A WARRINGTON school rugby league team has pulled off an incredible feat.

Great Sankey High School’s Year 11 side have become the first boys’ team to win the national final in each season they were able to contest for the prize.

Last night they sealed the silverware for the third time by defeating Spen Valley High School from Liversedge 38-8 at Featherstone Rovers’ ground.

It was a back-to-back triumph, having also defeated the same West Yorkshire opposition in last year’s final.

 

And in 2019, as a Year 7 team, they won the showpiece decider that was the curtain-raiser to the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley – completing a double for the town that year as Warrington Wolves were also winners that day against St Helens.

“Even prior to them joining us in Year 7 we had heard lots of whispers of what a talented bunch they were, but they have totally surpassed all expectation,” said Great Sankey’s head of PE, Stuart Garry.

Under the leadership of then head of PE Andrew Gee, in Year 7 they won the North West trophy and secured Sankey’s first ever national final success with a last-gasp victory over Standish at Wembley.

Warrington Guardian: The Great Sankey High School boys celebrating as Year 7 winners at Wembley in 2019The Great Sankey High School boys celebrating as Year 7 winners at Wembley in 2019 (Image: Mike Boden)

The form continued into Year 8, before all competitions were unfortunately cancelled due to Covid-19.

As fixtures started up again in Year 10, the team picked up where they left off - matching the success from Year 7 by again winning the national and North West titles.

Warrington Guardian: The Great Sankey boys as winners of the national final in Year 10 in 2022The Great Sankey boys as winners of the national final in Year 10 in 2022 (Image: SWpix.com)

Last night the team produced arguably their best display yet, storming into an early lead and not looking back.

Tries were scored by Oli Garmston, two, Billy Hughes, two, Junior Westwood, Oliver Evans, Lachlan Webster and Lewis Halsall, while Daniel Regan added the successful conversions.

"The lads are a superb talented bunch who show pride in representing the school,” said Garry.

“It has been a pleasure to have the opportunity to be a part of their success.

“Myself along with all staff at school and their parents are incredibly proud of their historic achievements."

He added: "Special thanks must go to Lee Westwood from Warrington Wolves who has played a key role in the team’s development and assisted us as a department since Year 7. And as a school we will always be grateful."

The team are not finished yet and have one more piece of silverware they are chasing in order to complete another clean sweep.

They are again through to the North West final which is to be played on Wednesday, May 10, at Crosfields with a scheduled kick-off time of 4pm.

The Great Sankey team which won the 2023 national final: Lachlan Webster, Jack Spencer, Alfie Hill, Billy Hughes, Ronnie Murphy; Junior Westwood, Daniel Regan; Oliver Evans, Lucas Mulqueeney, Joe Williams, Kaden Johnson, Oliver Garmston, Harlie Barlow-Dean. Subs: Jack Butterworth, Ben Edgar, Jessie Brook, Lewis Halsall, Joe Glover.