Sat 8 Mar 2025
Hessle RUFC, from under the Humber Bridge, were the visitors to the Coal Pit Lane Arena on Saturday for a Round 16 clash in the Counties 4 Yorkshire South competition. Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby hosted their partners & sponsors in their annual event to thank them for their generous support, & they weren’t disappointed as Stocksbridge eventually ran out winners by 25pts – 10pts to cement 4th position in the league ladder, with a total of 8 victories to reflect on. Player/Coach was able to recall the fit again talismanic skipper, Clock Tower Andy Beale, there were recalls also for Lewis Bowman in the front row, & young flier Marley ‘granite’ Teeling on the wing. The bench was stacked with experience with the likes of Reece ‘diesel’ Aspin, Fin Dodsworth, Luke ‘beatle’ Gentles & Jack ‘crazy feet’ Spencer all waiting for their turn. The game started slowly, with each team trying to achieve some dominance in territory & possession, a penalty from a ruck infringement lead to Scotty Bowskill, sponsored by Mr Mark Aston, giving the home side an early lead. The visitors soon got on the scoresheet for themselves when some questionable defence from a scrum gifted Hessle a try. Playing at No 8 this week, Player/Coach Aaron Kaye suffered a ‘stinger’ to the neck from one of several high tackles, & eventually a yellow card was issued with 10 minutes in the sin bin for the next Hessle offender. Bowskill restored Stocksbridge’s lead with a simple penalty, before some great work form the forwards gave ‘slammin’ Sam Whitaker room to reach out & score his first of a brace of tries for the afternoon. Whitaker is kindly sponsored by S&M Pipeworks. Bowskill again on target with the boot to increase the lead. A visiting player was treated for a concussion injury, & Whitaker piled on the agony for Hessle bustling over for another score, again converted by Bowskill to give the hosts a comfortable half time scoreline : Stocksbridge Rugby 20pts – Hessle RUFC 5pts.
The home side had several opportunities to increase their lead, but allowed Hessle back into the arm wrestle with another gift try, which they converted. The pressure told as the visitors used their bench to replace some tiring & injured players, & almost from nowhere, Beale made a break from inside the Stocksbridge half, & fed the supporting Max Bevan to scamper away for the try of the day. Hessle pressed hard but the blue wall stood firm,& Bowskill made good ground with some excellent clearing kicks. Stocksbridge could have, & maybe should have collected their 4th & bonus point try right at the end of the game when Josh Kerr made a telling break from full back, with Fin Dodsworth reacting well to add support, & as a try looked certain, some desperate Hessle defence saved an almost certain score. Final score : Stocksbridge Rugby 25pts – Hessle RUFC 12pts.
The All Property Solutions player of the day award went to veteran goal kicker Scotty Bowskill, )Sponsored by Mr Mark Aston) for an assured & controlled display, especially with the boot. Afterwards Player/Coach Aaron Kaye said. ‘we have prepped well for this game & the result was clear to see, we have no reason to fear anyone in our league if we show the commitment & enthusiasm we delivered today’, before adding, ‘we will keep improving & will look forward to our remaining league fixtures, & a couple more wins.’
The next fixture for Stocksbridge Rugby is away at basement boys Knottingley RUFC on 22nd March, with the league season concluding on 5th April, & a visit from Sheffield Medics + Dentists RUFC looking to avenge 2 league defeats at the hands of Stocksbridge Rugby so far during this campaign.
After the game, Club Chair Mr Philip Watts thanked the title sponsors, club partners & individual player sponsors for their generosity & continued support, & a good time was had by all.
Written by Andrew Tyers
