1st XV v Huddersfield Y.M.C.A.

Sheffield RUFC 29 - 15 Huddersfield YMCA

Starting Line Up - 5th September 2015

15. Andy Hodgson
14. Rupert Broadley
13. Joe Cribley
12. Leigh Sanders
11. Owen Smith
10. Rob Conville
9. Josh Bird

1. Tommy Marples
2. Sam Whitworth
3. Dan Rylance
4. Dave Clayden
5. Dom Parsons (Capt)
6. Alex Fawdry
7. Matt Adcock
8. Jonny France

Replacements
16. Ben Whitney
17. Tom Womack
18. Jimmy Pearson

With the summer break behind us, Sheffield looked forward to the new season in the National Leagues, in National 3 North, and the squad that took to the field was little different to that which ended last season, with the exception of Rob Conville, who decided to take his exams more seriously than his rugby around Christmas, and new boy Owen Smith, who loins us from Sheffield Hallam University.

Sheffield got of to a good start and looked very confident with ball in hand. Huddersfield YMCA had a couple of early penalties which decided to kick to the corner. They either thought that they could easily scorer from the line outs or lacked confidence in their kicker. On both occasions Sheffield came away with the ball and YM’s opportunity had gone. Sheffield showed real style moving the ball easily through the hands, particularly in the backs and were rewarded after 12 minutes with a try through fly half, Rob Conville. Full back, Andy Hodgson added the conversion and the lead was 7 points to nil. However, YY were not going to fold easily and were rewarded for their endeavours just 5 minutes later, with a try through second row James Bell. Full back Sam Fletcher failed with the conversion, so Sheffield held a very lead of 7 points to 5.

Sheffield seemed to find another gear and YM struggled to keep the attacks at bay, and eventually with 25 minutes gone, centre Leigh Sanders bashed his way over out on the right. Andy Hodgson missed the conversion, but the lead was back out to 7 pints at 12 points to 5. Sheffield’s hard work was rewarded twice more in the half with further flowing moves, with tries through Joe Cribley and Tom Womack on 33 and 39 minutes, to lead by 22 points to 5.

Sheffield began the second half as they finished the first and after just 5 minutes of the half, Jonny France score by the posts. Andy Hodgson added the conversion to take the lead out to 29 points to 5. Sheffield obviously decided that the game was won and YM would just go home. However, this was not to be the case and YM came back strongly with scores on 55 and 59 minutes, through centre Adam Ryder and wing Tom Bullock. Sam Fletcher was unable to add the conversion for either, so Sheffield’s lead remained at a good level at 29 points to 15. The final twenty minutes saw no score of any type from either side and the match ended with Sheffield very happy with a first win at this level for many years.

Scoring:-

League Table