Sheffield Colts Reach Yorkshire Cup Final

Sheffield RUFC Colts reach the Yorkshire Cup for the third time after beating Old Brods in an absorbing encounter.

It might be the end of the season but the matches are coming thick and fast for Sheffield Colts at the moment. Next week we have Bromsgrove in the national cup but first was a clash against one of the best sides we have faced in the local area in the Yorkshire Cup Semi Final.

Old Brods were warming up on the pitch when we arrived and they looked physically sizeable and very determined - it felt as though Sheffield would have to work hard this afternoon.

The first half did not disappoint - it ebbed and flowed with both sides putting in good passages of possession and defending resolutely. Sheffield had the edge in the scrum while Old Brods lineout (and rolling mauls) were proving a handful. Somewhere a breakthrough had to occur and it was Old Brods who took the lead with a passage of play that led to their winger getting the better of the Sheffield backs and sneaking in the corner - although there was some doubt as Sheffield managed to wrestle him in to touch but it was adjudged a try after the referee consulted with the touch judge.

As so often this season it sparked Sheffield into life and immediately pressure was built up on the Old Brods 22 through a combination of powerful forward drives and some slick passing and handling by the backs - this led to Joe Peckett squeezing through the Old Brods defence to get Sheffield's first try. It is also a credit to Joe who was only playing due to an injury to Sebastian Battersby and was suffering a shoulder injury himself. (In addition Joe, managed this while playing in his swimming trunks, school socks and a shirt borrowed from his brother...!)

Both tries had missed conversions and they went in at half time all square and that was fair score.

The second half saw Sheffield go up a gear and with constant pressure brought another try for Joe Peckett who broke away from his marker and with a burst of pace swan dived over the Old Brods line. Then 10 minutes later after another passage of power play Ben White made a superb break managing to slip 2 or 3 attempted tackles and slipped a superb pass inside to Sam Veall who was not going to miss from that range for the try of the game. This time Ben White grabbed the conversion. Sheffield could and should have had at least two more tries with breaks from Sam Veall and Ed Topley only just coming to nothing just shy of the line. There was a lot of pressure from Sheffield and how a penalty scrum was not converted into points (ignoring pleas from the bench to take the three points) only they will know.

Through all this though Old Brods were not just making up the numbers and had sporadic probes into the Sheffield half, and as the game began to tick down Old Brods found themselves with a penalty near the Sheffield 22. They kicked for the corner and their superior lineout and rolling maul was made to count with a rumbling converted try of power and organisation. This brought them within 5 points of Sheffield and that spurred Old Brods to a desperate last ditch attempt to seize the win. Sheffield made trouble for themselves by losing possession and the ball arriving at their large and mobile full back who made in roads into Sheffield territory - eventually gaining a penalty. However said full back did not find touch and the ball fell to Ed Topley who gratefully kicked in to touch to prompt the final whistle.

It was another absorbing encounter and a good test for what will be another very tough match against Bromsgrove in the national cup next Sunday. However Sheffield do not need to fear anyone and at their best can give anyone a game - just don't let any complacency set in!

The final will be at Moortown (date TBA) against Old Rishworthians.