Celtic U18s clinch Yorkshire Cup win

West Hull4

DEWSBURY Celtic lifted the BARLA Under-18 Yorkshire Cup for the third time in five seasons, following their success of 2008 and 2010, by recording victory over West Hull.

Celtic only lost three games in the Conference Youth League campaign but two of those were at the hands of West Hull.

Playing up the Post Office Road slope, Celtic knocked on from the kick off and were then put under severe pressure and their defence had to withstand five sets close to their own line as Lindley, Mowvley Halloran and Newsome held firm, while Stott, Foster, Batchelor and Allott dealt with several dangerous kicks.

Celtic drove upfield and after Clough and Allott went close, Foster fed Halloran, who stepped passed four defenders to score and convert his own try.

Mowvley, Lindley and Newsome remained solid and although Celtic had Batchelor sin binned, the defence managed to thwart Hull.

Addy came on for his first game in four months since an operation and he added an extra dimension around the ruck.

As Batchelor was re-entering the field Celtic scored again as Foster bounced off two West players and the ball was taken to the posts by O’Donnell and Nicholas.

Addy produced a long pass to send Lawrence over for an unconverted try to put Celtic 10-0 up at half-time.

Both sides had spells of pressure after the break but the defences remained solid and there were no further scores until four minutes from full-time when Halloran landed a penalty.

Man-of-the-match O’Donnell led Celtic all game and he drove them back downfield for Halloran to slot over a drop goal and make it 13-0.

Wests replied with a consolation unconverted try in the final minute but Celtic’s superb defence had done enough to ensure they lifted the cup.

Celtic squad: Lawrence, Lindley, Mowvley, Foster, Stott, Batchelor, Halloran, O’Donnell, Edwards, Meese, Allott, Newsome, Clough, Nicholas, Addy, Briggs, Fox.

n Dewsbury Moor Under-18s defeated Brighouse 24-18 to reach the second round of the Yorkshire Youth League Cup.

Brighouse took an early lead but Tobias Richardson sent full-back Jordon Foster over and Jacob Flathers converted. Richardson scored an opportunist try soon after and Flathers again goaled only for Brighouse to reply with two converted tries.

Foster scored his second just before half-time and Flathers converted to edge Moor 18-16 ahead at the break and Flathers sealed victory with a superb 80-metre run to the line.

Moor Under-16s require a new coach. Contact junior secretary Paul Hardy on 07745 458870 for details.