What a difference a week makes

168 little hours

Fate contrived to bring the Sheffield U13 boys over to West Yorkshire a week after they knocked the Brods out of the Yorkshire Cup, and from the off it was pretty obvious that things were not going to pan out the same as last week.

From the whistle the Brods players were ferocious in defence and clinical in attack and were determined that they would not allow their opponents the space and time they had allowed them the week before. Gone was the Sheffield dominance at scrum time too, and the Brods pack gave their backs the chance to show what they're really capable of for the first time this season.

Whether the starting thirteen or those that came on from the bench, it was a solid all round performance by the team, and I f I was to pick a man of the match, which I will because I am writing this, then it would have to be Sam Thackery who was immense with and without ball today. Sam seems to have spent much of the off season growing a beard and moustache and looking like a grown man. As impressive as Sam was, he was closely followed by Toby Morley who showed some excellent decision making and scored a couple of fantastic individual tries. His dad was apparently a bit quick when he still played, but I'd warrant he would struggle to catch Toby these days.

There were lots of tries - ten I think - and some were rather good, and some scored against a tiring Sheffield team that were struggling for numbers once their influential no 8 had gone off with an injury, but all in all a deserved victory. Reports suggest that the Sheffield 8 is fit and well as he was last seen shovelling sausage and chips down his face and just a little sore.