Sheffield 57 - 19 Stockport

Sheffield RUFC 57 - 19 Stockport RUFC

Team Selection for Saturday, 24th October 2015

15. Jimmy Pearson
14. Rupert Broadley
13. Joe Cribley
12. Leigh Sanders
11. Joe McHale
10. Rob Conville
9. Josh Bird
1. Tommy Marples
2. Carl Mortimer
3. Dan Rylance
4. Ben Whitney
5. Dom Parsons (Capt)
6. Connor Mitchell
7. Tom Womack
8. Jonny France
Replacements
16. Ryan Seabright
17. Gareth Morley
18. Dave Clayden

With two very poor performances over the past two weeks and three losses in succession Sheffield needed both a positive performance and win at home, if only to reset ‘Fortress Abbeydale’. Jimmy returned to the squad at full back and Pearson and Gareth Morley returned on the bench. Dave Clayden also rejoined the squad on the bench to cover the pack with Ryan Seabright, with Ben Whitney moving into the second row.

Sheffield came out with all guns firing, something that has been lacking recently, and were on the scoreboard within two minutes with a penalty kick through centre Joe Cribley. However, Stockport demonstrated that they had come to play rugby and were far from being overwhelmed, but a series of errors left them without both possession and territory and allowed Sheffield more freedom than they have been used to recently which resulted in tries on nine and thirteen minutes through Joe Cribley and Jonny France. Cribley added both conversions and Sheffield led by 17 points to nil. Now, in both their most recent matches, Sheffield had reached the magical 17 point score and led the match and had from that point fallen apart. Today however, Sheffield held firm with Joe Cribley landing penalties on 23 and 33 minutes, whilst missing one on 34 minutes, but taking the lead out to 23 points to nil. Stockport’s cause was not helped when wit h28 minutes gone their tight head prop, Sean Gill was despatched to the ‘Sin Bin’ by Cornish referee, Zerren Bell. Sheffield however, kept the pressure on their opponents and were rewarded again on 37 minutes when Jonny France went over for his second try. Joe Cribley obliged with the conversion and Sheffield had a very comfortable lead at 30 points to nil. With half time upon us Stockport demonstrated their ability by tearing off down their left wing, catching Sheffield on the back foot and scored an excellent try wide out on the left through their outside centre Jonny Edwards. Full back George Smith converted and the half time lead was reduced to 30 points to 7 in favour of the home team.

Sheffield came full of attacking fervour and initially overwhelmed the Stockport defence with tries through Gareth Morley on 45 minutes and Rupert Broadley on 47 minutes. Joe Cribley could not add the conversions, but Sheffield’s lead was out to 40 points to 7. Following this Sheffield found themselves playing a man short when following a string of penalties as Stockport found their attacking fervour, and Connor Mitchell was despatched to the ‘Sin Bin by Mr Bell. Stockport were to take full advantage, attacking the Sheffield defence with real gusto and breaching the try line on 54 and 57 minutes through open-side flanker, Ben Marsland and second row, Sam Graham. George Smith only managed to convert the first of the two tries, but Stockport had made large inroads into Sheffield’s lead with the score at 40 points to 19. However, normal service was soon restored with a sixth try on 63 minutes through centre Leigh Sanders. Joe Cribley added the conversion and the lead stood at 47 points to 19. Cribley added a further penalty on 68 minutes and Jonny France added his third and Sheffield’s seventh try, which Joe Cribley converted to effectively kill off the match and leave Sheffield with a fine win with a full time score of 57 points to 19.

Scoring:-

League Table