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The first ten minutes are always the most important and it was obvious that the Sheffield lads both knew this and were determined to stamp their authority. Carrying on from where they left off against Ilkley a fortnight ago, the one significant difference was in the set scrum. Having forced themselves into an attacking position via a kick through by fly half Jamie Broadley, Sheff were awarded a scrum some 5 metres out. After a couple of practice attempts, the pack gave No 8 Chris Broomhead, an armchair ride across the line for a pushover try. Close to the posts Broadley popped over the conversion for a scoreline of 7 nil and only 5 minutes gone! The crowd’s appetite was whetted and it was obvious we were in for a good day. Many in the crowd were lads from the U12 and U13 age group; they had staged a rugby demonstration before the main event. Many of their parents too were there to witness a dominant Sheffield side getting into their stride. With nine minutes gone and not finding himself going backwards for a change, Broomhead saw an opportunity to pick up and set off into the heart of the YMCA defence. Tommy Marples was on his shoulder and acted as the link to Jonny Cox who sprinted clear – he then unselfishly fed Andy Kelly inside him and it was 12 nil! Huddersfield YMCA were doing their best but to no avail, and breaks from Broadley and centre Lynton Stott took the Blue Boys back into the red zone. A good drive out on the right and Poste released the backs. Broadley missed out Stott and full back Ewan Reed came into the line at pace. He in turn drew the full back and passed it left for Jonny Cox to use his pace to cruise in wide out on the left. This, like the previous try, was not converted. In the 29th minute skipper Ryan Amos gave us a demonstration of his power as he made a break, twisting, turning and staying on his feet. Vitor Freitas in an unusual starting role drove on. Eventually the ball ended up in Reed’s hands out wide and he took the score to 22 nil. A series of good pick and drives by Dave Ellis and Ben Wattam amongst others, let Broadley exploit some space only for the final pass to Jonny Cox get put down. Five minutes before half time and it was 27 nil as Broomhead and Marples made good yards once more before Broadley popped a delicate pass inside to a rampaging Ben Wattam, who saw the line and went for it! YMCA hadn’t given up though and they got a break just before half time when their scrum half Josh Marshall charged down Broadley’s clearance kick, gathered and scored. James Swift missed the conversion and the half time score was 27 – 5, one of Sheffield’s best first half performances for a long time.

At half time a presentation was made by the South Yorkshire Rugby Development Officer, Jonathan Rickerby. The RFU’s Seal of Approval award was received by Chairman Paul Tear – an award that was the result of substantial work by M&J Chairman Glyn Chandler and Director of Rugby, Adriaan Posthuma to ensure that the Club operates good practice in providing top quality rugby experiences for its’ young players.

Eight minutes into the second half and as a result of fly half Broadley working first Ryan Amos, then Tommy Marples and finally Andy Kelly, the position was created for Dave Ellis to get the ball. He was delighted to score and his try was converted by Broadley. YMCA kicked off and the ball was taken well by the “charged up” Ellis. The ball was recycled and passed to winger Barratt who kicked over the top of the rushing Huddersfield defence. Not surprisingly Jonny Cox outpaced everyone else to the bounce and he beat the defending full back, scoring under the posts. Seven more points and Sheffield were cruising! Four minutes later Nick “Bison” Hayes was replaced by Robert “Acco” Atkinson. Not quite a pound for pound substitution but such was Sheffield’s dominance at the set piece it didn’t matter. From a scrum Broomhead picked up and fed Poste who in turn looked for his fly half. Broadley had seen the opportunity and switched left. He looked up, saw the full back desperately trying to cover, knocked it up a gear and took a delightful line around him to score under the posts, making his conversion something of a formality. Not much time later and a line out was well taken by Ellis. The pack formed around him and drove purposefully to the line where Acco scored to take Sheffield past 50 points for the first time for a long time! Again the conversion was good and with the best part of twenty minutes to go it must have seemed like an eternity for the visitors. Martin Balshaw and Andy Kelly were getting through no end of work causing problems for YMCA all over the park. One such intervention saw AK turn the ball over for Tommy Marples to start a series of pick and drives involving Ellis, Broomhead and Wattam. Tom Oben, on for Stott who had left with a hamstring injury, ran down his wing passing inside to Amos who in turn passed for the rampaging Balshaw to score. Broadley’s conversion went wide but it wasn’t to make too much of a difference. Another try came as a result of another turnover but this time Broadley’s kick was charged down by YM’s hooker. Balshaw reacted quickly to secure possession, the Sheffield pack drove over and the ball was given to Oben. He raced off, powered past a weak attempt to tackle him, handed off the full back and scored in the corner, taking the home side’s score to 65. Marples took the kick off and charged back. The pack recycled it and from within his own half he spotted another gap and set off. The result was inevitable as he went in under the posts and converted his own try once more to take his personal tally to 22 points and Sheffield’s score to 72! And still there was to be a final flourish as good handling from AK, Balshaw and Broadley got the ball to skipper Amos – it was fitting that he should score the final home try of a difficult season.

77 – 5 and the possibility that a good win next week at Redcar will take us to a positive points difference for the season. The bus should be leaving Abbeydale at 11am and it should be a great day out. Please try to be there!

Team: Reed, Barratt, Amos [c], Stott, Cox J, Broadley, Poste, Marples, Wattam, Freitas, Ellis, Hayes, Kelly, Balshaw, Broomhead C. Replacements: Atkinson, Hill, Oben.

This competition used to be called the South Yorkshire Trophy [often referred to by SRUFC as the 2nd team Cup] and now named in memory of Gerry Roberts.

Sheffield were dominated in the forwards by Rotherham Clifton who had a major size advantage but we had pace to burn out wide, notably in the shape of James Toomey [I think he scored three]! Ben Parker gave them all sorts of problems at scrum half and kicked well for some of our points. Paul Ashbridge, recruited from Hallam University was a handful in the centre, and his pal, the splendidly named “Partyboy” came on at half time at hooker, replacing the equally mysteriously named “Haggis” who had performed very well despite being half the size of his opposite front row members. Tommy White gave us a presence in the lineout and worked his bits off in the loose, as did young Nick Gibbons and old John King, who was giving age and weight all round! Everyone else contributed to a very spirited performance and we can look forward to a fine future with this years’ Colts moving up into the senior sides next season.

This now presents with an away fixture against Tigers who beat a spirited, and rejuvenated, Adwick Le Street 17 points to 3. We play them next Tuesday at 6.30pm and all support will be welcome!

The preparation looked good – the lads were out on the field before the game, practising together then honing individual skills with a new found sense of purpose. None more so than Sheffield’s fly half Jamie Broadley, as stand in Coach “Griff” was giving him intense one on one coaching on how to use the tricky wind conditions that were likely to influence this important game. Then it was all off to the changing rooms to prepare mentally where coaching partner Paul Scott and 1st team boss Martin Poste were talking the boys up!

Sheffield came out of the traps in better shape than seen for many a week! They dominated the opening passages and it came as no surprise when they took the lead after a serious of midfield drives allowed Broadley to put through Martin Balshaw to score just wide of the posts. That wind though was fierce and Jamie’s first kick at goal flew to the right, the conversion failed! Ilkley though aren’t second in the league for nothing and they came back in waves and Sheffield were penalised on four separate occasions in the next ten minutes for four different offences. Another thing that was consistent though was that the home side’s defence was up to the challenge, even to the point of stealing lineouts under pressure, Andy Kelly was enjoying himself in this area. One such steal led to Broadley relieving the line by some 50 or so yards, using the wind as if well practised – he was! A scrum a few minutes later resulted in a free kick which was passed to No 8 Chris Brooomhead, who led a spirited charge upfield only to have the gain cancelled by referee John Clayton awarding a penalty against him for holding on too long. Sheffield’s new signing, Lynton Stott playing his part in the centre made a telling break. But when a try looked a certainty, Stott delayed the pass and full back Tom Roberts overran the ball, once more Ilkley’s line was cleared! On the half hour a break out of the Ilkley defence was thwarted when Tommy Marples powerfully turned the ball carrier in the tackle and gained a kickable penalty. Broadley had learned from his earlier miss and added the three points on offer. It was looking good at 8 nil but as so often this season a lapse in concentration alowed Ilkley to get back in it. A good move, after a series of phases, saw blind side winger Simon Smith cross the pitch to score wide out on the right when the Sheffield defence had started to move the other way. Arguably the best kick of the game, into the teeth of the wind, and from a position wide out saw Ilkley fly half Shanks convert the try. Sheffield, this time through Nick “Bison” Hayes, powered forward and once more the visitors conceded a penalty. Broadley added the points and with the score 11 – 7 the crowd were roaring their approval. From the kick off some excellent work from the Sheffield props, Tom Marples and Matt Cooper, saw the ball reach winger Ewan Reed. His kick over the top of the oncoming defence was the right tactic, but unfortunately the wind took a hold of it and the ball drifted harmlessly into touch. Half time, and a four point lead against a gusting wind which had no small amount of rain with it too. Sheffield knew they had more to do!

The second half started much as the first had, with Sheffield exerting the pressure and Ilkley soaking it up. Shanks was using the wind now and relieved his line on a couple of occasions with big boomers up the park. After thirteen minutes a strange incident occurred when the ball ballooned back on the Sheffield side from a ruck in such a way that the referee, even though he was unsighted, figured it had to have been obtained illegally, and awarded Ilkley a penalty. Shanks reduced the gap to a single point. Sheffield went hunting again and there followed more than a dozen phases of controlled play resulting in flanker Martin Balshaw, kicking the ball through from half way and chasing it down. The Ikley winger scrambled back in defence and carried it over - 5 metre scrum to the dominant Blue Boys. Scrum half Poste was then adjudged to have “fed” his hooker and Shanks booted the ball back down the field. Sheffield were still on the offensive and Ilkley conceded yet another penalty under pressure. Broadley rifled a kick to touch against the wind and here was another chance to score. The line out had been going well for Sheff so it was unfortunate that they mucked this one up, Shanks relieved his line once more! With almost half an hour of the second half gone, controversy returned to this fixture once more, much as had decided the earlier game in the season which Ilkley had won by a couple of points. Broadley had a clearance kick charged down and the replacement Ilkley lock, standing a good seven metres offside, just picked the ball up and went over for a try. The vast majority of spectators [and players alike] expected the whistle to blow for a penalty, instead Clayton was found awarding a try, which Shanks gratefully converted. Sheffield were not going to lie down though and charged back upfield in a series of attacks. Another transgression by the visitors and Broadley kicked to touch once more. This time AK took the throw cleanly and the pack rumbled on. Bison was there at the death, still on the field despite problems with “that” knee and he powered his way over for a score with precious little time left on the clock. Once more it was the weather that would prove to be a factor in the result, for despite having dominated this game Sheffield didn’t take the spoils as Broadley’s conversion attempt was held up, high and wide on the wind.

So 16-17 was the final score and Ilkely, 2nd in the league knew they had been 2nd best in this game, yet still they took those precious points to maintain their challenge. Sheffield need to win their next game against Huddersfield YMCA to secure their place in Yorkshire 1. On today’s performance spirits are high that next season they will be aiming for promotion, not suffering at the wrong end of the table!

Our thanks must go to Griff and Scottie, both from Mount St Mary’s school, for helping us out this week in Ash Thomas’ absence. They did a fabulous job and the boys responded really well indeed. A win was all that they deserved, it was a shame that it didn’t happen but who knows, maybe next time!

Team:- Roberts, Reed, Amos [c], Stott, Lynch, Broadley, Poste, Marples, Wattam, Cooper, Ellis, Hayes, Kelly, Balshaw, Broomhead. Replacements:- Freitas, Oben, Atkinson.

Not for the first time this season it looked as though the conditions would be a big factor in the game. Sheffield played with the wind in their faces in the first half and inexplicably decided to kick into it on a number of occasions. Possession was difficult to maintain for both sides and it was the visiting team who opened the scoring. Scrum half Matt Poste stroked over a straightforward penalty kick in the 6th minute following an incident that saw the home sides’ open side flanker take an early rest in the sin bin. It didn’t take Malton that long to respond either, and when the Sheffield 7 Kamrin Elers was penalised in the 13th minute, wrongly in many peoples mind, fly half David Webster levelled the score. A few minutes later and a two to one opportunity was wasted when centre Russell Lynch didn’t put in winger Barrett when a score would have been a certainty. Poste had an opportunity to garner a further three points but pushed his kick wide and, in truth, very little occurred in a lack lustre game until the 35th minute. This was when the home side’s No 8, a large and somewhat influential Richard Webster picked and drove left off of a scrum to touch down in the corner. This presented his namesake with a difficult kick which he missed.

Given that the wind was gusting strongly at Sheffield’s backs, now would have been a good time to indulge a kicking game. Somehow that never developed and Malton were handling the ball better somewhat better. In a move that started in their own half the home side ran at the Blue Boys, who backed off and allowed the ball to move further forward than we should. When the tackles finally came in the ball was recycled to Liam Cowton on the right wing who scampered infield to score a good try under the posts. Webster converted and now Sheffield were chasing the game with the score at 15 points to three. Poste missed a long range attempt to narrow the score. He did however make a quick break from a free kick a few minutes later and with Elers at his side things looked good. The ball was lost in the ensuing ruck and Malton breathed a sigh of relief. Another free kick and Poste once more taking the initiative saw the ball lost again due to lack of support. It was to be third time lucky though for when once more there was a free kick wide out on the right, Poste tapped, went and passed to Nick “Bison” Hayes who was unstoppable from 6 metres. The kicking duties had been passed to Russell Lynch and whilst he missed the conversion, he made up for it with a penalty a few minutes before the end. Sheffield lost the game 15-11 when it was there for the taking. Everyone knew that their performances left a lot to be desired and it is to be hoped that the promise shown in their previous two outings will return.

There had been a lot of thought put in during the week to get something like a balanced side out to meet former coach Diccon Edward’s home town team. Some of it was with an eye on next week’s important fixture when “Bison”, aka Nick Hayes should be fit to turn out once more for the club. Then again much of it was split between keeping the other eye on the future with a home debut for young Ewan Reed and his first outing for the 1st team for an even younger Jamie Broadley. Much of the rest of selection must have been considered on the basis of availability with a number of regular players opting for holidays, and others troubled with injuries. No matter, because in very windy conditions, the side put out by Ash Thomas stood up to the test well enough indeed.

Selby played at first as though determined to show why they were third in the table, but the conditions, and their own errors, and not to mention Sheffield’s gritty attitude was to limit their ambitions. After 15 minutes, and a passage of relentless pressure, Sheffield conceded a penalty. Referee David Dodworth played advantage and two passes inside saw centre and Selby captain, Andy Bennett, dot down for a try just to the left of the posts, which fly half Dan Porter converted. 7 nil to the visitors and it was only quick thinking by Andy Kelly that prevented a decent move ending with another score. Selby had the wind at their backs and in the 22nd minute a high tackle by Anthony Carpenter resulted in Porter booting the ball some 50 metres for a line out. It took some excellent work from Sheffield’s Martin Balshaw, back playing at open side in Kamrin Elers absence, to cause a turnover. Carpenter connected well with the ball and took play up to the visitor’s 22 metre line. Selby took the line out and kicked it high on the wind. Broadley ran back to cover and from the resulting 22 drop out, the Selby No 15, playing on the right wing, jinked his way towards the line. However his own No 8 was the architect of their misfortune when he obstructed a tackler and once more Sheffield survived. Ten minutes later and Selby were rewarded with a penalty when Tommy Marples was adjudged to have dropped the scrum and Porter kicked his side to a 10 nil lead. Russell Lynch came on for injured skipper Ryan Amos and went to full back, with Jamie Broadley moving to the wing. More stout defence by the home side and the best crowd of the season, thanks in no small part by sponsors Henry Boot organising a lunch attended by some 60 people, saw defence win the day. One thing was for certain, Sheffield were roundly applauded for a sterling performance against the elements.

Those that think they know about such things believed that it was a twenty point wind. It might have been had the intensity not dropped in the next 40 minutes, but on the pitch the pace never diminished and it became an enthralling match. In the 10th minute of the second half the home supporters got to see why Jamie Broadley is up at Leeds Academy on the Elite Player development programme. Over on the left side of the pitch he broke up a Selby attack with a cracking tackle. From the resulting turnover the ball made its’ way back to young Lynch who set off on a barnstorming series of jinks and steps. After some forty metres and when he saw he was about to be tackled he offloaded the ball to, yes, Broadley at full tilt and no one was going to deny him a try on his debut. Scrum half Matt Poste stepped up to take the conversion kick only to hit the upright, so the score was Sheffield 5, Selby 10. Injuries started to take their toll and Ben Wattam limped off to be replaced by prop Vitor Freibas with Marples taking over as hooker. Adam Russell was replaced by Gary Thurlsfield, having done an excellent job out of position in the second row with AK. In the 60th minute and from well inside their own half, Selby secured turnover ball and their tight head prop stormed up the touchline. His opposite number, Matt Cooper, himself carrying an injury, was faced with three running at him and despite his best efforts the ball ended up in a Selby winger’s hands to take the score to 5-15 and via Porter’s boot to 5 points to 17. These days Sheffield are made of sterner stuff and they were not going down without a fight. Adam Russell was back in his more accustomed position in the front row as Cooper joined Wattam and Amos in the queue for ice packs on their legs. Lynch showed great class with a mark in his 22 which he tapped and then put boot to ball and from a tight angle took play way up into Selby territory. More pressure on Selby and it was Sheffield’s turn for a line out. Gary Thurlsfield took it clean and the ball was whipped across the back line, via Chris Cox, himself sporting good strapping to support a damaged knee, where Carpenter then found Tom Roberts on the left wing. A new recruit this year, but playing like a seasoned pro, Roberts tore down the space in front of him and kicked over the advancing defence. He gathered his own kick and offloaded inside him where, guess who, Jamie Broadley was supporting. There was only ever then going to be another try for the debutant, but what was bizarre was that Matt Poste found the framework once more so the scoreline became 10-17, the score at the end of a very good game! Selby were probably admonished by their coaching staff whereas Sheffield felt pretty good and look forward to the meeting next week at Malton and Norton.

If games of rugby lasted 60 minutes then Sheffield would have won this game, deservedly! On a beautiful sunny afternoon the dogged defence which is becoming a feature of the Blue Boys game, ensured that Bradford Salem were not going to find their opposition laying down and playing dead. An early kick at goal had failed to produce a score for the home side and they were becoming increasingly frustrated by the attention of every player in the Sheffield team. After 20 minutes Dave Ellis made a great break off the back of a line with the ball being handled through the backs well. In the 27th minute Carpo kicked through resulting in a 22 drop out. We were tackling our hearts out and best exemplified by Chris Cox who at one stage tackled three times in the space of a minute to deny the home side any ground. In the 34th minute we gained a penalty which Carpo kicked beautifully upfield. Wattam found Dave Ellis in the middle of the line out and from some fifteen or so yards out the pack formed around Andy Kelly and drove him over the line. This lead was extended by the conversion taken by Matt Poste! So the half time scoreline was 7 nil to Sheffield and no one could complain, although there were some prepared to find fault with the referee’s inability to spot knock ons or knock outs! The entertainment was marred by an assault on flanker Martin Balshaw who sustained damage after a fracas off the ball. The referee didn’t see the offence but rightly brought the half to an end a minute or so early to diffuse a potentially difficult situation.

The second half started much as the first half ended with both sides competitive and turnovers affecting both sides. Balshaw continued on bravely but was eventually replaced by Kamrin Elers who had been suffering the effects of flu all week. For ten minutes that half time call of “No Penalties” was heeded until an entirely unnecessary playing of the ball in a ruck gave Salem fly half and skipper Matt Booth the opportunity to reduce the margin. So with the score at 3 – 7 the game entered another phase as the home side stepped up the pressure. Size was beginning to tell but the collective defence was superb It was an excellent effort all round though and for the next twenty minutes, try as they could, Salem couldn’t breech the Sheffield line. Something had to give and it was a collective inability of the back three to relieve the line that led to a score which went unconverted. 8-7 and all to play for but we were tiring. Bradford finally worked out that pushing us around might do the trick and even though Chris Broomhead was working wonders at the base of the scrum once more eventually the Salem pack seized their opportunity. They shoved us off our ball and found their way to the line in the far right hand corner. A really good conversion from Booth and the final score was 15 – 7 and I refer to my original statement. On the hour we were in front, it was a shame the referee knew we had to fulfil all 80 minutes of the game.

On a wonderfully bright afternoon Sheffield took to the pitch with a determination to prove a point after a narrow defeat at Bridlington. Sheffield started the game with an enormous amount of energy and had the majority of possession for the first 15 minutes but were not able to break down the stout defence that Brid put up. We constantly threatened within their 25, but either handling or Brid's defence stopped us from getting any further. It was from one of these attacking forages that the ball was quickly moved along the back line, only to be intercepted by Brid for them to run in a straight forward try. Sheffield replied with a well deserved 3 points from more pressure in the Brid half. But yet again from a ruck situation where we had control Brid stole the ball quickly moved it out and scored in the corner. Hlf time 10-3 to Brid. The second half reflected the first with regards to effort and possession, sheffield having the lion's share but not able to capitalise, Brid kept using the wind to push Sheffield back. Brids third try was almost identical to their first with us attacking their line and they intercepted to run in and score the conversion. Final Score Sheffield 3 Bridlington 17

On a dank and dark day the floodlights around the pitch were put on early. The light they shed showed two teams with the desire to play a decent and entertaining game and the early exchanges were pretty even. It was the home side however that scored first when the ball was moved swiftly to the left wing via a miss move, and a good cut out pass and a try resulted. Fly half, Tom Smith missed the conversion. Sheffield were not to be out done by this and mounted a series of attacks, one of which resulted in a penalty. For once everything came together, Carpo found touch 22m out, Ben Wattam found his jumper and the pack started a fabulous controlled drive for the line. Nothing was going to stop them, and nothing did, for No 8 Al Cotton got over the line and punched the air [!] in delight. So eleven minutes in and honours even at 5 apiece. The next few minutes were pretty intense & it took a great break by the Sandal hooker [wearing 18], to set up a ruck from which the ball was swung at pace from left to right. This play resulted in a penalty being awarded right in front of the posts and as no advantage had come from the infringement, Smith stepped up and stabbed the ball over for Sandal to take the lead once more. The next item of note came when Tommy Marples made a try saving tackle, bundling the Sandal right winger into touch. However, from the defensive line out the ball ended up in Carpenter’s hands and he put in a big clearance kick up the field. The rub of the green though was favouring the home side and the ball bounced like a Shane Warne leg break straight into the hands of Sandal’s full back. He ran it back, the ball came through some hands and at an ensuing ruck another penalty was conceded. Smith made no mistake and the score was now 11-5 and there were only five minutes to go to the break. And that’s the half time score that should have been but for a bizarre incident where the referee got in the way, was knocked over, and yet managed to get himself upright and albeit from 20m away saw the ball grounded. He gave the try instead of calling the play back so it was 16-5 instead.

The second half started with good input from both teams and indeed at times it was difficult to see how Sandal have been unbeaten this season. Driving mauls and good interpassing from Sheffield saw ground made in the 8th minute of this period only for a turnover to occur once more. This of course is the most dangerous ball a side can work with and not for the first time it was Sandals’ hooker who made the break down the left. Unfortunately for him his pass inside to the full back at pace was deemed forward and a fabulous score went begging. A few minutes later there was a scrummage penalty against Sheffield. Sandal kicked for touch and a well rehearsed move saw the ball thrown to the back of the line where the player stayed high and dropped the ball back inside to the tight head prop barging through the Sheffield defence. Desperate work stopped him scoring but another penalty was given away this time by Al Cotton, who was binned for his sin and Smith did the honours once more. 19-5 and still Sheffield were fighting for everything and indeed whilst playing with 14 men they conceded no score. Maybe it’s all the practice they’ve had at playing one short! After a long break for injury the move that decided the game once and for all happened. A tight scrum offered quick ball to Sandal and their backs were set alight by Tom Smith. The ball ended in the right winger’s hands and he was too quick and too strong to be stopped as he ran 25m to touch down. The conversion was missed resulting in 24-5 being the final score There really should have been nothing else to report but once more this season Tommy Marples saw yellow. He had been pulled away any number of times in the game, had questioned the official’s decisions more times than a few. He thoroughly deserved sitting out the last nine minutes of the game when his temper got the better of him again. Will he ever learn?

The game saw James Reilly, formerly of Hallam University making his debut at fly half and it was early in the game that he showed his ability to turn the defence. He was finding touch well and for one of the first times this season the forwards were being nudged up the park! Tommy Marples return from injury meant that the scrums were a bit tighter – things were looking good.

It didn’t take long for the Blue Boys to edge ahead. Some excellent action in midfield from the back row, led by Kamrin Elers, saw Duncan Park power on to create a ruck in midfield. With quick ball arriving via Tom Roberts, Tom Oben seized his chance on the left wing and no one was going to stop him. Roberts did the honours and converted it making the score 7 nil. Sheffield now had the luxury of two capable punters, and Carpo made a fabulous clearance putting the Blue Boys 40 metres up the park. Andy Kelly, playing in his less accustomed role as lock, stole the ensuing lineout and the ball ended up in Martin Balshaw’s hands on a 25m break towards the line. Unfortunately he was unable to find anyone up with him and Huddersfield stopped any chance of a score. A few minutes later and a lucky penalty was called our way for offside. Tom Roberts showed a cool head and a good technique and now we were 10 nil up and cruising. The rolling maul had been working well and the team were starting to play well together but it wasn’t to last. The error count started to rise gifting the YM’s their first real attacking opportunity with the half almost complete. Fortunately they too were racking up the errors and a knock on ended their hopes of a score.

The second half kicked off with Reilly continuing to make a big impression as he tackled in his channel on a number of occasions, preventing the home side from gaining any advantage. He was probably second in the tackle count in the game though to Andy Kelly, who made a huge impact with his energy, tackling and exhortations to players around him. A grubber kick through failed to produce a score but did bring about a 5m scrum. A penalty ensued and surprisingly, given a lack of dominance in this area, and with Marples already off with a leg injury, the decision was taken to scrum again. Chris Broomhead at No 8 has had a splendid season so far, and his ability to take the ball going backwards has saved the Blue Boys on many occasions. But as an attacking option and with Roberts in good form with the boot, it was a little difficult to understand. It nearly paid off though, as a number of charges at the line notably from Park and Broomhead, almost put the score out of reach for Huddersfield YMCA but they were both held up. The pressure was relieved when Balshaw was penalised for a high tackle but the home side failed to capitalise on this, and so many other errors throughout the game. The last quarter was notable for another couple of lineout steals by Kelly, and a couple of wasted opportunities when the rest of the team weren’t ready to help quick taps by Matt Poste. The light was fading, the weather was bad and the crowd were as happy to hear the final whistle as the players.

The conditions were less than perfect as was the fare on offer! Mistakes were the order of the day and as it transpired, Sheffield made fewer than the hosts and came away with a much needed win. Not a pretty sight then but those two league points look better on a Sunday with a move up to sixth in the division. With Redcar next weekend we must look to consolidate that position.
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On the way to the ground near Halifax, some of our travelling supporters encountered one way traffic blocking their progress. Little were they to know that one way traffic was to be the order of the day for most of the match as well!

The conditions were perfect for the style of rugby Sheffield like to play only they seemed to suit the home side as well. The early exchanges saw good defence but little in attack from Sheffield and a score looked inevitable for the home side. It finally came from a line out, an area Heath were to dominate for the majority of the game and it was a simple move that outwitted our lads. Indeed, Eddie Blackmore the home flanker cruised round the front of the line and over in the corner, looking back almost guiltily to see if the referee had blown for an infringement. He hadn’t and the 11th minute score stood, albeit unconverted by their top points scorer this season, “Pip” Piper. It didn’t take Heath’s fly half long to make amends though as four minutes later he exploited a huge gap in front of him and ghosted through for a try under the posts. He added the conversion! By now an injury to skipper Ryan Amos saw Nick Crapper take to the field a little sooner than planned. In the 29th minute Piper added a drop goal to his tally to take the score to 15 nil, and it was around about then that Sheffield decided to make a game of it. Our lads started to put several phases of play together and this resulted in Adam Byron fooling everyone into believing he was going to pass, crashing over for a score wide out on the left. Tom Roberts missed the difficult kick at goal but we went into the half time interval anticipating that a fight back was on the cards.

Early in the second half a break by Tom Oben, one of quite a few he was to make in the game, resulted in a penalty in front of the posts, but Roberts pulled the kick left and Heath went unpunished. In the 16th minute their hooker was shown a yellow card and we thought that, maybe now with numerical supremacy, our efforts could be rewarded. Somehow, being a man short galvanised the home side even more and their handling at times was as slick as any seen this season! Playing advantage for offside well, referee Dave Downham followed man of the match Eddie Blackmore through to see him score under the posts, easily converted by Piper. Martin Balshaw had been injured in this exchange and was replaced by Al Cotton, Ben Wattam having already been replaced at hooker by Sam Hill. A couple of minutes later and it was Dave Ellis in the sin bin for ten minutes, with the Heath hooker returning his side to full strength. Left winger Baxendale made significant progress up the flank before launching a wild pass infield, for a colleague to score under the posts. Now rampant, the home side were returning the ball at pace and with the forwards enjoying supremacy in the set piece, things moved from bad to worse for Sheffield. Despite some excellent work from the back row throughout the game, and the back three of Roberts, Oben and Lynch making decent breaks, the Blue Boys were under pressure on their own line again. A break from fly half saw a ruck develop and scrum half Cole leapt over those bodies in front of him to score, Piper adding the conversion to make it 34-5. Naïve play on our own throw in saw Heath forwards exploit the situation well only to knock on. Ramzey Adamo had gone off injured, Wattam returned, and the scrum in the 38th minute went backwards. Chris Broomhead did as he had done throughout the game, bravely picking up at the base only to be turned over with the ball then moved wide for swift winger Baxendale to score.

There was to be one final fling from Sheffield though. Scrum half Matt Poste, not for the first time, tapped a quick penalty with the ball moving nicely through hands to Tom Oben to score a consolation try out on the right wing. No conversion followed and the final score 43-10 reflected the game perfectly. Out muscled and outscored by a well drilled outfit belying their position beneath us in the table at the start of the game. That position has been reversed with both clubs now on six points but Heath enjoying a superior points difference. With only four clubs below us, a season where we considered promotion a possibility has turned into a dogfight at every turn. The overall situation has been exacerbated by an administrative oversight that has seen Sheffield removed from the Senior Vase competition for fielding an unregistered player in the game against Wheatley Hills. All concerned offer their apologies and hope that by concentrating on the league now, we can ensure survival at this level.
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Sheffield 3 Scarborough 21

Scarborough came to play rugby and were met by a Sheffield team, as ever a bit light in weight up front but high in spirit and defence. And it was that spirit that ensured a competitive first half where the only scoring early on was a penalty for “holding on” to the visitors, converted by their hooker, Mattie Jones. This score was eventually cancelled out by a fine shot at goal by Blue Boys fly half Adam Byron given for a similar offence. Indeed it really should have been even at half time for although the Scarborough pack were enjoying themselves in the set pieces, somehow they couldn’t break down the resolute defence of our boys! Not that is until they managed to steal a lineout ten metres out and drove up to the line where eventually Kiwi No 8, Junior Tupai managed to squeeze over. With the conversion missed, the half time score was 3 – 8 and we had a game on our hands.

The second half saw Sheffield coming more and more into it as they put a series of phases together with some good driving and running in from deep. It didn’t stop Scarborough though from extending their lead with a penalty kicked once more by Jones. By now, Byron had left the field and Sheff had readjusted the back line with Carpo moving to fly half, Captain Amos moving inside and speedster Granthem Abrahams coming on at outside centre. The three Tom’s [King, Oben and Roberts] were launching attacks from deep and the forwards were doing their best to support, and one such attack led to the smack in the teeth that an interception always seems to give you. The luckless Abrahams gave the pass away and chased back in vain but winger Rod Fairbairn wasn’t going to be caught, not with a three metre advantage. More was to follow when Junior Tupai chipped over King and Roberts and gathered a fortuitous bounce. It looked a certain try to everyone except Man of the Match Tom Oben who raced over from the opposite wing to bundle the big fellow into touch a metre short of glory. Sheffield were under pressure but not out of it and although they rallied well it was to no avail and with a final penalty going the visitors way the score ended 3 -21, and whilst it flattered a bit, it was fair to say that the better team on the day won.

Bridlington started the encounter in a very positive way with their pack dominant int he scrum and effective in the lineout. Sheffield fielded a side with no less than seven changes from last week's win and this had an obvoius knock on effect to our performance. Bridlington's increased forward pressure brought about a series of conceded penalties for 'not releasing the ball' in the tackle, which Bridlington duly kicked two of them to make the score 6 - 0. Sheffield had some good possession in the second 20 of the first half but couldn't breakthrough the stout defence of Brid. Then a Brid attack from a lineout saw their backs move the ball and score in the corner, uncoverted. Half time score 11 - 0. The second half saw a more determined effort from Sheffield but the game became extremely physical in many areas of the game and 'niggly' with lots of offences committed by both sides and 4 players yellow carded (2 of each side) in this half and a major 'bust up' with the referee evr ready with his cards sending off 1 for Sheffield and 1 for Bridlington. Eventually one of the Sheffield attacks lead to ruck ball deepin the opposition 22. The ball was fed back to the half backs who broke to the blind side to find Paul Garside who bulldozed through the defence to score the try in the corner, unconverted. Full time score 11 - 5 to Bridlington.

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Keighley 9 Sheffield 18

Sheffields first visit to Keighley RFC in recent years surprised a few with their excellent modern facilities and very big pitch. The conditions were perfect for rugby, with a bright afternoon but no glaring sun, and a cool breeze. Sheffield played down the very slight incline in the first half and with a very strong start immediately stated intent to win this game no matter what. The pack took the game to Keighley and much faster re-cycling of the ball from the rucks and mauls led to a lively first 5 minutes. When the ball was released to Jon Cox on the left wing he put his head down and charged at the corner taking on the 3 covering defenders, touching down before the inevitable crash of bodies and broken corner flag. The touch line conversion was missed by Adam Byron, but nevertheless the start that Sheffield wanted.

Although Sheffield relaxed after the score, it also galvanised the Keighley pack into action, and the game balance evened out. During the next 20minutes there was a strong forward battle going on, and a lot of mistakes made by both sides. Sheffield had 2 more penalty kick attempts which were not converted to points, before Keighley managed their own to get on the score board. This was traded 10 minutes later for a Sheffield penalty that did make it, and 5 minutes later Keighley again kept themselves in contact with a further 3 points.

Luckily Sheffield were still dominanting and although the half time turned at score 6-8, we didn't look in danger. The pack stood firm and strong against another large opposition. Led by Duncan Park, the scrum was solid and credit must go to Al Cotton for standing in at 2nd row and doing an excellent job. The backs looked willing to release the ball and 'have a go' and there were at least 2 other scoring opportunites where tries were created but only fate stopped us scoring.

Even news of the England win at half time didn't seem to be of too much interest with a job in hand to do. Keighley weren't keen to lose at home, and threw everything into a big second half. They were keen to run at us, and weren't going to give up in front of their home crowd, (which had just got a little bigger now the england game was over and the bar had emptied). Sheffield found ourselves under pressure for the 3rd quarter and the pacey #15 was boosting his players from behind to play harder & stronger. We had another gear though and it was heartening to see certain situations like our second row (Park), chasing down their fly-half to make a cover tackle. Even when Matt Cooper got a yellow card (tut tut) for presistent offending, being down to 14 men didn't seem to be too much of an imposition.. although some of the more senior and tiring forwards might not think so. However, when back up to 15 men the scoring resumed for Sheffield when Kamrin Elers made a sharp break through the opposition line with a perfect hand-off which left the defender floored, the supporting back line was with him every step and released the ball slickly through the hands to put Jon Cox away on the left wing who raced in for his 2nd try. Keighley did manage to respond scoring a 3 point penalty kick, but with 18minutes to go Jon Cox came into the line from his wing on a planned set move went through the resulting hole in the opposition line, and outpaced the fullback to score in the right hand corner for his hatrick.

Although Sheffields pack started to tire, they didn't take a backward step, and Martin Balshaw on for Chris Broomhead boosted some pace into the pack. Ben Wattam also giving fresh legs, on for Matt Cooper (who had travelled all the way up from Stoke early morning). The final substitution was Russel Lynch on for Joel Barratt on the wing. Having made those changes Sheffield were looking to finish with a flourish and a further score or two but Keighley started to break the game up, and there were several minor tussles and off the ball exchanges, culminating in the scrum half flooring Andy Kelly at a scrum, and the red card came out. As if to demonstrate the Sheffield confidence Adam Byron tried a rugby league style cross field up-and-under into the opposite corner, and it was only through a lucky bounce that Keighley got away with it.

Promoted last season, Selby were waiting for us and with Diccon Edwards involved, in more ways than one! He combines his current role as Leeds Academy Manager with coaching his home club, Selby and to good effect. They were powerful up front and behind the scrum operated a rugby league style defence. They also had a lad who controlled the game with his boot, from fly half in the first period and full back in the second half. Given that there was a strong wind running, and they had first use of it, it seemed as though everything was against us from the first whistle.

We never got off the bus, yet again going behind in the third minute of the game, a nice little inside pass from the Selby 10 feeding his winger who scored under the posts. Not many minutes later, six to be precise, another score, this time from their outside centre, another conversion from the fly half and 14 nil down! We were being pushed all over the place in the scrums where conditions were torrid to say the least. No 8 Chris Broomhead playing in his first competitive game of the season was having to clear up loads of crap ball at the base and without his input things could have been a lot worse. A penalty in the 21st minute and a try from the blind side flanker, both kicks converted by, yes you’ve guessed it, the man in the No 10 shirt and we were 24 nil down. The No 8 went over following a free kick on the half way line and another penalty completed the scoring in the first half. Not that conceding x tries, y conversions and z penalties, all in the first half wasn’t bad enough to witness, I was just left with the feeling that without the efforts of some of the senior players it would have been worse!

Half time saw not only a change of ends but a change of attitude and a change of personnel. As expected, Adamo was looking tired quite early into it when he damaged his nose once more and Mike Humphries replaced him in the second row. This was short lived as “Nutty” was shown a yellow card for persistent offending, how cruel, he’d only been on the park for a minute or two. We were beginning to compete, not only in the line outs but around the park as well and eventually it paid off a few minutes from the end when skipper Ryan Amos barged over, finishing off a move that involved good work all round. Adam Byron
converted.

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Sheffield 31 - Malton and Norton 3

The pitch was so hard that if had been a cold February day it would have been deemed unplayable! However, the sun was shining and a reasonable crowd was assembled for our first home game of the season against a team we had never met in the league before!

Nigel Dickinson, the referee from West Yorkshire blew and the game started at a frenetic pace with both teams making ground only to make an error short of the line. It wasn’t until the 12th minute when something exceptional occurred and this was in the shape of an typically hard tackle by Adam Byron which caused a turnover. There followed a further period of uneventful stuff and four penalties for “crossing” called against both teams with the fifth such call ending up in a penalty kick at goal that was missed. An unfortunate and accidental clash of heads meant that Tim “CodEye” Cook left the field for some needlework down at the Northern General replaced by Dave Ellis in his last game for a month as he heads back to Australia and New Zealand to visit friends and relatives. From yet another penalty Andy Kelly caught the ball at the ensuing line out and the pack crossed over for a reward after a strong drive. Duncan Park’s try though as he had both hands on the ball! The pitch was taking it’s toll and the visitors had already lost a hooker to a torn calf muscle when a centre had to be replaced because of a damaged shoulder. Sheffield too suffered the loss of the dynamic Martin Balshaw with a damaged ankle so Ramzey Adamo went into the 2nd row with Ellis moving to blind side. A couple of minutes later and another penalty resulted in a score, albeit this time for M&N – No 8 Andy Kelly detached from the scrum and blocked their scrum half American football style - the visitors gained three points for a kick at goal by their fly half. Half time came shortly after with the score 5 – 3 to Sheffield.

Ten minutes into the second half and Adam Byron made a break supported by Andy Kelly who found debutant Russel Lynch wide on the left. He cut in, ran and jinked forward and then went to ground allowing quick recycling which got the ball to Duncan Park at full speed. A brilliant hand off and offload out of the tackle and the ball ended up in the hands of Phil Bonner on the perfect line to score wide on the left. Sheffield now had ten points and things were looking good. Malton had a lineout on the left and their fly half put the ball up, not for the first time, and Sheff full back Tom Roberts fielded it at pace. Through a couple of pairs of hands and speedy winger Tom Oben went in for a try which was converted by Adam Byron and breathing space was with us. 17 – 3. A further injury in the visitors’ ranks had brought on one of their veteran players who took exception to the hard hitting game of “our Duncan”. The referee saw fit to sideline them both for ten minutes! A scrum in midfield resulted in Sam Hill taking it against the head and strong running from Ryan Amos saw him get the ball to winger Lynch on the left. He knew exactly where to go and took the score well and with Byron now finding the range nicely the lead had become 21 points. Despite being hampered by a groin strain, the effervescent Phil Bonner broke the line and took Ryan Amos with him. A pass inside however went to ground and another chance was missed. M&N were a tired outfit and the game went from side to side in attack but somehow Sheff couldn’t make the pressure count as they would have liked. An odd foray by Malton was intercepted by Lynch and the crowd gasped as from the ensuing ruck and a neat inside pass from Postie, emerged the figure of Adamo at pace! Amazingly none of the visitor’s could keep up although well into his tenth stride someone [or something] tripped him up when he could and probably should have made the line. Ramzey did however have the presence of mind to offload to Andy Kelly who was in support and he went in unopposed under the posts. Byron
chipped to make the final score 31 to 3 and a satisfactory win was recorded.

Next week’s away trip to League leaders Selby will prove a far sterner test. Let’s get there and support the lads please.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon Sheffield, keen to get off to a winning start, started their campaign in Yorkshire 1 at Ilkley However a number of late changes meant that there was a distinct lack of weight in the scrum, although the captain, Ryan Amos, was back for Chris Cox who had broken his elbow against the Old Scouts last week.

Ilkley had played and won a warm up game against Sheffield at under 13 level, so the senior side were anxious to make amends. The Dalesmen started strongly but soon gave way to intense Sheffield pressure and on two or three occasions it looked as if we would breakthrough by sheer pace! However a few mistakes meant that Ilkley were usually able to relieve their position. What looked like a certain try for Sheff was kicked dead at the last to save the day, but this meant Sheffield had won a five metre scrum. Despite the best efforts of Dave Ellis and Andy Kelly the Sheffield scrum was sent backwards. The ball popped loose and Ilkley hacked on and once inside our half a series of good passing saw Bell use speed and strength to barge over and settle the home sides’ jangling nerves. So with the conversion Ilkely led 7 nil after 15 minutes. 5 minutes later it was 14 – 0 after another scrum and another converted try took Ilkley into a 14 nil lead. The Blue Boys though were not going to give this one up without a fight and a period of sustained pressure resulted in a penalty which was unfortunately miscued and the rest of the half was stalemate.

After the break both sides exerted pressure, none more so than Tom Oben who had already shown his pace in the first half. For 15 minutes or so it was end to end stuff. Then, after a kick and chase by Oben a relieving kick by Ilkley’s full back saw the ball punted upfield to Tommy Marples who ran it back, passing to Martin Balshaw in support and ultimately to Amos to score. Byron had damaged his ankle so Jonny Cox took over the kicking duties and struck the ball sweetly through the posts to halve the deficit. There followed the most controversial incident in the whole game as Jonny Cox rose and took a high ball shouting “Mark” for all to hear. Photographs subsequently proved that he was in possession as he fell to the floor but his opposite number ripped the ball out of his hands and scampered across to dot down under the posts. Despite protestations, and sympathy from all quarters on the touchline, the score was allowed to stand! Ilkley’s tight eight were particularly dominant but failed to get their back line flowing, though much of that was due to robust and solid Sheffield defence. Ilkley then turned over a Sheffield quick penalty taking them into our 22 where they knocked on. The Sheffield scrum was again disrupted and the ball taken against the head with the No 8 picking up and feeding inside to his scrum half who scored. The score was converted thus Ilkley led 28 – 7.

Then all of a sudden it was 28 – 14 as Sam Hill got one back against the head and some lack-lustre tackling allowed centre Phil Bonner (on for the injured Anthony Carpenter) to burst through to score. The Dalesmens’ composure was lacking but relief came with a penalty after Sheffield infringed at a scrum and the resultant penalty kick made the score 31 – 14 which should have put it beyond doubt, but banana skins were lurking. Another error by Ilkley gifted Sheffield the ball as Adam Byron intercepted and fed winger Jonny Cox to go in and make it 31 – 21 [Yes he converted it despite not bothering to go behind the posts when he could and should have]! Time was running out for the Blue Boys and when Ilkley kicked off they immediately won a penalty wide out. The referee John Clayton was consulted and there were just 2 minutes to go. The kick went wide, Adam Byron restarted, a kick out of defence was charged down and now Ilkley were defending, furiously. 4 consecutive penalties took Sheffield towards Ilkley’s line. 4 more phases and the seemingly inevitable try came with a score under the posts by Ryan Amos. Cox made it 4 kicks out 4 and the final whistle came with considerable relief to the home supporters. Final score 31 – 28.

A bit of the curate’s egg about all this, good in parts! At one stage it looked as if we’d get rolled over but everyone dug deep and fought back and were utterly committed. A special mention for Matt Cooper who probably gave his best display in a Sheffield shirt as did No 8 Joel Barratt, having to learn aspects of playing there on the bus on the way to the game! And Tom Roberts, making his debut, dummied and ignored his skipper calling for the ball making plenty of yardage as a result and looks a good prospect! With a bit more luck we could have won it. With a bit more weight we definitely would have!


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1st Team Match Report Sheffield home to Hudds YMCA (others below)
Sheffield 77 Huddersfield YMCA 5 The first ten minutes are always the most important and it was obvious that the Sheffield lads both knew this and were determined to stamp their authority. Carrying on from where they left off against Ilkley a fortnight ago, the one significant difference was in the set scrum. Having forced themselves into an attacking position via a kick through by fly half Jamie Broadley, Sheff were awarded a scrum some 5 metres out. After a couple of practice attempts, the pack gave No 8 Chris Broomhead, an armchair ride across the line for a pushover try. Close to the posts Broadley popped over the conversion for a scoreline of 7 nil and only 5 minutes gone! The crowd’s appetite was whetted and it was obvious we were in for a good day. Many in the crowd were lads from the U12 and U13 age group; they had staged a rugby demonstration before the main event. Many of their parents too were there to witness a dominant Sheffield side getting into their stride. With nine minutes gone and not finding himself going backwards for a change, Broomhead saw an opportunity to pick up and set off into the heart of the YMCA defence. Tommy Marples was on his shoulder and acted as the link to Jonny Cox who sprinted clear – he then unselfishly fed Andy Kelly inside him and it was 12 nil! Huddersfield YMCA were doing their best but to no avail, and breaks from Broadley and centre Lynton Stott took the Blue Boys back into the red zone. A good drive out on the right and Poste released the backs. Broadley missed out Stott and full back Ewan Reed came into the line at pace. He in turn drew the full back and passed it left for Jonny Cox to use his pace to cruise in wide out on the left. This, like the previous try, was not converted. In the 29th minute skipper Ryan Amos gave us a demonstration of his power as he made a break, twisting, turning and staying on his feet. Vitor Freitas in an unusual starting role drove on. Eventually the ball ended up in Reed’s hands out wide and he took the score to 22 nil. A series of good pick and drives by Dave Ellis and Ben Wattam amongst others, let Broadley exploit some space only for the final pass to Jonny Cox get put down. Five minutes before half time and it was 27 nil as Broomhead and Marples made good yards once more before Broadley popped a delicate pass inside to a rampaging Ben Wattam, who saw the line and went for it! YMCA hadn’t given up though and they got a break just before half time when their scrum half Josh Marshall charged down Broadley’s clearance kick, gathered and scored. James Swift missed the conversion and the half time score was 27 – 5, one of Sheffield’s best first half performances for a long time. At half time a presentation was made by the South Yorkshire Rugby Development Officer, Jonathan Rickerby. The RFU’s Seal of Approval award was received by Chairman Paul Tear – an award that was the result of substantial work by M&J Chairman Glyn Chandler and Director of Rugby, Adriaan Posthuma to ensure that the Club operates good practice in providing top quality rugby experiences for its’ young players. Eight minutes into the second half and as a result of fly half Broadley working first Ryan Amos, then Tommy Marples and finally Andy Kelly, the position was created for Dave Ellis to get the ball. He was delighted to score and his try was converted by Broadley. YMCA kicked off and the ball was taken well by the “charged up” Ellis. The ball was recycled and passed to winger Barratt who kicked over the top of the rushing Huddersfield defence. Not surprisingly Jonny Cox outpaced everyone else to the bounce and he beat the defending full back, scoring under the posts. Seven more points and Sheffield were cruising! Four minutes later Nick “Bison” Hayes was replaced by Robert “Acco” Atkinson. Not quite a pound for pound substitution but such was Sheffield’s dominance at the set piece it didn’t matter. From a scrum Broomhead picked up and fed Poste who in turn looked for his fly half. Broadley had seen the opportunity and switched left. He looked up, saw the full back desperately trying to cover, knocked it up a gear and took a delightful line around him to score under the posts, making his conversion something of a formality. Not much time later and a line out was well taken by Ellis. The pack formed around him and drove purposefully to the line where Acco scored to take Sheffield past 50 points for the first time for a long time! Again the conversion was good and with the best part of twenty minutes to go it must have seemed like an eternity for the visitors. Martin Balshaw and Andy Kelly were getting through no end of work causing problems for YMCA all over the park. One such intervention saw AK turn the ball over for Tommy Marples to start a series of pick and drives involving Ellis, Broomhead and Wattam. Tom Oben, on for Stott who had left with a hamstring injury, ran down his wing passing inside to Amos who in turn passed for the rampaging Balshaw to score. Broadley’s conversion went wide but it wasn’t to make too much of a difference. Another try came as a result of another turnover but this time Broadley’s kick was charged down by YM’s hooker. Balshaw reacted quickly to secure possession, the Sheffield pack drove over and the ball was given to Oben. He raced off, powered past a weak attempt to tackle him, handed off the full back and scored in the corner, taking the home side’s score to 65. Marples took the kick off and charged back. The pack recycled it and from within his own half he spotted another gap and set off. The result was inevitable as he went in under the posts and converted his own try once more to take his personal tally to 22 points and Sheffield’s score to 72! And still there was to be a final flourish as good handling from AK, Balshaw and Broadley got the ball to skipper Amos – it was fitting that he should score the final home try of a difficult season. 77 – 5 and the possibility that a good win next week at Redcar will take us to a positive points difference for the season. The bus should be leaving Abbeydale at 11am and it should be a great day out. Please try to be there! Team: Reed, Barratt, Amos [c], Stott, Cox J, Broadley, Poste, Marples, Wattam, Freitas, Ellis, Hayes, Kelly, Balshaw, Broomhead C. Replacements: Atkinson, Hill, Oben. Back to homepage Rotherham Clifton 25 – Sheffield 37 (Cup Match) This competition used to be called the South Yorkshire Trophy [often referred to by SRUFC as the 2nd team Cup] and now named in memory of Gerry Roberts. Sheffield were dominated in the forwards by Rotherham Clifton who had a major size advantage but we had pace to burn out wide, notably in the shape of James Toomey [I think he scored three]! Ben Parker gave them all sorts of problems at scrum half and kicked well for some of our points. Paul Ashbridge, recruited from Hallam University was a handful in the centre, and his pal, the splendidly named “Partyboy” came on at half time at hooker, replacing the equally mysteriously named “Haggis” who had performed very well despite being half the size of his opposite front row members. Tommy White gave us a presence in the lineout and worked his bits off in the loose, as did young Nick Gibbons and old John King, who was giving age and weight all round! Everyone else contributed to a very spirited performance and we can look forward to a fine future with this years’ Colts moving up into the senior sides next season. This now presents with an away fixture against Tigers who beat a spirited, and rejuvenated, Adwick Le Street 17 points to 3. We play them next Tuesday at 6.30pm and all support will be welcome! Sheffield 16 Ilkley 17 The preparation looked good – the lads were out on the field before the game, practising together then honing individual skills with a new found sense of purpose. None more so than Sheffield’s fly half Jamie Broadley, as stand in Coach “Griff” was giving him intense one on one coaching on how to use the tricky wind conditions that were likely to influence this important game. Then it was all off to the changing rooms to prepare mentally where coaching partner Paul Scott and 1st team boss Martin Poste were talking the boys up! Sheffield came out of the traps in better shape than seen for many a week! They dominated the opening passages and it came as no surprise when they took the lead after a serious of midfield drives allowed Broadley to put through Martin Balshaw to score just wide of the posts. That wind though was fierce and Jamie’s first kick at goal flew to the right, the conversion failed! Ilkley though aren’t second in the league for nothing and they came back in waves and Sheffield were penalised on four separate occasions in the next ten minutes for four different offences. Another thing that was consistent though was that the home side’s defence was up to the challenge, even to the point of stealing lineouts under pressure, Andy Kelly was enjoying himself in this area. One such steal led to Broadley relieving the line by some 50 or so yards, using the wind as if well practised – he was! A scrum a few minutes later resulted in a free kick which was passed to No 8 Chris Brooomhead, who led a spirited charge upfield only to have the gain cancelled by referee John Clayton awarding a penalty against him for holding on too long. Sheffield’s new signing, Lynton Stott playing his part in the centre made a telling break. But when a try looked a certainty, Stott delayed the pass and full back Tom Roberts overran the ball, once more Ilkley’s line was cleared! On the half hour a break out of the Ilkley defence was thwarted when Tommy Marples powerfully turned the ball carrier in the tackle and gained a kickable penalty. Broadley had learned from his earlier miss and added the three points on offer. It was looking good at 8 nil but as so often this season a lapse in concentration alowed Ilkley to get back in it. A good move, after a series of phases, saw blind side winger Simon Smith cross the pitch to score wide out on the right when the Sheffield defence had started to move the other way. Arguably the best kick of the game, into the teeth of the wind, and from a position wide out saw Ilkley fly half Shanks convert the try. Sheffield, this time through Nick “Bison” Hayes, powered forward and once more the visitors conceded a penalty. Broadley added the points and with the score 11 – 7 the crowd were roaring their approval. From the kick off some excellent work from the Sheffield props, Tom Marples and Matt Cooper, saw the ball reach winger Ewan Reed. His kick over the top of the oncoming defence was the right tactic, but unfortunately the wind took a hold of it and the ball drifted harmlessly into touch. Half time, and a four point lead against a gusting wind which had no small amount of rain with it too. Sheffield knew they had more to do! The second half started much as the first had, with Sheffield exerting the pressure and Ilkley soaking it up. Shanks was using the wind now and relieved his line on a couple of occasions with big boomers up the park. After thirteen minutes a strange incident occurred when the ball ballooned back on the Sheffield side from a ruck in such a way that the referee, even though he was unsighted, figured it had to have been obtained illegally, and awarded Ilkley a penalty. Shanks reduced the gap to a single point. Sheffield went hunting again and there followed more than a dozen phases of controlled play resulting in flanker Martin Balshaw, kicking the ball through from half way and chasing it down. The Ikley winger scrambled back in defence and carried it over - 5 metre scrum to the dominant Blue Boys. Scrum half Poste was then adjudged to have “fed” his hooker and Shanks booted the ball back down the field. Sheffield were still on the offensive and Ilkley conceded yet another penalty under pressure. Broadley rifled a kick to touch against the wind and here was another chance to score. The line out had been going well for Sheff so it was unfortunate that they mucked this one up, Shanks relieved his line once more! With almost half an hour of the second half gone, controversy returned to this fixture once more, much as had decided the earlier game in the season which Ilkley had won by a couple of points. Broadley had a clearance kick charged down and the replacement Ilkley lock, standing a good seven metres offside, just picked the ball up and went over for a try. The vast majority of spectators [and players alike] expected the whistle to blow for a penalty, instead Clayton was found awarding a try, which Shanks gratefully converted. Sheffield were not going to lie down though and charged back upfield in a series of attacks. Another transgression by the visitors and Broadley kicked to touch once more. This time AK took the throw cleanly and the pack rumbled on. Bison was there at the death, still on the field despite problems with “that” knee and he powered his way over for a score with precious little time left on the clock. Once more it was the weather that would prove to be a factor in the result, for despite having dominated this game Sheffield didn’t take the spoils as Broadley’s conversion attempt was held up, high and wide on the wind. So 16-17 was the final score and Ilkely, 2nd in the league knew they had been 2nd best in this game, yet still they took those precious points to maintain their challenge. Sheffield need to win their next game against Huddersfield YMCA to secure their place in Yorkshire 1. On today’s performance spirits are high that next season they will be aiming for promotion, not suffering at the wrong end of the table! Our thanks must go to Griff and Scottie, both from Mount St Mary’s school, for helping us out this week in Ash Thomas’ absence. They did a fabulous job and the boys responded really well indeed. A win was all that they deserved, it was a shame that it didn’t happen but who knows, maybe next time! Team:- Roberts, Reed, Amos [c], Stott, Lynch, Broadley, Poste, Marples, Wattam, Cooper, Ellis, Hayes, Kelly, Balshaw, Broomhead. Replacements:- Freitas, Oben, Atkinson. Back to homepage Malton & Norton 15 Sheffield 11 Not for the first time this season it looked as though the conditions would be a big factor in the game. Sheffield played with the wind in their faces in the first half and inexplicably decided to kick into it on a number of occasions. Possession was difficult to maintain for both sides and it was the visiting team who opened the scoring. Scrum half Matt Poste stroked over a straightforward penalty kick in the 6th minute following an incident that saw the home sides’ open side flanker take an early rest in the sin bin. It didn’t take Malton that long to respond either, and when the Sheffield 7 Kamrin Elers was penalised in the 13th minute, wrongly in many peoples mind, fly half David Webster levelled the score. A few minutes later and a two to one opportunity was wasted when centre Russell Lynch didn’t put in winger Barrett when a score would have been a certainty. Poste had an opportunity to garner a further three points but pushed his kick wide and, in truth, very little occurred in a lack lustre game until the 35th minute. This was when the home side’s No 8, a large and somewhat influential Richard Webster picked and drove left off of a scrum to touch down in the corner. This presented his namesake with a difficult kick which he missed. Given that the wind was gusting strongly at Sheffield’s backs, now would have been a good time to indulge a kicking game. Somehow that never developed and Malton were handling the ball better somewhat better. In a move that started in their own half the home side ran at the Blue Boys, who backed off and allowed the ball to move further forward than we should. When the tackles finally came in the ball was recycled to Liam Cowton on the right wing who scampered infield to score a good try under the posts. Webster converted and now Sheffield were chasing the game with the score at 15 points to three. Poste missed a long range attempt to narrow the score. He did however make a quick break from a free kick a few minutes later and with Elers at his side things looked good. The ball was lost in the ensuing ruck and Malton breathed a sigh of relief. Another free kick and Poste once more taking the initiative saw the ball lost again due to lack of support. It was to be third time lucky though for when once more there was a free kick wide out on the right, Poste tapped, went and passed to Nick “Bison” Hayes who was unstoppable from 6 metres. The kicking duties had been passed to Russell Lynch and whilst he missed the conversion, he made up for it with a penalty a few minutes before the end. Sheffield lost the game 15-11 when it was there for the taking. Everyone knew that their performances left a lot to be desired and it is to be hoped that the promise shown in their previous two outings will return. Back to homepage Sheffield 10 Selby 17 There had been a lot of thought put in during the week to get something like a balanced side out to meet former coach Diccon Edward’s home town team. Some of it was with an eye on next week’s important fixture when “Bison”, aka Nick Hayes should be fit to turn out once more for the club. Then again much of it was split between keeping the other eye on the future with a home debut for young Ewan Reed and his first outing for the 1st team for an even younger Jamie Broadley. Much of the rest of selection must have been considered on the basis of availability with a number of regular players opting for holidays, and others troubled with injuries. No matter, because in very windy conditions, the side put out by Ash Thomas stood up to the test well enough indeed. Selby played at first as though determined to show why they were third in the table, but the conditions, and their own errors, and not to mention Sheffield’s gritty attitude was to limit their ambitions. After 15 minutes, and a passage of relentless pressure, Sheffield conceded a penalty. Referee David Dodworth played advantage and two passes inside saw centre and Selby captain, Andy Bennett, dot down for a try just to the left of the posts, which fly half Dan Porter converted. 7 nil to the visitors and it was only quick thinking by Andy Kelly that prevented a decent move ending with another score. Selby had the wind at their backs and in the 22nd minute a high tackle by Anthony Carpenter resulted in Porter booting the ball some 50 metres for a line out. It took some excellent work from Sheffield’s Martin Balshaw, back playing at open side in Kamrin Elers absence, to cause a turnover. Carpenter connected well with the ball and took play up to the visitor’s 22 metre line. Selby took the line out and kicked it high on the wind. Broadley ran back to cover and from the resulting 22 drop out, the Selby No 15, playing on the right wing, jinked his way towards the line. However his own No 8 was the architect of their misfortune when he obstructed a tackler and once more Sheffield survived. Ten minutes later and Selby were rewarded with a penalty when Tommy Marples was adjudged to have dropped the scrum and Porter kicked his side to a 10 nil lead. Russell Lynch came on for injured skipper Ryan Amos and went to full back, with Jamie Broadley moving to the wing. More stout defence by the home side and the best crowd of the season, thanks in no small part by sponsors Henry Boot organising a lunch attended by some 60 people, saw defence win the day. One thing was for certain, Sheffield were roundly applauded for a sterling performance against the elements. Those that think they know about such things believed that it was a twenty point wind. It might have been had the intensity not dropped in the next 40 minutes, but on the pitch the pace never diminished and it became an enthralling match. In the 10th minute of the second half the home supporters got to see why Jamie Broadley is up at Leeds Academy on the Elite Player development programme. Over on the left side of the pitch he broke up a Selby attack with a cracking tackle. From the resulting turnover the ball made its’ way back to young Lynch who set off on a barnstorming series of jinks and steps. After some forty metres and when he saw he was about to be tackled he offloaded the ball to, yes, Broadley at full tilt and no one was going to deny him a try on his debut. Scrum half Matt Poste stepped up to take the conversion kick only to hit the upright, so the score was Sheffield 5, Selby 10. Injuries started to take their toll and Ben Wattam limped off to be replaced by prop Vitor Freibas with Marples taking over as hooker. Adam Russell was replaced by Gary Thurlsfield, having done an excellent job out of position in the second row with AK. In the 60th minute and from well inside their own half, Selby secured turnover ball and their tight head prop stormed up the touchline. His opposite number, Matt Cooper, himself carrying an injury, was faced with three running at him and despite his best efforts the ball ended up in a Selby winger’s hands to take the score to 5-15 and via Porter’s boot to 5 points to 17. These days Sheffield are made of sterner stuff and they were not going down without a fight. Adam Russell was back in his more accustomed position in the front row as Cooper joined Wattam and Amos in the queue for ice packs on their legs. Lynch showed great class with a mark in his 22 which he tapped and then put boot to ball and from a tight angle took play way up into Selby territory. More pressure on Selby and it was Sheffield’s turn for a line out. Gary Thurlsfield took it clean and the ball was whipped across the back line, via Chris Cox, himself sporting good strapping to support a damaged knee, where Carpenter then found Tom Roberts on the left wing. A new recruit this year, but playing like a seasoned pro, Roberts tore down the space in front of him and kicked over the advancing defence. He gathered his own kick and offloaded inside him where, guess who, Jamie Broadley was supporting. There was only ever then going to be another try for the debutant, but what was bizarre was that Matt Poste found the framework once more so the scoreline became 10-17, the score at the end of a very good game! Selby were probably admonished by their coaching staff whereas Sheffield felt pretty good and look forward to the meeting next week at Malton and Norton. Back to homepage Bradford Salem 15 Sheffield 7 If games of rugby lasted 60 minutes then Sheffield would have won this game, deservedly! On a beautiful sunny afternoon the dogged defence which is becoming a feature of the Blue Boys game, ensured that Bradford Salem were not going to find their opposition laying down and playing dead. An early kick at goal had failed to produce a score for the home side and they were becoming increasingly frustrated by the attention of every player in the Sheffield team. After 20 minutes Dave Ellis made a great break off the back of a line with the ball being handled through the backs well. In the 27th minute Carpo kicked through resulting in a 22 drop out. We were tackling our hearts out and best exemplified by Chris Cox who at one stage tackled three times in the space of a minute to deny the home side any ground. In the 34th minute we gained a penalty which Carpo kicked beautifully upfield. Wattam found Dave Ellis in the middle of the line out and from some fifteen or so yards out the pack formed around Andy Kelly and drove him over the line. This lead was extended by the conversion taken by Matt Poste! So the half time scoreline was 7 nil to Sheffield and no one could complain, although there were some prepared to find fault with the referee’s inability to spot knock ons or knock outs! The entertainment was marred by an assault on flanker Martin Balshaw who sustained damage after a fracas off the ball. The referee didn’t see the offence but rightly brought the half to an end a minute or so early to diffuse a potentially difficult situation. The second half started much as the first half ended with both sides competitive and turnovers affecting both sides. Balshaw continued on bravely but was eventually replaced by Kamrin Elers who had been suffering the effects of flu all week. For ten minutes that half time call of “No Penalties” was heeded until an entirely unnecessary playing of the ball in a ruck gave Salem fly half and skipper Matt Booth the opportunity to reduce the margin. So with the score at 3 – 7 the game entered another phase as the home side stepped up the pressure. Size was beginning to tell but the collective defence was superb It was an excellent effort all round though and for the next twenty minutes, try as they could, Salem couldn’t breech the Sheffield line. Something had to give and it was a collective inability of the back three to relieve the line that led to a score which went unconverted. 8-7 and all to play for but we were tiring. Bradford finally worked out that pushing us around might do the trick and even though Chris Broomhead was working wonders at the base of the scrum once more eventually the Salem pack seized their opportunity. They shoved us off our ball and found their way to the line in the far right hand corner. A really good conversion from Booth and the final score was 15 – 7 and I refer to my original statement. On the hour we were in front, it was a shame the referee knew we had to fulfil all 80 minutes of the game. Back to homepage Sheffield 3 Bridlington 17 On a wonderfully bright afternoon Sheffield took to the pitch with a determination to prove a point after a narrow defeat at Bridlington. Sheffield started the game with an enormous amount of energy and had the majority of possession for the first 15 minutes but were not able to break down the stout defence that Brid put up. We constantly threatened within their 25, but either handling or Brid's defence stopped us from getting any further. It was from one of these attacking forages that the ball was quickly moved along the back line, only to be intercepted by Brid for them to run in a straight forward try. Sheffield replied with a well deserved 3 points from more pressure in the Brid half. But yet again from a ruck situation where we had control Brid stole the ball quickly moved it out and scored in the corner. Hlf time 10-3 to Brid. The second half reflected the first with regards to effort and possession, sheffield having the lion's share but not able to capitalise, Brid kept using the wind to push Sheffield back. Brids third try was almost identical to their first with us attacking their line and they intercepted to run in and score the conversion. Final Score Sheffield 3 Bridlington 17 Back to homepage Sandal 24 Sheffield 5 On a dank and dark day the floodlights around the pitch were put on early. The light they shed showed two teams with the desire to play a decent and entertaining game and the early exchanges were pretty even. It was the home side however that scored first when the ball was moved swiftly to the left wing via a miss move, and a good cut out pass and a try resulted. Fly half, Tom Smith missed the conversion. Sheffield were not to be out done by this and mounted a series of attacks, one of which resulted in a penalty. For once everything came together, Carpo found touch 22m out, Ben Wattam found his jumper and the pack started a fabulous controlled drive for the line. Nothing was going to stop them, and nothing did, for No 8 Al Cotton got over the line and punched the air [!] in delight. So eleven minutes in and honours even at 5 apiece. The next few minutes were pretty intense & it took a great break by the Sandal hooker [wearing 18], to set up a ruck from which the ball was swung at pace from left to right. This play resulted in a penalty being awarded right in front of the posts and as no advantage had come from the infringement, Smith stepped up and stabbed the ball over for Sandal to take the lead once more. The next item of note came when Tommy Marples made a try saving tackle, bundling the Sandal right winger into touch. However, from the defensive line out the ball ended up in Carpenter’s hands and he put in a big clearance kick up the field. The rub of the green though was favouring the home side and the ball bounced like a Shane Warne leg break straight into the hands of Sandal’s full back. He ran it back, the ball came through some hands and at an ensuing ruck another penalty was conceded. Smith made no mistake and the score was now 11-5 and there were only five minutes to go to the break. And that’s the half time score that should have been but for a bizarre incident where the referee got in the way, was knocked over, and yet managed to get himself upright and albeit from 20m away saw the ball grounded. He gave the try instead of calling the play back so it was 16-5 instead. The second half started with good input from both teams and indeed at times it was difficult to see how Sandal have been unbeaten this season. Driving mauls and good interpassing from Sheffield saw ground made in the 8th minute of this period only for a turnover to occur once more. This of course is the most dangerous ball a side can work with and not for the first time it was Sandals’ hooker who made the break down the left. Unfortunately for him his pass inside to the full back at pace was deemed forward and a fabulous score went begging. A few minutes later there was a scrummage penalty against Sheffield. Sandal kicked for touch and a well rehearsed move saw the ball thrown to the back of the line where the player stayed high and dropped the ball back inside to the tight head prop barging through the Sheffield defence. Desperate work stopped him scoring but another penalty was given away this time by Al Cotton, who was binned for his sin and Smith did the honours once more. 19-5 and still Sheffield were fighting for everything and indeed whilst playing with 14 men they conceded no score. Maybe it’s all the practice they’ve had at playing one short! After a long break for injury the move that decided the game once and for all happened. A tight scrum offered quick ball to Sandal and their backs were set alight by Tom Smith. The ball ended in the right winger’s hands and he was too quick and too strong to be stopped as he ran 25m to touch down. The conversion was missed resulting in 24-5 being the final score There really should have been nothing else to report but once more this season Tommy Marples saw yellow. He had been pulled away any number of times in the game, had questioned the official’s decisions more times than a few. He thoroughly deserved sitting out the last nine minutes of the game when his temper got the better of him again. Will he ever learn? Back to homepage Huddersfield YMCA 0 Sheffield 10 The game saw James Reilly, formerly of Hallam University making his debut at fly half and it was early in the game that he showed his ability to turn the defence. He was finding touch well and for one of the first times this season the forwards were being nudged up the park! Tommy Marples return from injury meant that the scrums were a bit tighter – things were looking good. It didn’t take long for the Blue Boys to edge ahead. Some excellent action in midfield from the back row, led by Kamrin Elers, saw Duncan Park power on to create a ruck in midfield. With quick ball arriving via Tom Roberts, Tom Oben seized his chance on the left wing and no one was going to stop him. Roberts did the honours and converted it making the score 7 nil. Sheffield now had the luxury of two capable punters, and Carpo made a fabulous clearance putting the Blue Boys 40 metres up the park. Andy Kelly, playing in his less accustomed role as lock, stole the ensuing lineout and the ball ended up in Martin Balshaw’s hands on a 25m break towards the line. Unfortunately he was unable to find anyone up with him and Huddersfield stopped any chance of a score. A few minutes later and a lucky penalty was called our way for offside. Tom Roberts showed a cool head and a good technique and now we were 10 nil up and cruising. The rolling maul had been working well and the team were starting to play well together but it wasn’t to last. The error count started to rise gifting the YM’s their first real attacking opportunity with the half almost complete. Fortunately they too were racking up the errors and a knock on ended their hopes of a score. The second half kicked off with Reilly continuing to make a big impression as he tackled in his channel on a number of occasions, preventing the home side from gaining any advantage. He was probably second in the tackle count in the game though to Andy Kelly, who made a huge impact with his energy, tackling and exhortations to players around him. A grubber kick through failed to produce a score but did bring about a 5m scrum. A penalty ensued and surprisingly, given a lack of dominance in this area, and with Marples already off with a leg injury, the decision was taken to scrum again. Chris Broomhead at No 8 has had a splendid season so far, and his ability to take the ball going backwards has saved the Blue Boys on many occasions. But as an attacking option and with Roberts in good form with the boot, it was a little difficult to understand. It nearly paid off though, as a number of charges at the line notably from Park and Broomhead, almost put the score out of reach for Huddersfield YMCA but they were both held up. The pressure was relieved when Balshaw was penalised for a high tackle but the home side failed to capitalise on this, and so many other errors throughout the game. The last quarter was notable for another couple of lineout steals by Kelly, and a couple of wasted opportunities when the rest of the team weren’t ready to help quick taps by Matt Poste. The light was fading, the weather was bad and the crowd were as happy to hear the final whistle as the players. The conditions were less than perfect as was the fare on offer! Mistakes were the order of the day and as it transpired, Sheffield made fewer than the hosts and came away with a much needed win. Not a pretty sight then but those two league points look better on a Sunday with a move up to sixth in the division. With Redcar next weekend we must look to consolidate that position. Back to homepage Heath 43 Sheffield 10 On the way to the ground near Halifax, some of our travelling supporters encountered one way traffic blocking their progress. Little were they to know that one way traffic was to be the order of the day for most of the match as well! The conditions were perfect for the style of rugby Sheffield like to play only they seemed to suit the home side as well. The early exchanges saw good defence but little in attack from Sheffield and a score looked inevitable for the home side. It finally came from a line out, an area Heath were to dominate for the majority of the game and it was a simple move that outwitted our lads. Indeed, Eddie Blackmore the home flanker cruised round the front of the line and over in the corner, looking back almost guiltily to see if the referee had blown for an infringement. He hadn’t and the 11th minute score stood, albeit unconverted by their top points scorer this season, “Pip” Piper. It didn’t take Heath’s fly half long to make amends though as four minutes later he exploited a huge gap in front of him and ghosted through for a try under the posts. He added the conversion! By now an injury to skipper Ryan Amos saw Nick Crapper take to the field a little sooner than planned. In the 29th minute Piper added a drop goal to his tally to take the score to 15 nil, and it was around about then that Sheffield decided to make a game of it. Our lads started to put several phases of play together and this resulted in Adam Byron fooling everyone into believing he was going to pass, crashing over for a score wide out on the left. Tom Roberts missed the difficult kick at goal but we went into the half time interval anticipating that a fight back was on the cards. Early in the second half a break by Tom Oben, one of quite a few he was to make in the game, resulted in a penalty in front of the posts, but Roberts pulled the kick left and Heath went unpunished. In the 16th minute their hooker was shown a yellow card and we thought that, maybe now with numerical supremacy, our efforts could be rewarded. Somehow, being a man short galvanised the home side even more and their handling at times was as slick as any seen this season! Playing advantage for offside well, referee Dave Downham followed man of the match Eddie Blackmore through to see him score under the posts, easily converted by Piper. Martin Balshaw had been injured in this exchange and was replaced by Al Cotton, Ben Wattam having already been replaced at hooker by Sam Hill. A couple of minutes later and it was Dave Ellis in the sin bin for ten minutes, with the Heath hooker returning his side to full strength. Left winger Baxendale made significant progress up the flank before launching a wild pass infield, for a colleague to score under the posts. Now rampant, the home side were returning the ball at pace and with the forwards enjoying supremacy in the set piece, things moved from bad to worse for Sheffield. Despite some excellent work from the back row throughout the game, and the back three of Roberts, Oben and Lynch making decent breaks, the Blue Boys were under pressure on their own line again. A break from fly half saw a ruck develop and scrum half Cole leapt over those bodies in front of him to score, Piper adding the conversion to make it 34-5. Naïve play on our own throw in saw Heath forwards exploit the situation well only to knock on. Ramzey Adamo had gone off injured, Wattam returned, and the scrum in the 38th minute went backwards. Chris Broomhead did as he had done throughout the game, bravely picking up at the base only to be turned over with the ball then moved wide for swift winger Baxendale to score. There was to be one final fling from Sheffield though. Scrum half Matt Poste, not for the first time, tapped a quick penalty with the ball moving nicely through hands to Tom Oben to score a consolation try out on the right wing. No conversion followed and the final score 43-10 reflected the game perfectly. Out muscled and outscored by a well drilled outfit belying their position beneath us in the table at the start of the game. That position has been reversed with both clubs now on six points but Heath enjoying a superior points difference. With only four clubs below us, a season where we considered promotion a possibility has turned into a dogfight at every turn. The overall situation has been exacerbated by an administrative oversight that has seen Sheffield removed from the Senior Vase competition for fielding an unregistered player in the game against Wheatley Hills. All concerned offer their apologies and hope that by concentrating on the league now, we can ensure survival at this level. Back to homepage Sheffield 3 Scarborough 21 Scarborough came to play rugby and were met by a Sheffield team, as ever a bit light in weight up front but high in spirit and defence. And it was that spirit that ensured a competitive first half where the only scoring early on was a penalty for “holding on” to the visitors, converted by their hooker, Mattie Jones. This score was eventually cancelled out by a fine shot at goal by Blue Boys fly half Adam Byron given for a similar offence. Indeed it really should have been even at half time for although the Scarborough pack were enjoying themselves in the set pieces, somehow they couldn’t break down the resolute defence of our boys! Not that is until they managed to steal a lineout ten metres out and drove up to the line where eventually Kiwi No 8, Junior Tupai managed to squeeze over. With the conversion missed, the half time score was 3 – 8 and we had a game on our hands. The second half saw Sheffield coming more and more into it as they put a series of phases together with some good driving and running in from deep. It didn’t stop Scarborough though from extending their lead with a penalty kicked once more by Jones. By now, Byron had left the field and Sheff had readjusted the back line with Carpo moving to fly half, Captain Amos moving inside and speedster Granthem Abrahams coming on at outside centre. The three Tom’s [King, Oben and Roberts] were launching attacks from deep and the forwards were doing their best to support, and one such attack led to the smack in the teeth that an interception always seems to give you. The luckless Abrahams gave the pass away and chased back in vain but winger Rod Fairbairn wasn’t going to be caught, not with a three metre advantage. More was to follow when Junior Tupai chipped over King and Roberts and gathered a fortuitous bounce. It looked a certain try to everyone except Man of the Match Tom Oben who raced over from the opposite wing to bundle the big fellow into touch a metre short of glory. Sheffield were under pressure but not out of it and although they rallied well it was to no avail and with a final penalty going the visitors way the score ended 3 -21, and whilst it flattered a bit, it was fair to say that the better team on the day won. Back to homepage Bridlington 11 Sheffield 5 Bridlington started the encounter in a very positive way with their pack dominant int he scrum and effective in the lineout. Sheffield fielded a side with no less than seven changes from last week's win and this had an obvoius knock on effect to our performance. Bridlington's increased forward pressure brought about a series of conceded penalties for 'not releasing the ball' in the tackle, which Bridlington duly kicked two of them to make the score 6 - 0. Sheffield had some good possession in the second 20 of the first half but couldn't breakthrough the stout defence of Brid. Then a Brid attack from a lineout saw their backs move the ball and score in the corner, uncoverted. Half time score 11 - 0. The second half saw a more determined effort from Sheffield but the game became extremely physical in many areas of the game and 'niggly' with lots of offences committed by both sides and 4 players yellow carded (2 of each side) in this half and a major 'bust up' with the referee evr ready with his cards sending off 1 for Sheffield and 1 for Bridlington. Eventually one of the Sheffield attacks lead to ruck ball deepin the opposition 22. The ball was fed back to the half backs who broke to the blind side to find Paul Garside who bulldozed through the defence to score the try in the corner, unconverted. Full time score 11 - 5 to Bridlington. Back to homepage Keighley 9 Sheffield 18 Sheffields first visit to Keighley RFC in recent years surprised a few with their excellent modern facilities and very big pitch. The conditions were perfect for rugby, with a bright afternoon but no glaring sun, and a cool breeze. Sheffield played down the very slight incline in the first half and with a very strong start immediately stated intent to win this game no matter what. The pack took the game to Keighley and much faster re-cycling of the ball from the rucks and mauls led to a lively first 5 minutes. When the ball was released to Jon Cox on the left wing he put his head down and charged at the corner taking on the 3 covering defenders, touching down before the inevitable crash of bodies and broken corner flag. The touch line conversion was missed by Adam Byron, but nevertheless the start that Sheffield wanted. Although Sheffield relaxed after the score, it also galvanised the Keighley pack into action, and the game balance evened out. During the next 20minutes there was a strong forward battle going on, and a lot of mistakes made by both sides. Sheffield had 2 more penalty kick attempts which were not converted to points, before Keighley managed their own to get on the score board. This was traded 10 minutes later for a Sheffield penalty that did make it, and 5 minutes later Keighley again kept themselves in contact with a further 3 points. Luckily Sheffield were still dominanting and although the half time turned at score 6-8, we didn't look in danger. The pack stood firm and strong against another large opposition. Led by Duncan Park, the scrum was solid and credit must go to Al Cotton for standing in at 2nd row and doing an excellent job. The backs looked willing to release the ball and 'have a go' and there were at least 2 other scoring opportunites where tries were created but only fate stopped us scoring. Even news of the England win at half time didn't seem to be of too much interest with a job in hand to do. Keighley weren't keen to lose at home, and threw everything into a big second half. They were keen to run at us, and weren't going to give up in front of their home crowd, (which had just got a little bigger now the england game was over and the bar had emptied). Sheffield found ourselves under pressure for the 3rd quarter and the pacey #15 was boosting his players from behind to play harder & stronger. We had another gear though and it was heartening to see certain situations like our second row (Park), chasing down their fly-half to make a cover tackle. Even when Matt Cooper got a yellow card (tut tut) for presistent offending, being down to 14 men didn't seem to be too much of an imposition.. although some of the more senior and tiring forwards might not think so. However, when back up to 15 men the scoring resumed for Sheffield when Kamrin Elers made a sharp break through the opposition line with a perfect hand-off which left the defender floored, the supporting back line was with him every step and released the ball slickly through the hands to put Jon Cox away on the left wing who raced in for his 2nd try. Keighley did manage to respond scoring a 3 point penalty kick, but with 18minutes to go Jon Cox came into the line from his wing on a planned set move went through the resulting hole in the opposition line, and outpaced the fullback to score in the right hand corner for his hatrick. Although Sheffields pack started to tire, they didn't take a backward step, and Martin Balshaw on for Chris Broomhead boosted some pace into the pack. Ben Wattam also giving fresh legs, on for Matt Cooper (who had travelled all the way up from Stoke early morning). The final substitution was Russel Lynch on for Joel Barratt on the wing. Having made those changes Sheffield were looking to finish with a flourish and a further score or two but Keighley started to break the game up, and there were several minor tussles and off the ball exchanges, culminating in the scrum half flooring Andy Kelly at a scrum, and the red card came out. As if to demonstrate the Sheffield confidence Adam Byron tried a rugby league style cross field up-and-under into the opposite corner, and it was only through a lucky bounce that Keighley got away with it. Final Score: Keighley 9- Sheffield 18 . Man of the match voted for by the palyers - Al Cotton. Team: Marples, Hill, Cooper (Wattam), Park, Cotton, Kelly (Balshaw), Elers, C.Broomhead, Poste, Byron, Barrett (Lynch), Carpenter, Amos (c), J.Cox, Roberts. Tries: J.Cox (3), Penalties: Byron (1) Back to homepage Selby 34 Sheffield 7 Promoted last season, Selby were waiting for us and with Diccon Edwards involved, in more ways than one! He combines his current role as Leeds Academy Manager with coaching his home club, Selby and to good effect. They were powerful up front and behind the scrum operated a rugby league style defence. They also had a lad who controlled the game with his boot, from fly half in the first period and full back in the second half. Given that there was a strong wind running, and they had first use of it, it seemed as though everything was against us from the first whistle. We never got off the bus, yet again going behind in the third minute of the game, a nice little inside pass from the Selby 10 feeding his winger who scored under the posts. Not many minutes later, six to be precise, another score, this time from their outside centre, another conversion from the fly half and 14 nil down! We were being pushed all over the place in the scrums where conditions were torrid to say the least. No 8 Chris Broomhead playing in his first competitive game of the season was having to clear up loads of crap ball at the base and without his input things could have been a lot worse. A penalty in the 21st minute and a try from the blind side flanker, both kicks converted by, yes you’ve guessed it, the man in the No 10 shirt and we were 24 nil down. The No 8 went over following a free kick on the half way line and another penalty completed the scoring in the first half. Not that conceding x tries, y conversions and z penalties, all in the first half wasn’t bad enough to witness, I was just left with the feeling that without the efforts of some of the senior players it would have been worse! Half time saw not only a change of ends but a change of attitude and a change of personnel. As expected, Adamo was looking tired quite early into it when he damaged his nose once more and Mike Humphries replaced him in the second row. This was short lived as “Nutty” was shown a yellow card for persistent offending, how cruel, he’d only been on the park for a minute or two. We were beginning to compete, not only in the line outs but around the park as well and eventually it paid off a few minutes from the end when skipper Ryan Amos barged over, finishing off a move that involved good work all round. Adam Byron converted. Back to homepage Sheffield 31 - Malton and Norton 3 The pitch was so hard that if had been a cold February day it would have been deemed unplayable! However, the sun was shining and a reasonable crowd was assembled for our first home game of the season against a team we had never met in the league before! Nigel Dickinson, the referee from West Yorkshire blew and the game started at a frenetic pace with both teams making ground only to make an error short of the line. It wasn’t until the 12th minute when something exceptional occurred and this was in the shape of an typically hard tackle by Adam Byron which caused a turnover. There followed a further period of uneventful stuff and four penalties for “crossing” called against both teams with the fifth such call ending up in a penalty kick at goal that was missed. An unfortunate and accidental clash of heads meant that Tim “CodEye” Cook left the field for some needlework down at the Northern General replaced by Dave Ellis in his last game for a month as he heads back to Australia and New Zealand to visit friends and relatives. From yet another penalty Andy Kelly caught the ball at the ensuing line out and the pack crossed over for a reward after a strong drive. Duncan Park’s try though as he had both hands on the ball! The pitch was taking it’s toll and the visitors had already lost a hooker to a torn calf muscle when a centre had to be replaced because of a damaged shoulder. Sheffield too suffered the loss of the dynamic Martin Balshaw with a damaged ankle so Ramzey Adamo went into the 2nd row with Ellis moving to blind side. A couple of minutes later and another penalty resulted in a score, albeit this time for M&N – No 8 Andy Kelly detached from the scrum and blocked their scrum half American football style - the visitors gained three points for a kick at goal by their fly half. Half time came shortly after with the score 5 – 3 to Sheffield. Ten minutes into the second half and Adam Byron made a break supported by Andy Kelly who found debutant Russel Lynch wide on the left. He cut in, ran and jinked forward and then went to ground allowing quick recycling which got the ball to Duncan Park at full speed. A brilliant hand off and offload out of the tackle and the ball ended up in the hands of Phil Bonner on the perfect line to score wide on the left. Sheffield now had ten points and things were looking good. Malton had a lineout on the left and their fly half put the ball up, not for the first time, and Sheff full back Tom Roberts fielded it at pace. Through a couple of pairs of hands and speedy winger Tom Oben went in for a try which was converted by Adam Byron and breathing space was with us. 17 – 3. A further injury in the visitors’ ranks had brought on one of their veteran players who took exception to the hard hitting game of “our Duncan”. The referee saw fit to sideline them both for ten minutes! A scrum in midfield resulted in Sam Hill taking it against the head and strong running from Ryan Amos saw him get the ball to winger Lynch on the left. He knew exactly where to go and took the score well and with Byron now finding the range nicely the lead had become 21 points. Despite being hampered by a groin strain, the effervescent Phil Bonner broke the line and took Ryan Amos with him. A pass inside however went to ground and another chance was missed. M&N were a tired outfit and the game went from side to side in attack but somehow Sheff couldn’t make the pressure count as they would have liked. An odd foray by Malton was intercepted by Lynch and the crowd gasped as from the ensuing ruck and a neat inside pass from Postie, emerged the figure of Adamo at pace! Amazingly none of the visitor’s could keep up although well into his tenth stride someone [or something] tripped him up when he could and probably should have made the line. Ramzey did however have the presence of mind to offload to Andy Kelly who was in support and he went in unopposed under the posts. Byron chipped to make the final score 31 to 3 and a satisfactory win was recorded. Next week’s away trip to League leaders Selby will prove a far sterner test. Let’s get there and support the lads please. Back to homepage Ikley 31 - Sheffield 28 On a sunny Saturday afternoon Sheffield, keen to get off to a winning start, started their campaign in Yorkshire 1 at Ilkley However a number of late changes meant that there was a distinct lack of weight in the scrum, although the captain, Ryan Amos, was back for Chris Cox who had broken his elbow against the Old Scouts last week. Ilkley had played and won a warm up game against Sheffield at under 13 level, so the senior side were anxious to make amends. The Dalesmen started strongly but soon gave way to intense Sheffield pressure and on two or three occasions it looked as if we would breakthrough by sheer pace! However a few mistakes meant that Ilkley were usually able to relieve their position. What looked like a certain try for Sheff was kicked dead at the last to save the day, but this meant Sheffield had won a five metre scrum. Despite the best efforts of Dave Ellis and Andy Kelly the Sheffield scrum was sent backwards. The ball popped loose and Ilkley hacked on and once inside our half a series of good passing saw Bell use speed and strength to barge over and settle the home sides’ jangling nerves. So with the conversion Ilkely led 7 nil after 15 minutes. 5 minutes later it was 14 – 0 after another scrum and another converted try took Ilkley into a 14 nil lead. The Blue Boys though were not going to give this one up without a fight and a period of sustained pressure resulted in a penalty which was unfortunately miscued and the rest of the half was stalemate. After the break both sides exerted pressure, none more so than Tom Oben who had already shown his pace in the first half. For 15 minutes or so it was end to end stuff. Then, after a kick and chase by Oben a relieving kick by Ilkley’s full back saw the ball punted upfield to Tommy Marples who ran it back, passing to Martin Balshaw in support and ultimately to Amos to score. Byron had damaged his ankle so Jonny Cox took over the kicking duties and struck the ball sweetly through the posts to halve the deficit. There followed the most controversial incident in the whole game as Jonny Cox rose and took a high ball shouting “Mark” for all to hear. Photographs subsequently proved that he was in possession as he fell to the floor but his opposite number ripped the ball out of his hands and scampered across to dot down under the posts. Despite protestations, and sympathy from all quarters on the touchline, the score was allowed to stand! Ilkley’s tight eight were particularly dominant but failed to get their back line flowing, though much of that was due to robust and solid Sheffield defence. Ilkley then turned over a Sheffield quick penalty taking them into our 22 where they knocked on. The Sheffield scrum was again disrupted and the ball taken against the head with the No 8 picking up and feeding inside to his scrum half who scored. The score was converted thus Ilkley led 28 – 7. Then all of a sudden it was 28 – 14 as Sam Hill got one back against the head and some lack-lustre tackling allowed centre Phil Bonner (on for the injured Anthony Carpenter) to burst through to score. The Dalesmens’ composure was lacking but relief came with a penalty after Sheffield infringed at a scrum and the resultant penalty kick made the score 31 – 14 which should have put it beyond doubt, but banana skins were lurking. Another error by Ilkley gifted Sheffield the ball as Adam Byron intercepted and fed winger Jonny Cox to go in and make it 31 – 21 [Yes he converted it despite not bothering to go behind the posts when he could and should have]! Time was running out for the Blue Boys and when Ilkley kicked off they immediately won a penalty wide out. The referee John Clayton was consulted and there were just 2 minutes to go. The kick went wide, Adam Byron restarted, a kick out of defence was charged down and now Ilkley were defending, furiously. 4 consecutive penalties took Sheffield towards Ilkley’s line. 4 more phases and the seemingly inevitable try came with a score under the posts by Ryan Amos. Cox made it 4 kicks out 4 and the final whistle came with considerable relief to the home supporters. Final score 31 – 28. A bit of the curate’s egg about all this, good in parts! At one stage it looked as if we’d get rolled over but everyone dug deep and fought back and were utterly committed. A special mention for Matt Cooper who probably gave his best display in a Sheffield shirt as did No 8 Joel Barratt, having to learn aspects of playing there on the bus on the way to the game! And Tom Roberts, making his debut, dummied and ignored his skipper calling for the ball making plenty of yardage as a result and looks a good prospect! With a bit more luck we could have won it. With a bit more weight we definitely would have! Back to homepage
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