castleford panthers u11s travelled to crigglestone looking to take the spoils against the only team they havent beaten this season.the panthers who were depleated with the absence of some key players through illness looked up against it but try telling that to the 15 players who took to the field.

a bright start from the panthers saw them go close without scoring and some strong defence kept crigg at arms length has both teams tested each other out,the panthers were the first to score when jake sweeting showed great awarnss to score on the last tackle with the conversion from outwide held up in the strong wind.matt sykes and jake smith organised the team superbly while luke hands and adam brough got through a ton of work in the middle while danny thompson and ben green both looked in good form.charlie sykes was next to score after a weaving run saw him score under the posts with luke hands converting.jack crane,dec ellis,kieran french put in some strong tackles.with half time approaching the panthers switched off from a kick which fell kindly fell into the hands of a crigg player to bring them back into the game at 6-10 has half time appoached,a stunning tackle prevented jake smith scoring after he had rounded the full back only to be denied has half time approached.kieran martin controlled the ruck superbly well and also made some strong runs while george steel looked sharp.

in the second half the panthers needed to defend well and they did but a one on one steel saw crigg tie things up has the conversion from the try hit the posts.both teams were locked in a arm wresstle with both teams determined not to concede but with five minutes remaining the panthers edged back ahead with sweeting kicking a penalty goal.but crigg bounced back from the kick off and scored a converted try which looked to have won the game.the panthers wernt done and forced a error on the crigg line with greg savage going close the panthers had one final play and again sweeting showed a great dummy before squeezing between two would be defenders to tie the scores,the touchline conversion was left to be taken from sweeting who struck it well but saw the kick come back off the crossbar to deny the panthers victory.

both teams were playing the full rules for the first time has they prepare for the u12s season and this was a great advert for junior rugby league with both teams deserving great credit.

tries-jake sweeting x2

goals-sweeting-luke hands

motm-team effort

top tackler-charlie sykes

parents motm-jake smith

top trainer-kieran french