Sheffield RUFC 6 - 3 Burton RFC

Sheffield RUFC 6 - 3 Burton RFC

Team Selection for Saturday, 28th September 2019

15 Steve Depledge
14 Nick Marshall
13 Lewis Bowman
12 Ben Parker
11 Sion Cowdy
10 Will Hodgson
9 Kai Ramrattan

1 Ben Whitney
2 Angus Hughes
3 Jake Hicklin
4 Dom Parsons
5 Joe Cooke
6 Jason Hignell
7 Matt Adcock
8 Sean Casey
Replacements:-
16 Michael Bradford
17 Tom Womack
18 George Castledine

After the disappointment of the trip away to Bromsgrove Sheffield came to this match at home to Burton to once more be without the services of second row forward, Dave Clayden. Also unavailable were full back Andy Hodgson and inside centre, Jamie Flint. Joe Cooke dropped back from the front row to the second row in place of Dave Clayden and Jake Hicklin returned from the bench back to the front row with Michael Bradford retaining his place on the bench. New man George Castledine was the third man on the bench with Tom Womack.

As the score rather indicates, this match was not a classic of running rugby, but was a battle of wills and desire. Sheffield went off quickly and looked like they would score early on, but Burton’s defence was not to be easily breeched. Then on seven minutes, Burton’s left wing was sin-binned for a deliberate Knock down as it looked like right wing, Nick Marshall, would go over in the corner. Sheffield elected to kick to the corner instead taking the points, but Sheffield could not take advantage of the Burton cleared their lines. Then as if oft the case, Burton were awarded a penalty of their own when full back Steve Depledge knocked on from a high kick and Sheffield went off side. Burton’s full back Will Simpson converted the kick and Burton led by 3 points to nil on thirteen minutes. Sheffield were then awarded a penalty from the kick off, but will Hodgson’s kick drifted agonisingly wide of the posts. Sheffield looked more creative in the backs, but Burton had the upper hand in the scrums, but neither could take advantage and the score remained unchanged to half time, although Sheffield might have scored just before half time, but the ball was dropped just 5 metres out and referee, Josh Burgess decided we could all take a break from the rain.

The beginning of the second half saw Sheffield come out as they had in the first half, full of intent to attack. Sheffield battled to the Burton 5-metre line and were awarded a scrum. Burton were deemed to have erred at the scrum and Will Hodgson was able to convert the penalty to level the scores at 3 points all with 4 minutes of the half gone. The pattern of the game remained much as it had been all through the first half. Lots of lost ball and turn over ball, but little opportunity to score at all. However, as the game began to run toward a conclusion, firstly Sheffield and then Burton had penalty opportunities to go ahead, with George Castledine on sixty-seven minutes for Sheffield and Will Simpson for Burton on seventy-six minutes, both missed. There were further exchanges of turn over ball and territorial kicks, but with time almost out, Sheffield kicked well down the right wing with Tom Womack in hot pursuit, forcing an error from Burton to giver Sheffield a line out on 5-metre. The ball was won and Sheffield began the battle to get over the try line which gradually wound its way in field until there was a ruck under the Burton posts. Suddenly the Ball pooped out on the Burton side and Burton looked to break out. However, referee Josh Burgess blew for the illegal steal of the ball in the ruck. Will Hodgson converted the penalty and the final whistle went for Sheffield to celebrate their three-point win.

Scoring:-