Sat 7 Dec 2024
A cold, blustery, rainy afternoon greeted Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby for their Counties 4 Yorkshire South Round 10 clash with visitors Maltby RUFC. Stocksbridge overcame the conditions & a physical opponent to eventually win the contest by 15pts – 5pts. Again, missing several first choice players, player/coach Aaron Kaye moved himself to the back row this week to partner young Fin Dodsworth & the hard working Josh Kerr. The versatile Jack ‘crazy feet’ Spencer came in at scrum half to partner veteran goalkicker Bowskill, whilst Callum ‘whippet’ Green was moved to full back. Former skipper Adam Roles-Middlehurst & back Luke ‘beatle’ Gentles formed part of a strong bench.
The conditions were always going to dictate where the game was being played, & Stocksbridge, playing with the wind & slope started well, burly prop Gary Woodcock, sponsored by Valley Property Services bulldozed his way over from short range to open the scoring, with Scotty Bowskill, sponsored by Mr Mark Aston, on hand to add the conversion. Bowskill added a mammoth, wind assisted 50 yd penalty to increase the lead after the visitors were penalised for hands in the ruck. In form centre Liam O’Leary, still available for sponsorship, battered his way over for a 2nd Stocksbridge try, too wide for the conversion, half time arrived with the score: Stocksbridge Rugby 15pts – Maltby RUFC nil.
Stocksbridge were forced to roll up their sleeves & defend the fortress with all their might during the 2nd stanza, as their visitors desperately tried to take advantage of the conditions. The ‘blue wall’ held firm for most of the half, as their opponents used some bully boy tactics & tried to intimidate the hosts. Rookie Coach Kaye has instilled some character & resilience into this Stocksbridge squad, & it showed in spades as they repelled wave after wave of Maltby pressure & never gave an inch. One solitary try was all Maltby had to show for their pressure, & this was more down to the Stocksbridge defence & attitude, as much as the visitors’ efforts. As the light faded, & in freezing conditions the final whistle came with the score : Stocksbridge Rugby 15pts – Maltby RUFC 5pts, making this the 3rd win out of 4 games at fortress Coal Pit Lane Arena.
Whilst all players deserve credit for their performance & effort, the Goodlad Contracting Man of the Match went to the swashbuckling Liam O’Leary for another typically committed display from the centre berth.
Stocksbridge Rugby now move up to 3rd place in the competition & have a break from league fixtures until they visit Hessle RUFC under the Humber Bridge for the first fixture of the New Year on 4th January with a 2.15pm kick off.
The next scheduled home fixture will be the clash with basement club Knottingley RUFC on 11th January, with Stocksbridge looking to avenge an opening day defeat at the hands of the West Yorkshire outfit.
Player/Coach Aaron Kaye was full of praise for his charges as he said afterwards, ‘this was a tough physical contest for us, as much against the weather, as against some tough, abrasive opponents, & everyone stood up to it’, before adding, ‘sometimes it’s what you do off the field & in training that gets you thru’ games like this. The boys deserve to celebrate after this latest win, perhaps they are beginning to realise we might just have something building here !.’
Written by Andrew Tyers
