Exeter Hawks were crowned BT Youth Tournament champions after beating Saracens 15-12 in a closely fought final.
Hawks were unbeaten in all of their matches across a packed day of wheelchair rugby action, beating the likes of Solent Sharks (16-5), Leicester Tigers (20-7) and Ospreys (17-7) en route to the final showdown with Saracens in a repeat of last year’s final.
Hawks’ star player Tilly, 14, spoke before the final, highlighting what the key factor was in Exeter’s impressive displays: “the training we get is incredible and that has helped the confidence of the team”.
The West Country side finished second last year, losing to Saracens in the final, something Tilly said had been playing on the team’s minds heading into the 2016 tournament. “Facing Saracens again was a scary thought but after finishing second last year we have grown as a team and since become regional champions heading into this tournament”.
Tilly, who lists former GB Wheelchair Rugby Captain Steve Brown as one of her sporting idols, has dreams of following in Brown’s footsteps and competing at a Paralympic Games – “Tokyo 2020 is the aim” said the schoolgirl, “I am training a lot and wheelchair rugby is in my heart.”
