Sat 17 Feb 2024
With their pitches still unplayable due to the recent weather, the students of Leeds Medics & Dentists sportingly agreed to reverse the fixture & travelled to the Coal Pit Lane stadium to ensure both sides enjoyed a much needed run out at the weekend. The visitors charity didn’t extend to the match itself as they just edged the result by 24pts- to 19pts, with their winning score coming in highly controversial circumstances. There was a minutes silence before the game in memory of former club official, Mr Granville Brailsford who sadly passed away recently. Head Coach, Andy Lawrence gave debuts to two more promising young guns off the Colts conveyer belt, with Fin Dodsworth & Tim Dutton, & both showed up well.
The youthful visitors started brightly against Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby & soon crossed the whitewash with a sweeping long range try, the home side, with Premier Stone Worktops kindly sponsoring all home matches, roared back downfield & a line out win by Reece ‘diesel’ Aspin, lead to a forwards rumble & Jack ‘milky’ Martin, sponsored by Asphalts Grid Systems was ‘jonny on the spot’ to bundle over from close range to draw the home side level. Young Jack Leary failing with the conversion attempt. The game was held up for a short while as a visiting player felt the full weight of a monster Liam O’ Leary shot & was forced off the field & eventually required hospital treatment. The visitors wrestled the lead back with a converted interception try, but Stocksbridge were level on the stroke of half tine as young flyer Harrison Norman, sponsored by Diane Woodcock, danced thru the visitors defence for a super score, & that man Adam Frith, sponsored by Bob Mills Decorating, cooly slotted the conversion to draw the half to a close with the score : Stocksbridge Rugby 12 pts – Leeds Medics & Dentists 12 pts. All to play for in the 2nd stanza.
The students, tho’ lacking in bulk, offered great technique, particularly in the tackle & ‘clock tower’ Beal along with the burly Gary Woodcock were both halted in their tracks with some stubborn defence. The visitors superior fitness & athleticism began to take it’s toll on a tiring home side, & they snatched the lead with a well worked blind side shift from an attacking scrum. Then the moment of controversy, that turned the match, with the visiting No 11, crossing the tryline, but clearly dropping the ball in the act of scoring, missed by an otherwise very efficient official. As the conversion sailed over the try scorer was seen looking a little embarrassed. Stocksbridge were not finished at all, & spent the remaining 20 minutes of the match camped in their opponents red zone 7as they searched for a score of their own. The forwards worked hard with O’Leary, Aspin & both young Martins carrying well, they missed a couple of opportunities when the ball should have been shifted however, the call was to stay tight & work thru the dominant forward pack. Stocksbridge were rewarded when ‘slammin’ Sam Whitaker bundled over from close range from a quick tap penalty for a bonus point score, close enough for skipper Frith to convert. Whitaker is sponsored by S&M Pipeworks Ltd, & the final score was : Stocksbridge Rugby 19pts – Leeds Medics & Dentists 24 pts.
The result leaves Stocksbridge Rugby at the wrong end of the Counties 4 Yorkshire (phase 2) South league table, although Head Coach Lawrence was pleased with the effort & endeavour of his young charges, as he said ‘ We’re not playing badly at all, & the young guys are handling the step up really well’, adding. ‘each week we are improving & learning, & we will improve’. This weeks Uniblock Man of the Match award was presented to Jack ‘milky’ Martin for a hard working performance, many carries & of course, the try. Stocksbridge are off to the East Coast next week to take on Hessle RUFC in a rearranged game in the shadow of the Humber Bridge, this fixture will then be reversed as Hessle will be the next visitors to the Coal Pit Lane arena on Saturday 2nd March, with a kick off time of 3.00pm.
Off the field the Club has confirmed the departure of Bar Manager, Lucie Loxley after 3 years in the role. ‘We would like to thank her for her efforts & hard work whilst in post & wish her well for the future’ said Chairman, Mr Phil ‘donk’ Watts.
Match Report written by Andrew Tyers
