Team Selection for Saturday, 14th March 2026

# Sheffield RUFC
11. George Castledine
14. Lewis Taylor
13. Matty Drennan
12. Will Smith
15. Chris Hooper
10. Callum Posa
9. Noah Cowan (52)

1. Ben Whitney ● (64; 74)
2. Rhodri Campbell (52)
3. Aaron Lonsdale (74)
4. Josh Redfern (64)
5. Dom Parsons
6. Alex Fawdry (42)
7. Felix Crapper ● (36; 42)
8. Zak Poole
Replacements: -
25. Will Archer ● (52)
17. Alex Keeton (64)
16. Will Hughes (42;
26. Matty Adcock ● (36; 42; 64)
21. Elliot Fisher ● (52)
● Sheffield RUFC Mini/Junior

With our home match against Scunthorpe being postponed three times, we eventually got to play them in the scheduled away match. Having come away from a tough game at Rossendale last weekend, Sheffield were unlikely to take lowly (12th ) Scunthorpe with any less respect. Sheffield’s problem with broken prop forwards was to continue for at least one more week with them all back for nest week’s match with Tynedale. Alex Keeton continued on the bench as prop cover. Therefore, Lewis Taylor would take the vacant spot on the right wing. And Elliot Fisher was to drop to the bench, with Noah Cowan getting the start at scrum half. Rhodri Campbell would start at hooker and Will Archer dropped to the bench.

Sheffield made a fast and furious start to the match, with tries from Chris Hooper and Felix Crapper on six and eight minutes, both converted by Callum Posa to give the visitors a 14 point to nil lead. However, a series of mistakes from Sheffield, probably somewhat over playing, saw Scunthorpe come roaring back. Firstly, we saw Scunthorpe’s hooker, Olly Arnold went over on ten minutes, converted by Will Dark. Then just a few minutes later, Sheffield’s defence was carved open centre Jack Murr scored their second try with Will Dark converting again to tie the scores at 14 points all after sixteen minutes. The chaos continued and Sheffield error rate got no better, leading to a third try for Scunthorpe on twenty-one minutes, scored by flanker, Marcus Payne which was unconverted, but Scunthorpe led by 19 points to 14.

Again, not a long time later, Sheffield found a hole in the Scunthorpe defence and, guess who went through to score, Chris Hooper for his second and Sheffield third with just twenty-seven minutes on the clock, and Callum Pose converted to restore the led at 21 points to 19. The momentum was now with the visitors and a fourth try for the visitors for Lewis Taylor out wide out on the right. Unfortunately, the try was unconverted, but the lead was now at 26 points to 19 after 35 minutes. Sheffield’s fifth try came just two minutes later when full-back, George Castledine burst through the Scunthorpe defence to score just to the left of the points. Callum Posa converted and the lead was now out to 33 points to 19. However, Scunthorpe found a way back with the game in overtime, with winger, Lewis Talbot out wide. The conversion was missed, but Sheffield’s lead was cut to 33 points to 24 at half time.

The second half started even more frantically than the first with Chris Hopper going on over for this third try within the first minute. The conversion was unsuccessful, but Sheffield led by 38 points to 24. However, Scunthorpe came back once more and with forty-nine minutes gone, second row. Dan Longden went over for the fifth try for the home team. Will dark converted again and the lead was cut again at 38 points to 31. Sheffield knuckled down to their task and began to pull away, firstly through a try for Zak Poole, which remained unconverted on fifty-six minutes to take it to 43 points to 31.

A sixth try came seven minutes later when replacement hooker Will Archer went over to take the score out to 48 points to 31, with the conversion missed. The scoring was completed by Felix Crapper scoring his second try and Sheffield’s 9th with seventy-one minutes gone. Callum Posa added the conversion to push the lead out to 55 points to 31. Scunthorpe came back once more and a number of penalties gave them the opportunity to add to their tally. However, their late effort was deemed to be held up over the try-line and when Chris Hooper secured the ball from the goal-line drop out and clear their lines. Despite Scunthorpe now being the dominant team, Sheffield managed to keep them at bay and close the match out.

Scunthorpe RUFC Team: -
Forwards: - 20: Will Dale; 17: Olly Arnold; 3: Jordan Beresford; 4: Grant Elliott (Capt.); 5: Dan Longden; 6: Marcus Payne; 7: James Dyson; 8: Lawrence Pearce.
Backs: - 16: Louie Cooke; 14: Lewis Talbot; 13: Will Dark; 21: Jack Murr; 11: Will Robinson, 12: Ethan Heath-Drury (VC); 23: Joey Mowbray.
Replacements: - 1: Harry Wright; 2: Rory Rendall-Tyrell; 10: Ethan Taylor; 19: Will Horner; 18: Lewis Meyer.

Match Officials: -
Referee: - Max Marshall
Assistant Referees: - Matt Daubney; Jon Rooke.
Referee Reviewer: - Geoff Blackburn.

Up-coming fixtures: -