Team Selection for Saturday, 6th December 2025

# Sheffield RUFC
11. George Castledine
14. Cameron Catleugh
13. Matty Drennan
12. Will Smith
15. Chris Hooper
10. Callum Posa
9. Elliot Fisher ●

1. Aaron Lonsdale
2. Rhodri Campbell
3. Jake Hicklin
4. Archie Crapper ●
5. Dom Parsons
6. Alex Fawdry
7. Josh Redfern
25. Zak Poole (Capt.)
Replacements: -
16. Will Archer ●
17. Alex Reid
18. George Rogers ●
19. Matty Adcock ●
20. Jack Dawson
● Sheffield RUFC Mini/Junior

Following the postponement of our match with Scunthorpe for the second time due to our pitch being waterlogged, we were to face Wharfedale, who have had a challenging early season and lie in ninth place. However, a visit by Wharfedale or a trip to them is never, is always challenging in itself. Sheffield were to start with the same fifteen and also the same make up on the bench.

Sheffield were to make less than auspicious start to the match, with Wharfedale kicking off and also winning possession of the ball. They were instantly rampant with Sheffield were being forced to try and defend their try line. However, with the game only a minute old, the line was breached, with loosehead prop, James Meehan crashing over under the posts. Fullback, Archie Hadden added the easiest two points he can ever have been asked to convert. However, Sheffield would regain their composure and little by little began to take control of the proceedings. However, the pressure began to take effect and a couple of penalties helped Sheffield get a foot hold in Wharfedale’s ‘Red Zone’, leading to backrow forward Josh Redfern stretching out to touch down over the line. Callum Posa added the conversion and with ten minutes on the clock the scores were level at 7 points all. Sheffield were to continue to keep the pressure on the visitors and again the pressure allowed Sheffield to break down the left for centre, Matty Drennan to round the defence and touch down for the second try. Callum converted again and after nineteen minutes, Sheffield led by 14 points to 7. By this point in the match, the heavens had opened and we wee being deluged with copious amounts of driving rain.

However, from the restart, some Sheffield indiscipline saw Wharfedale able to gain some ascendancy and further indiscipline saw the visitors with a penalty inside Sheffield 22-metre. They elected to take the kick at goal, and again Archie Haddon did not make any mistake to reduce the lead to 14 points to 10 after twenty-three minutes. Again, Sheffield began to get back on track, but Wharfedale’s defence remained pretty firm until Sheffield managed to open them up on the right and Cammy Catleugh crashed over in the corner. There followed a lengthy discussion between the referee and the assistant leading to the try being awarded, later confirmed by a match photograph. The conversion was unfortunately missed, but Sheffield had extended the lead to 19 points to 10 after thirty-two minutes, and the half was to end without any further scoring.

The second half with the weather continue to bash the players and pitch there was little to get excited about. However, once again Sheffield found themselves on the wrong side of referee Mick Harris, and further back-chat did not go down well with the referee and the home team found itself being marched backwards on a few occasions. Eventually, the damn broke and Wharfedale took the opportunity to kick another penalty kick at goal and Archie Haddon duly obliged to reduce the lead once again to 19 points to 13 with forty-nine minutes. It took a further ten minutes for either team to add to their score. Sheffield managed to mount a strong attack in Wharfedale’s 22-metre for centre Will Smith to score Sheffield’s fourth try and secure the try scoring bonus point. Callum Posa added the conversion and Sheffield’s lead was now out to 26 points to 13 after sixty-five minutes.

Sheffield were now able to keep the pressure on as Wharfedale visibly tired and eventually the door opened and a break down the right flank involving number of players saw Will Smith through a dummy before going over wide out on the right for his second and Sheffield’s fifth try. Callum Posa’s conversion hit the left upright and then the left, but dropped harmlessly on the wrong side of the crossbar, but Sheffield lead was now out to 31 points to 13 with sixty-five minutes on the clock. Wharfedale made a series of replacement, interchanges and suddenly looked much more threatening and eventually, with the help of few penalties, were pounding on the Sheffield try line. However, Sheffield defence held firm and were able to clear their lines. With the match almost out of time, Sheffield managed to mount a late attack in Wharfedale’s 22-metre. A long pass from mid field out to the left, presumably aimed at winger Chris Hooper, was intercepted by Aaron Lonsdale, who had only just rejoined the bench one minute previously, who proceeded to barge over to score the sixth and final try. Calum Posa added the conversion and the match concluded with Sheffield taking all the honours at 38 points to 13.

Wharfedale RUFC Team: -
Forwards: - 1: Jimmy Meehan; 2: Dan Stockdale; 3: Reece Ward; 4: Zeb Heys; 5: Simon Borrill; 6: Jake Armstrong; 7: Rowan Tweedale; 8: Joe Fawcett
Backs: - 15: Archie Hadden; 14: Omari Kaup-Samuels; 13: Bradley Viner; 12: Oli Cicognini; 11: Jack Cherry; 10: Jack Greg; 9: Ollie Riddiough
Replacements: - 16: Sid Holden; 17: Sydney Middleton-Smith; 18: Fin Brewster; 19: Dan Wills; 20: Oliver Macnab

Match Officials: -
Referee: - Michael Harris
Assistant Referees: - Dr James Gray; Dean Lythgoe.

Up-coming fixtures: -