Sat 28 Sep 2024
Home side Wortley RUFC ran out 36pts – 15pts winners in a thrilling encounter against local rivals, Globe Sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby in the 1st of a trilogy of clashes kindly sponsored by the Fox Valley shopping mall. Fox Valley have also provided match balls, individual Man of the March Trophies along with an overall Fox Valley Cup for the side scoring the most points over the three fixtures, so Stocksbridge have some catching up to do.
With linch pin scrum half, that man Adam Frith missing, young James Christopherson was given the responsibility for the number 9 jersey, Marley Teeling also made his 1st senior rugby start, & there was another return for the mercurial talents of Ben Westby on the flank. The ‘big rig’ Roebuck along with Liam O’Leary & Player/Coach Aaron Kaye were amongst the finishers for the visitors. Stocksbridge were on the back foot almost from the kick off as Wortley full back Iwan Orr danced around a static defence to give the home side the lead. Another Wortley try followed before sustained pressure from the Stocksbridge pack resulted in skipper Andy ‘clock tower’ Beal, sponsored by Mr Mick Gribbins, crashing over in the corner from an astute pass by Christopherson to get the visitors back in the game on the stroke of the half time whistle. Although Stocksbridge shared territory & possession equally with their enthusiastic hosts, a combination of poor execution & wrong decision making let Wortley off the hook. Half time arrived with the scoreline of Wortley RUFC 10pts – Stocksbridge Rugby 5pts & the game in the balance.
Wortley came out of the break with purpose, & 2 quick tries, both converted began to take the game away from the creaking ‘Blue Wall’. The visitors responded with some heavy duty mauling from their excellent line out, lead by Whitaker & Aspin & were rewarded for their efforts when the talisman Beal again stretched out an arm to reach for the try line to keep Stocksbridge in the contest. From the resulting kick off, Stocksbridge were caught cold & the Wortley full back out jumped the visiting forwards to gather the ball & race away to score his 2nd try of the match. Some questionable defending allowed Wortley a further, bonus point try, before a series of punishing forward rumbles from the visitors had the home pack in all sorts of strife. The Official’s patience finally gave way, & although lucky not to concede at least one penalty try, Wortley were hit with 2 sin binnings in quick succession after mounting infringements. With time running out Stocksbridge made the superior numbers tell with a flowing move that saw youngster Marley Teeling, sponsored by Mrs Kaye, outflank the covering defence for his first senior try. It was too little too late for Stocksbridge, as the final scoreline of Wortley RUFC 36pts – Stocksbridge Rugby 15pts meant that Wortley take the Fox Valley Cup until at least the next scheduled league clash in early November. Stocksbridge now drop to 5th place in the Counties 4 Yorkshire South league ladder, & will take advantage of a ‘bye’ week to prepare for their next fixture, the Round 5 clash away at basement club Maltby on 12th October. The drainage work on the match pitches at the Coal Pit Lane Arena is due to finish shortly, so the Club are hopeful for a return to home fixtures for the visit of Hessle on 26th October, with a scheduled kick off for 3pm.
The game was played in an excellent spirit & was a credit to Rugby Union in the local area, the inaugural Fox Valley Man of the Match award went to Wortley full back Iwan Orr, who’s contribution was probably the difference between the 2 team. For Stocksbridge, the Player of the Day, sponsored by Asphalt Grid Systems was leader Andy ‘clock tower’ Beal, with 2 tries & a huge contribution on both sides of the ball.
‘we just have to be more clinical’, said Player / Coach Aaron Kaye afterwards, adding ‘both sides had 7 chances to score tries & we took only 3, while Wortley converted 6 of theirs. That’s the difference.’ Stocksbridge were also held up over the line 4 times, so with a bit of luck & a bit more guile, the scoreline would have been a lot closer.
Photos show action from the match + Fox Valley Man of the Match Iwan Orr with his trophy, & Wortley RUFC taking charge of the Fox Valley Trophy, until the next chapter.
Written by Andrew Tyers
