Billingham 32 - 8 Sheffield

Billingham 32 v 8 Sheffield

Team Selection - 21st January 2012

15. Ewan Reed
14. James Montgomery
13. Joe Cribley
12. Simon Tillyer
11. Alex Hill
10. Donal Collins
9. Matt Poste

1. Andy Gravil
2. Carl Mortimer
3. Chris Machen
4. John Dudley
5. Soloman Prestage
6. Laurence Thomas
7. Martin Balshaw
8. Andy Kelly ……..… (Capt)

16. Will Bennett
17. Dave Ellis
18. Alistair Womack

For the trip to Billingham after the postponement of the match due to a ‘Frozen Pitch’ from last week, we saw Andy Gravil replace Tommy Marples at loose head prop and the return of Chris Machen at tight head prop. Will Bennett returned to the bench as front row cover and Dave Ellis also returned to the squad with a start from the bench, after his trip away over Christmas and New Year to New Zealand.

However, Sheffield were to suffer a reversal away to league leaders Billingham, although the result probably does not truly reflect the whole tenure of the match. Playing against an extremely strong wind, in the beginning Sheffield looked a little of the nature of ‘still on the bus’ and Billingham attacked with some gusto, but Sheffield defended quite well. However, following s number of interesting refereeing decisions, Billingham were awarded a kickable penalty and with 11 minutes gone took a 3 point to nil lead. Following some more interesting decision from our referee, Sheffield found themselves playing with only 13 players, with both Laurence Thomas and John Dudley both being despatched to the sin bin on 17 and 19 minutes.

Billingham took full advantage and given Sheffield’s inability to hold onto the ball, were able to utilise their impressive back division to good effect with two tries before the return of Thomas and Dudley, both tries being manufactured within their own 22 metre area and executed the length of the pitch. Sheffield remained a little shell-shocked and after a poor kick toward the Billingham right corner, they once again began to perform the intricate run around that seem to their trade mark and even with 15 men back on the pitch, Sheffield were unable to contain the attack and again, running out of their 22 once more and Sheffield were undone as Billingham scored a 3rd try and extend the lead to 22 points to nil after 34 minutes.

Sheffield now began to up their game and were much more purposeful. They ere now camping on the Billingham line and eventually were rewarded when Billingham had their wing yellow carded. Sheffield went for the line out in the corner, but the attack was repelled, but Sheffield were again given another penalty which Donal Collins converted for the half the end at 22 points to 3.

Half time saw Dave Ellis replace Soloman Prestage who had suffered a neck injury late on in the half. It also saw Sheffield, now playing with the wind in a much more favourable direction, much in the ascendancy and for the next 30 minutes, rarely leaving the Billingham 22 and with much time spent in their 5 metre line. However, Billingham’s defence was outstanding and Sheffield were just unable to get over the line. 70 minutes gone saw Dave Ellis on his way to the sin bin for a late tackle on the Billingham fly-half and two minutes later Billingham performed their backs ballet again and once more turned desperate defence into scintillating attack to score the 4th and bonus point try. Then just 4 minutes later Billingham did it once again and swept out of defence again and added the 5th try to take the lead to 32 points to 3.

Sheffield continued to press in the later stages and Billingham continued to defend magnificently and as we moved into time added on at the end Sheffield did manage to manufacture a number of opportunities, but Billingham would not relent. However, with 4 minutes added on replacement wing Ali Womack managed to get over in the corner. Collins could not convert the opportunity and Billingham ran out winners at 32 points to 8. Billingham may have been worth their win, but not by the score as was.

Replacements:-
Dave Ellis for Soloman Prestage (40)
Will Bennett for Chris Machen (62)
Alistair Womack for Alex Hill (68)