, but Midlands fought back with a punishing comeback with Brad Murphy’s touchdown on the 50 minutes bringing them to life. Joe Hunter missed the conversion but was on target 10 minutes later when Noah Lancelot added his second try of the day. James Amachree stretched the score out for the Midlanders, although Murphy was on unable to convert. Charlie McCurrie and Jack Cherry added two further tries for the Midlands, neither of which Joe Hunter could improve, before things came to a close with the Midlands winning 32-18.
Game 2 saw Yorkshire v North East as the snow faded away and the wind increased. AJ Towse collected a cross-field kick to open the North East’s account, although Jack Quinn couldn’t reach the goal in the wind. Yorkshire came back into the game as Ben Gray barged his way through at the line, with Tom Wigglesworth adding the extras. Alfie Crawford pushed Yorkshire in front taking a superb inside pass to go to the left of the sticks, but the kick troubled Wigglesworth. It looked like things would be level at half time after Nathan Newbound crossed, with Quinn on target this time, but Towse nudged North East ahead collecting his brace with a diving effort and in the dying seconds of the half Will Dobson scorched through, although Quinn could not find his mark for either kick, meaning North East only had a 10-18 advantage at the whistle.
Kieran Wilyman gave North East the dream start with 43rd minute try before Sean Croston punished Yorkshire with a strong run to stretch the lead even further. Tyler Hepple was unable to convert either effort. Yorkshire were not done as Joe Riley jinked his way through the defence for an impressive score out wide, with Wigglesworth’s kick bouncing back off the upright for a miss. Quinn pushed North East on again with a well worked try of his own, with Hepple adding the extras shortly before Billy Parker’s reply for Yorkshire which Riley was unable to add the extras for. Will Dobson had the final word with a final try, Hepple again unable to find his mark, to round off the scoring and give North East an 18-36 victory.
With the light fading and temperature plummeting, Game 3 North West v South West was a one sided affair with the North West putting in a ruthless and dominant performance. Brad Calland scored the opening try of his hat-trick after just two minutes, with Joe Heaton adding the extras with Sam Eyres following up shortly afterwards, Heaton again on target. Cameron Brown went in wide to the left, with Heaton missing, and Kellen Wood collecting an offload under the sticks, giving Heaton a further shot on goal in the opening 20 minutes. Calland added his second before Alex Eckley and Ben Legg wrapped up the half, with Heaton missing three in a row leaving the score line at 34-0.
Jacob Brown kept the scoreboard ticking over shortly after the restart, although Heaton missed, but he was on target for Calland’s third under the sticks moments later. Cameron Brown added his brace, with Matty Lynn stepping in for kicking duties but missing. Jacob Brown added a second, with Nathan Taylor unable to convert before Lynn scored a try of his own which Taylor did manage to improve. Jacob Turner beat the corner flag on the right hand side to further punish the South West, although Taylor’s kick did not have the distance. Cameron Brown’s hat-trick was secured shortly before the final whistle, with Matty Rudd missing the final kick of the day, completing the 66-0 whitewash.
