Sheffield RUFC 31 - 15 Old Halesonians RFC

Sheffield RUFC 31 - 15 Old Halesonians RFC

Team Selection for Saturday, 22nd October 2016

15. Joe Cribley
14. Rupert Broadley
13. Harry Pratt
12. Tom King
11. Gareth Morley
10. Brad Chandler
9. Steve Depledge

1. Tobi Amemakin
2. Sam Graham
3. Tommy Marples
4. Dom Parsons (Capt)
5. Dave Clayden
6. Alex Fawdry
7. Tom Womack
8. Jonny France

Replacements

16. Dan Rylance
17. Matt Adcock
18. Jordan Hamilton

After the disappointment of last week's Yorkshire Cup match away at Huddersfield Sheffield returned to League action at home to Old Halesonians, top versus third in the league. However, Sheffield were to come to this match without a number of players, full back Fergus Wood, fly-half Andy Hodgson, centre Ben Shore, wing Alistair Womack and forward Ryan Seabright. However they were happy to welcome back Joe Cribley, Harry Pratt and second row Dave Clayden. Tom King came in at centre for his first game of the season, Brad Chandler came in at fly-half and Jordan Hamilton made his debut from the bench.

Sheffield made a lively start winning a penalty after just 2 minutes, but Steve Depledge's radar was not on track and the opportunity went begging. Just a minute later Sheffield managed to turn the ball over on the Old Halesonians 10 metre line and were pushed back to there own 22 metre with a kick. Sheffield then turned the ball over at the line out and suddenly Old Halesonians were on the attack. Sheffield's defence blinked and Old Halesonians had scored in the corner through left wing Andrew Robinson. Full back Chris Hooper missed the conversion, but the visitors led 5 points to nil after 5 minutes. Sheffield got back on track and were rewarded after some fine work from the pack for hooker Sam Graham to score out on the left after eleven minutes. Steve Depledge added the conversion and Sheffield were back on track at 7 points to 5. However, five minutes later Old Halesonians were awarded a penalty which Chris Hooper converted to retake the lead at 7 points to 8.

Things got worse for Sheffield when fly-half Brad Chandler was injured in a tackle on 20 minutes and had to be replaced by Jordan Hamilton. Sheffield had to reorganise, with Harry Pratt moving to full back and Joe Cribley moving up to the fly-half birth. Sheffield suffered a double blow when Joe Cribley took a knock that required stitches and second row Dave Clayden had to leave the field, with flanker Matt Adcock moving into the pack and Jonny France moving out into the centres and Tom King taking on the fly-half role and tight head prop Dan Rylance coming on into the front row with Tobi Amemakin moving to No. 8. The disruption eventually led to Old Halesonians scoring a second try through outside centre Carl Robinson on 36 minutes. Chris Hooper added the conversion and Old Halesonians had a lead of 15 points to 7 to take to half time, with Sheffield missing another penalty right on the stroke of half time. .

However, the half time team talk had the desired and required effect when prop Dan Rylance went over on the left with just two minutes played. Steve Depledge added the conversion from wide out and Sheffield were within one point of the visitors at 14 points to 15. Sheffield began to take control and were rewarded for their efforts when right wing Rupert Broadley powered through the Old Halesonians defence to score on the right. Steve Depledge added the conversion and Sheffield had regained both the lead and the impetus at 21 points to 15 after 49 minutes. Sheffield were then encouraged by the return to the field of both Dave Clayden and Joe Cribley and were able to increase the lead with a penalty on 54 minutes, converted by Steve Depledge. Sheffield were back in scoring mode again after five minutes with a try under the post by Steve Depledge, with Old Halesonians Hooker Jordan Paige getting a yellow card for what the referee indicted was a kick at or trip on Depledge. Steve added the conversion and the lad was out to 31 points to 15 with 20 minutes to go. However, two further yellow cards were to be handed out, with both Jonny France and Old Halesonians No. 6, Adam Clayton going off on 62 minutes. Neither side came close to any serious opportunity to add to their scores, and the match finished with Sheffield taking the points including a bonus point.

Scoring:-