Sat 1 Feb 2025
Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby claimed the Fox Valley Trophy at the weekend with a scrappy 25pts-10pts victory over local rivals Wortley RUFC. Stocksbridge have won the series 2 games to 1 to claim the Cup in it’s inaugural season. There was a sizable crowd at the Coal Pit Lane Arena, as both sides observed an impeccable minute’s silence before kick- off in memory of former player, Captain & Club legend Craig Hollingsworth who passed away recently. Player/Coach Aaron Kaye was forced to dig deep into his playing roster as injuries continue to disrupt the selection process, happy hooker Mikey ‘vegas’ Hartley made a welcome return to action after 18mths on the sidelines, with former skipper Adam Roles-Middlehurst gaining a starting jersey too. ‘slammin’ Sam Whitaker & Liam O’Leary bolstered the subs bench with young flyers Teeling & Staley-Howson accompanying veteran winger Joe Jones as outside back options. Playing up the slope, Stocksbridge made a good start, applying pressure on the visitors’ line, Goldworthy, Dodsworth & Watts were heavily involved, whilst burly prop Gary Woodcock & talisman skipper Andy ‘clock tower’ Beal tested the Wortley defensive line. Quick thinking by that man, scrum half Adam Frith from a penalty award set the forwards in motion, & as the defence were drawn in an overlap was created with Woodcock eventually feeding the supporting Tom Kerr from full back to open the scoring, Kerr is kindly sponsored by Sheffield Refractories. The trusty boot of Scotty Bowskill added the conversion. A period of unforced errors, inaccurate passing & general scrappy play allowed Wortley back into the game, & the enthusiastic visitors levelled the score with a try & conversion of their own, after back to back penalty infringements from the Stocksbridge pack. In a tight first half Bowskill, sponsored by Mr Mark Aston, & the Wortley kicker traded penalties to keep the score level. With a trophy on the line the game threatened to boil over at times, & that man Adam Frith was sin-binned for cynical foul play, preventing a quick tap penalty, just before the Wortley centre also received 10 minutes in the sin bin for a reckless high challenge on the improving Jake Bevan. Half time arrived with the score: Stocksbridge Rugby 10pts – Wortley RUFC 10 pts, & both sides down to 14 men.
Some stern words & direction from the home Coaching staff during the interval seemed to spur Stocksbridge into life, as they were soon gaining real estate down the slope. As the visitors defence became stretched, some of the tackling became desperate, & a string of penalties were awarded. Bowskill again nudged Stocksbridge into the lead from 30yds, rebounding off the post. The Referee issued a team warning to the visitors over their continued illegal tackling & it was no surprise as another Wortley player made his way to the sin bin for transgressing again. Stocksbridge were dominant & O’Leary & Whitaker added some ballast & go forward to the home pack, they had numerous opportunities to score however, some of the handling failed at crucial moments. Stocksbridge also had a malfunctioning line out, which allowed Wortley to clear their lines. With Beal & Kaye sideline thru injuries, Stocksbridge had to look for others to step up, & youngster Marley ‘granite’ Teeling opened the visiting defence up with a sprint down the flank, the ball was recycled & a well timed pass from Spencer found Kerr running a great line to crash over under the posts for his 2nd try of the afternoon, Bowskill again adding the extras. Wortley were unable to break the stranglehold as the ‘blue wall’ held firm, the best was yet to come as a sweeping back line move involving Frith, Bowskill, & ‘the storm’ Norman gave Spencer, who had a solid game in the centre, space to provide Kerr with his hat-trick try in the corner to seal the destination of the Fox Valley Trophy. There was still time for some youthful exuberance from Cole Staley-Howson who received a yellow card for a reckless high tackle, just before the final whistle Final score : Stocksbridge Rugby 25pts – Wortley RUFC 10pts.
The Asphalt Grid Systems man of the match award went to Tom Kerr, for a great hat trick of tries, whilst the Fox Valley MVP was presented to that man Adam Frith for a good all round display, inspite of his yellow card. Frith is sponsored by Brian Mills Decorating Services. Along with the Fox Valley Trophy, the win sees Stocksbridge cement their 4th position in the Counties 4 Yorkshire South league ladder after 14 rounds & with a ‘bye’ week to come, their next fixture is away at Maltby RUFC on 15th February.
The next home game will be the Sponsors Day Fixture against Hessle RUFC on 8th March, when the kick off time will revert to 3pm.
A delighted but battered Captain Andy ‘clock tower’ Beal said afterwards, ‘a lot of that wasn’t pretty, & we made far too many unforced errors, but we stuck at it & came good in the end’, before adding. ‘I’m chuffed to bits to have won some silverware for our Club, & I just hope these boys are aware of just how good they could become’.
Head Coach Aaron Kaye, celebrating his birthday said, ‘a win in any cup match is all that you need, & we ground one out here. I’m excited at the development of this squad & the attitude, we can still improve in all areas’.
Written by Andrew Tyers
