Latest news with #GraceBanks
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Not many score a try like that at Wembley
Wigan Warriors were completely dominant in every game they played on the way to Women's Challenge Cup glory at Wembley Cherry and Whites brushed aside all those that stood in their way, including Leeds Rhinos in the semi-final, and amassed an astonishing 310 points across their five matches while conceding just even with their excellent form, few would have predicted Wigan would run out as quite such comfortable winners in the final on Saturday against a St Helens side that had a stranglehold on the competition over the past four player of the match Grace Banks said the 42-6 scoreline did not fully reflect how tough the game actually told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I didn't think we would turn them over like we did."When we were playing, it was really difficult. They put up such a tough game. I don't think the score justifies Saints' performance. I think they did give us quite a good game." 'Little Grace would be proud' During a typical week, Banks - like many of her team-mates - juggles a day job with training in the at the weekend, the 19-year-old engineering apprentice carved through the St Helens defence and strode towards the line with pace and power to extend Wigan's already commanding lead in the was a try that epitomised an excellent display by Banks and the Warriors, who achieved the highest margin of victory in a women's Challenge Cup final since 2016."I was enjoying every minute of that, I thought I better take all of this in," said Banks, who was brought up playing rugby league against boys."Not a lot of people get to score a try like that at Wembley. I didn't think when I first started with the lads, I was going to end up playing at Wembley to be honest."But little Grace would definitely be proud." 'An experienced legend' - Betts takes Warriors to new level Victory over St Helens to lift the trophy further confirmed the young Warriors side's emergence as one of the best in 2025 and the squad has been full of praise for each other and coach Denis Betts."I've been nervous this whole journey but when you're playing with women as incredible as they are, they help you, they calm you," said scrum-half Isabel Rowe, who converted all seven tries in the final."Denis is amazing, he's a legend and everybody respects him at the club. He did amazing things when he played and he's doing amazing things now coaching."Warriors centre Georgia Wilson said it was "unreal" to get a taste of success and that all the players were "absolutely buzzing"."We've been working towards it for the past few years and finally we've won a trophy," she told BBC Sport."We knew St Helens had a lot of experience, they've been here a few times now. We just knew that we had to compose (ourselves), complete every set, keep calm and stay patient." Banks said Betts' experience had helped the team stay calm under pressure and he told them: "Just imagine it's a field. Strip back the stadium and you're just on a field with your mates."It certainly did the trick as Betts, who won seven Challenge Cups with Wigan as a player, sealed his first as a coach."I wasn't expecting it at all," Banks said in the immediate aftermath of winning the final. "I'm obviously over the moon. It's just a big shock."Perhaps, though, the level the Warriors have reached so far this season, also winning their opening three Super League games with relative ease, would suggest it maybe shouldn't be such a shock after all.
CBS News
16-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Blackhawk High School seniors each honored with $1,000 scholarship in honor of former classmate
Seniors at Blackhawk High School in Beaver Falls are days away from graduation, but on Friday, they were surprised with early gifts as they prepare for their futures and higher education. Throughout the morning at the senior awards assembly, students accepted honor after honor, but among the class of more than 200 12th graders, one person was missing: Benjamin Banks Jr. At 10 years old, Ben Jr. died from a brain aneurysm, a complication from polycystic kidney disease. To remember his life, his classmates and teachers shared their favorite memories in a video before his parents, Ben Sr. and Marie, and his sister, Grace, took the stage. "If you remember one thing about my son, remember his kind nature," Ben Sr. said to the students. Then, they made an announcement they've been holding in for four to five years. "We have the great honor to award a $1,000 scholarship to every single graduating student in his class," Grace said. Each member of the senior class received a $1,000 scholarship as a part of the Benjamin Banks Jr. Memorial Foundation, which his family created shortly after his death. It was a bittersweet moment for Alesa Lincheck, who was in Ben Jr.'s first-grade class and was holding back tears. "It was just really nice of them to do that for all of us, the whole class," Lincheck said. "We have a big class too, so honestly, it's just so generous." For his family, it was a chance to see how many lives their son touched, as a kid obsessed with cars, facing challenges like autism and ADHD. "It was like the completion of a long goal that we've been going toward, and doing it in our son's name is just the best," Ben Sr. said. "Seeing all those kids grown, it's just hard, but I'm so happy for them and the lives they have in front of them," Marie said.
