Sheffield RUFC 10 - 3 South Leicester RFC

Sheffield RUFC 10 - 3 South Leicester RFC

Team Selection for Saturday, 27th January 2018

15. Fergus Wood
14. Jamie Pearson
13. Lewis Bowman
12. Frankie Robson
11. Gareth Morley
10. Andy Hodgson
9. Steve Depledge

1. Tommy Marples
2. Ianto Jones
3. Dan Rylance
4. Dom Parsons (Capt)
5. Dave Clayden
6. Tom Womack
7. Sean Casey
8. Gareth Burns

Replacements
24. Ben Whitney (FR)
20. Sam Graham (FR)
21. Joe Cooke (FR)
19. Angus Hughes (FR)
17. Matt Law

The loss last weekend away to Wharfedale was an obvious disappointment to us all, but the commitment shown gave us all a lift. However, the loss of Rupert Broadley to injury during the game is a great blow; he is replaced with the return of Jamie Pearson. We also saw the return to the squad, and the team, of hooker Ianto Jones, out through injury since the28th October in the win over Blaydon, Sam Graham dropped to the bench. Jonny France is still unavailable, but is due to return in the second team match away to Doncaster Phoenix. Unfortunately, back row forwards, Ryan Seabright and Connor Mitchell have both departed to take up career opportunities in London. We wish them well.

Sheffield kicked off, with South Leicester returning with a kick to touch and having secured the ball drove toward South Leicester's 22 metre line. Sheffield were awarded a penalty, with less than two minutes on the clock, and just inside South Leicester's 10 metre line. Unfortunately, Steve Depledge's attempt at goal was both slightly wide and short and South Leicester were able to clear their lines. From the drop out Sheffield knocked on and then gave a penalty for playing the ball in an offside position, giving the visitors the advantage and the ability to mount their first attack, which came to nought with a turnover to Sheffield. The toing and froing continued with both side making errors, but with Sheffield getting slightly better of the decisions with the penalties and therefore, with possession and territory. Sheffield could probably have open the scoring on 14 minutes, when it looked like they had scored just to the left of the posts, but referee, Ben Rayner decided the ball had been lost forward and South Leicester had defensive scrum on their five metre line. A penalty at the scrum enabled South Leicester the opportunity to clear their lines again. With 26 minutes gone Sheffield were awarded a penalty 22 metres out for a deliberate knock by wing three-quarter for South Leicester, Blane Howe, which saw him on his way to the sin bin. Unfortunately, Steve Depledge's attempt at goal hit the post and South Leicester Cleared again. However, a penalty a few minutes later saw Sheffield on the attack on South Leicester's five metre line for second row, Dave Clayden to score. Steve Depledge added the conversion and Sheffield led by 7 points to nil after 33 minutes. South Leicester rallied and Sheffield had to defend for the remainder of the half, but hung on without any real threat to their line from the opposition attack.

The second half saw both sides battling hard, but with little opportunity to score any points through either try or penalty and the toing and froing continued, but with Sheffield having the larger amount of both possession and territory. There was no further scoring opportunity until the 67th minute when South Leicester's blind side flanker, Josh McLaurin was sent to the sin bin, but with Sheffield fly half Andy Hodgson being carried from the field on a stretcher. Steve Depledge converted the penalty to take the lead out to 10 points to nil. From the kick off, both teams decided to try and out kick each other, with South Leicester eventually knocking on just outside Sheffield's 22 metre. However, Sheffield were then penalised at the scrum and South Leicester's fly half, Rickie Aley converted to reduce the deficit to 10 points to 3 after 70 minutes. The remainder of the match was played out without any further scoring opportunity and Sheffield had managed to grind out a very important win over 6th placed South Leicester.

Scoring:-