Carnegie Fllodlit 9's

The main competition featured 6 super league teams as well as RNRL, The Army, Leeds Met, Cumbria, Jamaica and Northern Rail 9’s winner the Blackpool Panthers. Besides the main competition a junior’s tournament was staged as well as a sprint to find the fastest man in Super league. All facilities were open at the famous stadium and such was the family friendly nature of the event the teams mingled with an enthusiastic crowd throughout the evening’s entertainment. As an added bonus all teams from the first match were welcomed onto the pitch from the tunnel by the Rhinos own Dance team from Aire FM.

RNRL were drawn in a three team group alongside the Army and the Blackpool Panthers with only one side going through to the next round to face Challenge Cup finalists Huddersfield Giants. So for the second time this season The Brothers locked horns with the Army in a 9’s format this time victory was claimed by the Army. The match was played in bright sunshine on a Headingley pitch that was in perfect condition just right for the 9’s version of the sport. The first half belonged to the RN with much pressure and good ball retention denying the Army any worthwhile pressure. Despite the dominance the Brothers were unable to post the first points of the match although Aidy Peel did cross the Army line and ground the ball but the try was disallowed the Ref adjudging the ball to have been knocked on. The second half began well for the RN but despite much endeavour again no pints were posted. The breakthrough however went the way of the Army, a loose pass inside was intercepted by the Army who raced 50 metres to touchdown under the posts. With three minutes to go the match was still there for the taking but a fortuitous rebound from a grubber kick allowed the Army to fly hack the ball forward and Ceri Cummings went over for the Army's second try. The Navy regrouped and once again moved on the Army line this time with some success. A typical try from Johnny Platt burrowing his way over from short range gave the Sailors some hope especially with a neat conversion. Time was the winner however and although the RN maintained possession for the last minute or so the Army defence repelled the final onslaught and took the match 6-10.

The Brothers final match of the competition was against the Blackpool Panthers who had beaten the Army prior to facing the RN side. From the kick off the Panthers showed the skills and nouse that had won them the Northern Rail 9‘s title, a short kickoff was gathered by the Lancashire side and with hardly anytime on the clock they were ahead. This early score was a major blow for the Brothers and despite a lot of hard work they could not get back on terms with the Panthers who ran in another three tries without reply to ease there way into the knockout stage of the competition.

Despite the disappointment of these two defeats the RNRL side was not disgraced and inclusion in the competition was well deserved and opened the eyes of the very knowledgeable Headingley crowd to the high level of RL played in the RN.

For the record the Panthers lost out to the Giants in the knockout stage but put on a great performance with the Giants needing a spectacular improvised try from Josh Griffin to seal a 24-16 victory. The Leeds Rhinos lost out to Hull FC in a great final match but had some consolation in the fact that in the sprint to find the 'fastest man in rugby league', Rhinos' rising Academy star, former Headingley Hawk Jamel Chisholm was the surprise winner of the crown. He ran the 90 metres in 11.1 seconds to just beat bookies' favourite Warrington flyer Kevin Penny and York's Tom Lyon in a photo finish.
A crowd of over 3500 saw the final with the organisers being well pleased with the whole event and looking forward to continuing the momentum in next years 3rd staging of the Competition.