The U8’s this weekend attended the inaugural Rossendale Minis Festival. They travelled with two squads, blue and white. Due to illness and availability each squad only consisted of 6 players, therefore no substitutes!
The group stage consisted of 4 groups each comprised of 5 teams.
Hoppers Blue qualified from the group stage unbeaten with 3 wins and 1 draw to finish top of their group. They then faced Warrington in the Cup semi final. The game was level after normal time, however Hoppers remained composed and scored 3 further tries in extra time to reach the cup final.
The final was a feisty and keenly contested affair against Littleborough. Unfortunately Hoppers Blue were the eventual runners up in the cup competition losing the final by 1 try.
Hoppers White qualified from the group stage into the Plate competition after a 1 draw, 1 loss and 2 victories in the group stage. They then faced Rossendale in the semi final where, showing great determination against a partisan home crowd, they were victorious by 1 try.
Again the final of the Plate competition saw Hoppers pitched against Littleborough and an even more partisan crowd. With no substitutes to call on, the team was patched up and sent out. After a valiant effort, Hoppers White were the runners up in the Plate competition.
All the boys did magnificently and gave 110%, they were a credit to the club and played the game as it should be played.
