Sheffield 3rd XV 55 Sheffield Oaks 3

Sheffield 3rd XV get off to a winning start at Abbeydale.

Sheffield 3rd XV played with far more structure this week and ran out comprehensive winners against Sheffield Oaks 2nd team.

The Sheffield pack was strengthened by the return of Scott Bellamy, a fine debut performance by Simon Miles, both playing at lock and Tom Bishop, also making his senior debut for the club, at tight head prop. Rob Price enjoyed an excellent afternoon in the lineout, securing all of the Sheffield ball and stealing a number of balls off Oaks. Therefore with the set piece far mare secure than the previous week the Sheffield back line had ball to play with and used it to good effect.

Alex Stephens, playing at full-back, made one of his customary breaks from deep on 5 minutes, somehow eluding a number of would-be tacklers to score under the posts. Brett Tharne-Loose, who controlled the game extremely well from fly-half, added the extras.

Tries were to then come thick and fast, with Rob Price crashing over from a 5m scrum and Alex Stephens going over for his second on 24 minutes. Both tries were converted by Brett Tharne-Loose, who kicked well out of hand and off the floor all afternoon. Then inexplicably with the try line at his mercy Alex Stephens dropped the ball, however to save his blushes the referee rather generously awarded Sheffield a penalty try and Brett added the extras.

Sheffield rounded off the first half with a try from outside centre Johnny Shaw, who was beginning to link up well with his inside centre Andy Logan. With Brett banging over yet another conversion the score at half-time was 35 nil.

Sheffield continued to dominate the second half and started to ring the changes using all 6 players off the bench. Andy Logan went over for a score in the left hand corner on 44 minutes and not to be out done Robin Drinkall, playing right wing, went over in his corner on 47 minutes. Unfortunately Brett was just wide with his conversions of both these tries.

Pete Walker, playing at hooker, got his reward for a fine afternoon’s work crashing over from close range on 62 minutes and Ollie Powell finished off the scoring on 70 minutes with a powerful run down the right hand touch line.

James Sen also made his debut for the club, replacing Brett Tharne-Loose at fly-half on 65 minutes.