Sat 9 Nov 2024
Back to back victories, & a rare league double over the students of Sheffield Medics + Dentists RUFC is slowly turning the Coal Pit Lane Arena into a fortress as Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby survived a nervy last few minutes to hold on for a thrilling 22pts – 17pts victory. With no fewer than 17 players unavailable for one reason or another, flier Callum ‘whippet’ Green was passed fit to play just before the start, whilst veteran goal kicker Scotty Bowskill was recalled to the fly half berth to partner that man Adam Frith at half back. Youngster Joey ‘half pint’ Martin joined skipper Andy ‘clock tower’ Beal in the boiler room, & Harrison ‘the storm’ Norman reverted to his more familiar centre role linking up with the improving Jake Bevan as Player/Coach Aaron Kaye delved deep into his playing roster.
The students are a young, fit, well drilled team & the home side, with plenty of early possession found them hard to break down. Beal caught a high shot, & Bowskill opened the scoring with a simple penalty. Bowskill then doubled Stocksbridge’s lead with another penalty for on off-side infringement. The eager students defended manfully, but were reduced to 14 men for consistently being caught off-side, again Bowskill made them suffer. The Stocksbridge pack were dominant with Beal, burly prop Woodcock & raging bull Joe Smith all making good ground, & a well worked line out drill, gave Frith the opportunity to work his forwards into a position for Mason Goldsworthy, kindly sponsored by the Wilkinson family, to crash over the line for a superb score. Bowskill enjoying a great kicking game, converted from near the touch line to leave the half time score: Stocksbridge Rugby 16pts – Sheffield Medics + Dentists nil.
The 2nd stanza started well enough for the home team, with a further yellow card for a visiting player as the match official grew tired of the students’ ill-discipline. Again, Bowskill was on hand to deliver another successful 3pts & extend the lead. The talented students managed to put some phases of possession together & scored a try of their own, out flanking the covering defence. Stocksbridge were rocked when burly prop Gary Woodcock saw yellow, & a spell in the sin bin for his part in a tip tackle. A 5th successful penalty kick from the confident Bowskill drew the home side more than 2 scores ahead as the game went into the final quarter however, Bowskill then went from hero to villain as he too received a yellow card & a sin bin for a needless high tackle. This seemed to light the fire of the visitors who stretched the Stocksbridge ‘blue wall’ to breaking point as they scored a further 2 unconverted tries in the closing minutes, & only 2 magnificent, committed try saving tackles from the experienced Pat O’Leary & youngster Marley Teeling saved certain tries from the speedy visitors. Stocksbridge were relieved & delighted to hear the final whistle & a full time score of : Stocksbridge Rugby 22pts – Sheffield Medics + Dentists RUFC 17pts.
This result cements Stocksbridge in 5th place of the Counties 4 Yorkshire South league table, just a point behind neighbours Wortley who visit fortress Coal Pit Lane on 30th November for the 2nd instalment of the Fox Valley Trophy. Skipper Andy ‘clock tower’ Beal, kindly sponsored by Mr Mick Gribbins, received the Bradfield Brewery Man of the Match award for a dominant display, particularly in the line out & providing some astute & inspirational leadership when his team needed it. ‘the boys stuck to task, & were prepared to put their bodies on the line for the badge’, declared a wounded but content skipper Beal afterwards, adding, ‘we might not have had the game management to see this victory home in the past, but it shows how we are improving that we can hang on in there, when the chips are down’.
Stocksbridge have another home fixture next weekend when league leaders Dearne Valley RUFC are the visitors & Player/Coach Aaron Kaye sees no reason why the club can’t make it a hat trick of home wins on the spin, ‘winning is a good habit to get into,’ he said, ‘there are still areas for us to improve, & we will be working on them during training’. Kick off on Saturday is 2.15pm & another vocal /Stocksbridge crowd is expected.
Photos are try scorer Mason Goldworthy & the 2 teams lining up together paying their respects during remembrance weekend.
Written by Andrew Tyers
