The Salford Red Devils Education Academy U19’s earned a dominant 46-16 victory over Wigan Warriors Education Academy in a curtain raiser to The Red Devils Betfred Super League opener.
Salford were in a rampant mood crossing for nine tries with Jack Ratcliffe, Will Mills and Oreofe Animashaun all notching doubles alongside tries from Dan Goddard, Dane Wakefield and Tom Farr.
Ratcliffe opened the scoring in a back-and-forth opening forty with a fantastic sixty metre break after jinking through the Wigan line after just 43 seconds.
Salford built on this perfect start as Mills forced his way over for a first-half double either side of Animashaun’s try. Farr converted two of the four goals and gave the hosts a 20-10 lead going into the break.
But, it was in the second half that the U19’s really came to life and showed their quality running in five tries and racking up 26 points to the sole Wigan score.
Goddard got the Education Academy off to the perfect start after in the interval before Animashaun powered his way over joining Mills as double try-scorers for the evening. Wakefield soon got himself on the scoresheet to extend The Red Devils lead further.
As the hosts looked to have sealed the game they really turned on the style in the closing stages with half-backs Farr and Ratcliffe both crossing.
Farr emulated Ratcliffe’s opener as he broke from fifty metres out and raced to the line to before his half-back partner Ratcliffe rounded off the scoring on a fruitful evening for the Red Devils Education Academy.
Team Manager, Neil Blackburn, said: “It was a fantastic performance from the guys – We are now into the quarter-finals of the AOC National Cup.
“Wigan are a good side who were strong and pushed us hard in the first half but our lads were out to impress being on the main pitch before the first team.
“We took the upper hand in the second half with good possession and controlled the ruck. Oreofe and Will offered us a lot as big powerful back-rowers while half-backs Farr and Ratcliffe were full of flair.”
Man of the Match – Tom Farr.
Tag: Jack Ratcliffe
Salford Red Devils Education Academy 28-26 Wigan Warriors Education Academy
Salford Red Devils Education Academy came from 0-18 down to win their first game of the 2017/18 season against Wigan Warriors Education Academy.
A late Jack Ratcliffe long-range try was the difference between the sides in an early curtain raiser for the Red Devils first Super League game of the season at home to Wigan Warriors.
The Warriors Education Academy crossed for three unanswered tries in the early stages of the first half and immediately put the Red Devils on the back foot.
However, half-back Tom Farr managed to break through the Wigan defensive line down the left flank before finding Kane Briggs with a great offload allowing Briggs to finish under the posts. Farr followed up with the conversion.
Salford were creating chances down the left-hand side and a flowing move to the flank found centre Matthew Jones who rounded the Wigan winger before going over the top of the Warriors full-back.
But, the visitors did go over twice either side of the interval opening up a 16-point lead in the early stages of the second half.
The Red Devils refused to lie down though and began their fightback thanks to Jack Ratcliffe who sliced through the Wigan line from close-range to begin the comeback. Farr converted.
Salford’s pressure continued and hooker Dan Goddard saw an opening and burrowed his way over from acting half-back. Farr converted again to pull the Red Devils within four points of their visitors.
And, with just four minutes left on the clock half-back Ratcliffe, who has been training with the first team, managed to cut through the Wigan defence from a scrum on Salford’s 10m line. A valiant effort from the Wigan full-back couldn’t stop Ratcliffe who handed him off in the process of racing 90 metres to draw the Red Devils level. Farr’s conversion sealed victory for the hosts.
The Salford Red Devils Education Academy’s next fixture is on Wednesday 6th December against Wigan and Leigh College with whom they drew 42-42 in the opening game of the season.
Man of the Match – Sam Bardsley.
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Salford Red Devils Education Academy success story
The Salford Red Devils Education Academy received fantastic grades this academic year and student Jack Ratcliffe now finds himself training with the first team.
Ratcliffe said: “I’ve just always been into rugby and I wanted to study sport as well and, obviously, the course gave me that option so it was immediately appealing to me.
“If rugby is the path you want to go down then they should get onto the course as quickly as possible.
“It’s a BTEC sport that you do and the majority of the stuff is based around rugby and the course covers all aspects of sport.
“It’s just being in the professional environment which is so helpful, you’ve got all the facilities such as the state of the art gym, the pitches and the classrooms.
“Danny Barton is a great coach who coached me at U16’s and he is brilliant with the students and really helps develop you on the field.”
Students take part in three intensive days of education learning and sports training per week while having free days to take up work experience opportunities, enrichment placements, one-to-one tutorials or any other avenues they wish to pursue.
The main programme of study is the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport which covers a wide variety of modules that focus on both practical and theoretical aspects of sports.
Ratcliffe said: “The practical stuff is going out and playing rugby on the pitches and the astroturf as well as getting to use the gyms on site.
“While the theory covers a range of things linked to sport for example nutrition, technique, training and your body.”
Ratcliffe has begun training with the first team in recent weeks and is enjoying life as a Salford Red Devil.
He said: “Yeah, I’m loving it with the first team. It’s a massive step up and the training is hard but it’s making me a better player and it’s a great opportunity.
“The lads have welcomed me into the group and I’m fitting in well so it’s all good at the moment.”
