The long winter break has not done the fortunes of our second XV any harm at all, and neither has the regular call up to the first XV of a number of players to cover for absentees due to flu, holiday or any other unjustified reason (not too serious). In the last two weeks the second XV have despatched a very strong Sandal 2nd XV, 42 to 19 at home in a friendly, and an equally good Wharfedale 3rd XV (Development Squad), 19 to 10 away at Wharfedale in the Yorkshire 1 Merit League. So it was with no ill placed optimism that they came to this Merit League game at home to a Scunthorpe 3rd XV who were joint top of the table with our local rivals, Sheffield Tigers.

With the 1st XV away to North Ribblesdale, in Settle, team manager Danny Porter was able to take advantage of the availability of a number of players returning to the squad, including captain Rob Holland in the centre, Greg Hurst at full back, Andrew Enevoldson and Mark Walker in the back row, all of whom have been with the 1st XV since the Christmas break, covering for a number of absentees. In addition, we saw the return of Ali Womack from Australia, watching our cricketers winning the Ashes. Also in the squad were Paul Sellens, Guy Titman, Adrian Montague, Chris Stanney and Dale Goulding, all of whom have at some stage this season featured with the 1st XV. Making his debut in the senior teams at scrum half was 17 year old Senior Colt, Callum Faulkener.

Scunthorpe started the stronger and were soon awarded a penalty opportunity, which they despatched comfortably to take a 3 to nil lead. Sheffield responded a few minutes later, with fly-half Nick Cook adding a penalty to tie the scores. However, Scunthorpe continued to press and were awarded another penalty opportunity and they once more led by 6 points to 3. With some 20 minutes gone Sheffield began to make inroads into the Scunthorpe defence and it was not long before Sheffield were able to score a try out on the right, Nick Cook added the conversion and Sheffield now led by 10 points to 6.

Sheffield’s speedy backs and forwards began to move Scunthorpe around the park and a number of holes began to appear in their defence, allowing Sheffield to get behind the defence and add another score, again converted by Nick Cook. Whenever Scunthorpe obtained possession, it seemed to be their game plan to kick the ball away, and whilst this was done particularly well by Scunthorpe’s fly-half, it merely gave possession back to Sheffield who revelled in throwing the ball around as much as possible with Backs and forwards combining well together. However, Scunthorpe defended stoutly and even made inroads into Sheffield territory in attack. Unfortunately for them their only reward was another penalty kick to reduce the deficit to 17 points to 9. Sheffield continued to press and before half time, were again able to break free to score a third try, converted once again by Nick Cook.

Sheffield led by 24 points to 9 at break, but came out in the second half to face a tiring Scunthorpe team, going on to score 5 more tries, with 4 converted, before Scunthorpe could add to their tally, some 5 minutes from time. Scunthorpe rallied and cut a swath through the Sheffield defence to add a try of their own close to the posts, which they converted, reducing the Sheffield lead to 60 points to 16. However, almost immediately, Sheffield drove on up field and recorded their 9th try of the match, Nick cook added the conversion and the game came to an abrupt end with Sheffield as worthy winners by 67 points to 16, Nick Cook having kicked 2 penalties to go with his 8 conversion and 2 tries.

Scorers were:-
Tries: Callum Faulkener 1
Ali Womack 2
Tom Metcalf 2
Nick Cook 2
Dale Goulding 2
Conv: Nick Cook 8
Pens: Nick Cook 2

Match details

Match date

Sat 22 Jan 2011

Kickoff

14:15

Meet time

12:45

Team overview

Sheffield (2) 67 - 16 Scunthorpe (3)

Sheffield's 2nd XV march forward with 3rd impressive win in a row.

Match details

Match date

Kickoff

Meet time

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