WADE Deacon won the Steven Mullaney Memorial Trophy after coming back from a 10-0 deficit to defeat Wigan team St John Fisher in the National Schools Final in the Wembley curtain raiser.
The strong-running Harry Robertson scored a crucial hat-trick to take the Man of the Match award to steer the Widnes school to an 18-10 triumph.
The Wigan school opened the scoring on two minutes when Malachi Leo-Price forced his way over the line.
Five minutes later they went further ahead when Isaac Wheatley side-stepped to the line after a collecting a bouncing ball.
Corey Roden’s conversion made it 10-0 and Wade Deacon had a mountain to climb.
However, they fought back when Robertson’s drive laid the platform for prop Joey Owens to force his way over.
Just before half-time Wade Deacon levelled when, from a penalty, Robertson raced through from a planned move to score. Reily O'Brien’s conversion levelled it at 10-10 at the break.
Two minutes into the second half Robertson struck again, when he went on a twisting run across the field, evading would-be tacklers before crashing over in the corner.
After some strong defence by Wade Deacon, the Widnes team secured victory when Robertson completed his hat-trick with powerful run from the scrum.
St John Fisher: John Tierney; Hayden Foubister, Oliver Wright, George O'Loughlin, Zoro Tshunza; Issac Wheatley, Mason Fillingham; Elton Paplekaj, Corey Roden, Malachi Leo Price; Luis Houghton, Taylor Kerr; Luis Rutter. Subs: Tom Hill, Malaki Cullen, Freddie Winnard, Jake Hare, Reece Lowe.
Wade Deacon: Harry Robertson; Bobby Graham, Thomas Jack, Charlie Feeley, Matthew Mullarkey; Bobby Finch, Lewis George; Jake Berry, Joey Owens, Sam Gallagher; Jacob Harris, Joel Sumner; Sam Fitzsimmon. Subs: Riley O’Brien, Eamon Slavin, Jake Berry, Logan Gibson, Elliot Dale.
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