After a strong showing in pre-season, Sheffield going unbeaten against Pontefract and Bakewell 1st XV’s, hopes were high for our first game of the season against Yarnbury. Although technically a friendly, with competition for places greater than ever, Sheffield were keen to put down a marker for the season and get the ball rolling towards a successful league campaign.

A strong team was assembled by team manager Al Cotton – old stalwarts of the seconds Ramsden, Walker and Danish were supplemented by some much needed pace and youth. Also worth a mention was the return from fat camp and ACL surgery of Michael Bradford – who went on to claim the man of the match award with a strong all round display.

Sheffield started off down the hill and played with organisation and at a tempo our hosts couldn’t contend with. Going through the phases Sheffield looked sharp and soon crossed for the first try by Ali Womack. A few minutes later some good tactical kicking by the weighty half back pairing of Parker and Holland resulted in good territory. A couple of strong scums later Sheffield were awarded a penalty try for continued infringement at the scrum by Yarnbury – credit to the pack who scrummaged well all day.

At 14 nil, after no more than ten minutes, Sheffield took their foot off the gas. Yarnbury upped their game and Sheffield looked complacent for a 20 minute period, with the early tempo and patience going out of the window. Yarnbury scored a well worked try however the Sheffield defence made it easy for them. Still a couple more Sheffield tries were scored - one through Dan Williams showing good pace down the right touchline following good hands from centres Gaz Morley and Joe Mchale. At 24-5 going into half time there was plenty of room for improvement however with the last play of the half Sheffield gifted Yarnbury 7 points who were now back in the game at 24-12.

Manager Cotton then dished out a few harsh words at half time and the feeling within the team was that there was plenty of room for improvement if we played properly. Changes were made with Henry Tier going off with an injured arm to be replaced by the galloping ginger stallion Ryan ‘Seabiscuit’ Seabright fresh from his annual summer hibernation. George Craig replaced Big Ian at prop and Adam Davenport came on for Carrington, final sub brought on Adam Middleton for Ben Shore.

In the second half Sheffield played some excellent rugby, clear patterns of play were adhered too and the tries soon flowed with some great team tries scored. Yarnbury never really got a look in and most pleasing of all was the hunger to turn the ball over and some of the handling throughout the team. Further tries followed for Conor (x2), Mchale, Shore, Bradford and another for Womack. Adam Middleton impressed with some strong running and two tries to his name.

Yarnbury stuck at it and scored a try under the posts to their credit with a good move in midfield however it was a good day for Sheffield and a final score of 65-19. Still a lot to work on and as the team plays more together there is certainly the potential for a really strong team, our Merit league campaign gets underway at Abbeydale on 26th September against Scunthorpe, the week after that it’s an away game against champions Wharfedale.