Sat 19 Nov 2022
A hard fought 3 tries to nil win over Hornsea RUFC earned Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby a second successive home victory, & a jump to 6th place in the Counties 4 Yorkshire league ladder.
Still missing several fist team regulars, Head Coach Andy Lawrence was still able to select a strong squad with Ben Tyers & Pat O’Leary forming a useful partnership in midfield, outside the recalled Jack Spencer at fly-half.
Clock Tower Andy Beal returned to partner Vice Captain Sam Whitaker in the 2nd row, whilst versatile front rower Ricky Rooney mover to the hooking berth. There was a welcome return to action for last season’s skipper Adam Roles-Middlehurst taking his place on the replacements bench. The rain halted just prior to kick off, as the home side chose to attack the slope in the first half. Kicking off with the matchballs kindly supplied by Charlesworth Landscapes, Stocksbridge immediately went on the front foot with the pack dominating their opponents, Beal, Whitaker & the consistent Woodcock making good ground in forward charges. Stocksbridge went close to opening the scoring when No 8 Jack ‘milky’ Martin was tackled just short of the line, & again when Tyers found supporting full back Saddington who was held up inches from the whitewash. With almost all the play in the Hornsea territory, the visitors gave away a succession of penalties, & a deliberate knock on saw the visiting fly-half dispatched to the sin bin for a ten minute spell. Stocksbridge took advantage of the superior numbers, & a massive scrum effort pushed the Hornsea pack back over their try line for Martin to plunge on the ball & open the scoring close enough for Spencer to convert. Both Jack Martin & Jack Spencer are available for sponsorship. The half ended with Stocksbridge again dominating both territory & possession, & a score of Stocksbridge Rugby 7pts – Hornsea nil.
Hornsea came out fighting for the 2nd stanza & forced to defend their line. The ‘blue wall’ held firm with some excellent cover tackling & a determination to not let them pass. Stocksbridge gradually regained their ascendancy & a well worked line out won by Reece ‘diesel’ Aspin, began a forwards rumble which resulted in the ‘clock tower’ Andy Beal, sponsored by Mr M Gribbins, powering over from close range to extend the lead. The aggressive home defence kept Hornsea at bay, as Stocksbridge were reduced to 14 men for a spell when back rower Johnny Gill received a yellow card & a sin binning for a high tackle. Further pressure nearly produced a score for the rampaging Bowman, before that man Frith found space for Tyers to delay his pass as John Saddington, sponsored by Mr N George, burst thru a gap & rounded the despairing visiting full back to score the 3rd try, which Spencer improved to leave a final score of: Stocksbridge Rugby 19pts – Hornsea nil.
The Goodlad Contracting Man of the Match winner was named as Ricky ‘rooney’ James, sponsored by Wilson Construction, for a hard working display on both sides of the ball. Most observers would agree that it was an encouraging all round team performance that contributed to the victory. Head Coach, Andy Lawrence was understandably pleased with the performance, ‘we worked hard, particularly in defence to shut them out’, he said, adding ‘our commitment to training & to each other is beginning to pay dividends, & the boys are enjoying these wins’. Stocksbridge Rugby now face a run of 3 tricky but winnable games on the road away at Leeds Modernians, Hornsea & Mosborough before hosting Knaresborough at Coal Pit Lane on 17th December in the traditional Christmas Jumper Game, with a 2.15pm kick off.
Match Report written by Andrew Tyers
