Junior Report: Trio set for County play-offs

Tomasz Chadwick

Over the course of the winter months, Scarborough’s secondary schools were competing against each other for the right to represent the area in a playoff game against Malton & Ryedale schools on February 25.

The winner of this will then be representing East Yorkshire in the annual school’s finals competition.

Six of Scarborough under-16s have been selected for a county development side

I’m delighted to reveal the winners of these tournaments for each age group were:

Year 7: Scalby

Year 8: Scarborough College

Year 9: St Augustine’s

Year 10: St Augustine’s

Our congratulations go to all of these sides, who thoroughly deserve the chance to represent East Yorkshire.

Teams from Graham, Filey and Pindar schools were also very unfortunate to not reach a play-off fixture but certainly have promising sides for the future.

There have also been considerable developments with talent spotting for Yorkshire County as well, with professional club Yorkshire Carnegie now running an emerging players development programme for junior ages.

Each of our junior age groups have had players nominated to take part in their trials, and our under-16s side have already had six players selected to join the programme (pictured).

This is a fantastic achievement and one we’re all very proud of at Scarborough Rugby Club.

On Saturday our first team will be playing at home against Bradford & Bingley in their latest Yorkshire One league match, and this means a return for our Active Youth mascot scheme.

Marley Pickard, who trains with our under-sixes age group, has been selected to be the mascot for this fixture.

One of his coaches Tom Maxwell said: “He deserves praise for his commitment every week, not only does he put in a lot of effort, he listens well to the coaches and is supportive and encouraging to his team mates - all good attributes of a team player.

“We have seen a gradual improvement in Marley’s ability and he always comes with a smile on his face and a positive attitude. Well done Marley enjoy your day.”

As mascot Marley will be receiving a certificate and a goodie bag as well as a pre-match dinner for both him and his family.

He’ll also lead the teams out before kick off and will get to meet the players after the match where he’ll be able to get his free ball signed.

The scheme was originally thought up as another extension of the Active Youth Scheme between Scarborough RUFC and McCain, and as a way of engaging our younger players with some of the senior sides.

It’s important to us that all players here feel part of one club and that goes for all players, boys, girls, women and men.

Sunday will see our minis training at home as usual from 10.30am, while our under-16s will be in action away at Stockton.

Our under-13s, under-14s, under-15s and under-17s will be at home in fixtures kicking off at 11am and our junior girls will be playing in a tournament away in Malton.

We’re delighted to have junior teams at all ages playing all at the same time this weekend and hope this continues for many more weeks, months and seasons to come.