Sheffield RUFC 31 - 18 Northern RFC

Sheffield 31 - 18 Northern

Team Selection - 15th October 2011

15. Alex Hill
14. James Montgomery
13. Joe Cribley
12. Dave McCabe
11. Alistair Womack
10. Donal Collins
9. Matt Poste

1. Tommy Marples
2. Carl Mortimer
3. Will Bennett
4. John Dudley
5. Tom White
6. Dave Ellis
7. Laurence Tomas
8. Andy Kelly ……..… (Capt)

16. Chris Stanney
17. Martin Balshaw
18. Ben Campbell

Following on from the much improved performance away last week at Morpeth we were set to meet another team of northern rivals in the shape Northern RFC, but at home. A late neck injury to Ewan Reed saw Alex Hill move from wing to full back, for Ali Womack to return on the left wing and Ben Campbell to join the squad on the bench, whilst Liam Wallace remains on the injury list. Chris Machen was unavailable, so Will Bennett moved up into the front row at loose head prop and was replaced on the bench by Chris (Viking) Stanney. Tommy (fats) Marples moved from loose head prop to the tight head.

Sheffield started somewhat nervously and a number of early penalties gave Northern both possession and field position, leading inevitably to a kickable penalty, which Northern’s outside centre, Paul Lindsey despatched to give his team a 3 point to nil lead after just 5 minutes. However, Sheffield raised their effort and it was Northern who erred according to referee, Colin Tovey. Donal Collins kick to the right touch line, Sheffield secured the ball and from the base of the ensuing ruck, Matt Poste fed Donal Collins who kicked over the top for left wing Alex Hill and after some further interchange, it was Donal Collins himself that scored the try. Donal Collins also added the conversion and with 10 minutes gone, Sheffield moved into a 7 point to 3 lead.

From the kick-off Sheffield made good progress up the field and looked very dangerous, before a rampaging Will Bennett managed to flatten the referee and the proceedings had to be brought to a halt whilst he received treatment. After some ebbing and flowing, Northern were awarded a penalty, which from their perspective was unfortunately missed. Unfortunately from a Sheffield point of view, Dona Collins put the 22 drop out straight into touch, to put the pressure back onto themselves. Sheffield lost their way a little at this point and after some sustained pressure from Northern conceded a try from a forward drive out on the right which they were unable to convert, but northern had secured an 8 point to 7 lead after 24 minutes of the half.

5 minutes later it was Sheffield again being awarded a kickable penalty, but Collins pulled the attempt to the left and the score remained unchanged. Then with 35 minutes played, Sheffield erred again, but on this occasion Lindsey made no mistake and Northern had taken the lead to 11 points to 7. With the full 40 minutes gone Donal Collins was given another opportunity to kick a penalty, which he took and reduced the arrears to 10 points to 11 and for the half to come to a close.

The second half saw a slightly more confident Sheffield team, resulting more fluidity in the movement of the ball both to and through the backs which provided outside centre, Joe Cribley with an opportunity to add to his tally for the season with a try out wide on the right. Donal Collins added the conversion and with just 3 minutes of the half gone, Sheffield had a 17 point to 11 lead. The game had seen a considerable number of penalties from both sides, but with 8 minutes gone, referee Tovey decided he had had enough, so when prop, Tommy Marples, piled into the ruck from the side and then went over the top, there was only going to be one result, a penalty to Northern and a yellow card for Tommy. However, it seems one of the Northern players took exception and decided to hand out his own version of justice. Mr Tovey was unimpressed and sent both Marples and Northern scrum half, Dave Kay to the sin bin, much to the relief of the Sheffield faithful.

Again the game ebbed and flowed, with neither side making inroads into the others defence, until that is, with 24 minutes of the half gone, Sheffield went completely to sleep. Having defended against a couple of minutes of pressure from Northern in their own 22, the Sheffield defence did not notice a wide and inviting gap near the ruck and almost in front of the posts, however, Northern’s fly half, Patrick Harper did and he waltzed through it without any attempt at all to prevent him. He added the conversion himself and Northern had regained the lead at 18 points to 17.

However, Sheffield regrouped and after some encouraging play and just 33 minutes of the half, it was left to Joe Cribley to add a second try for the day after Northern’s defence had been out manoeuvred. Donal Collins added the extras and Sheffield had once more taken an important if not slender lead at 24 points to 18. There had been numerous stoppages throughout he match, so a long period of additional time was expected, which proved to be the case. However, Sheffield now seemed to be a little more in the ascendancy and Northern seemed to be battling hard to save the bonus point they held at this time, but after a sweeping move firstly from right to left and then back again, Sheffield were able to breach the defence, with right wing James (Moose) Montgomery putting the match beyond doubt with 44 minutes played, scoring wide out on the right. Donal Collins added the conversion and Sheffield had a comfortable lead at 31 points to 18, and with the added advantage of the 4-try bonus point.

The match continued for a further 5 minutes with Northern battling hard to get back into the match, if only to secure a bonus point of their own, but in the end the Sheffield defence held firm and Mr Tovey to bring proceeding to an end.