Sat 6 Sep 2025
Three tries after a nervous start to their league campaign was enough to get Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby up & running at the weekend after a 22pts - 12pts victory over league new boys Hallamshire RUFC in Round 1 of the Counties 4 Yorkshire South competition. Head Coach Aaron Kaye was able to field a strong starting XV, & backed that up with a bench packed full of experience & ability, which was to prove crucial in the closing stages of the hotly contested game. Sponsored by Stocksbridge Fire Station, veteran goal kicker Scotty Bowskill nudged the home side ahead with a well struck penalty. The visitors responded with a well taken try of their own to take the lead, & that's how things stayed in a scrappy first half. Half Time : Stocksbridge Rugby 3pts - Hallamshire RUFC 5pts.
Stocksbridge got their act together in the 2nd stanza, & a neat interception try, saw Jack Spencer, kindly sponsored by the Mustard Pot, dance his way to the line, where the impressive Jono Burton, sponsored by Mr Julian Wilkinson, was able to add the conversion. More Stocksbridge pressure thru the dominant home pack gave speedster Harrison Norman room for the first of his brace of tries, although a defensive lapse allowed Hallamshire back into the game with a converted try. Fortunately, that man Norman, sponsored by David & Jacqueline Lambert, was on hand again to cross the whitewash, with Burton adding the extras. Hardworking back rower Tom Kerr injured a knee & was replaced by the fit again Reece 'diesel' Aspin who enjoyed a late cameo appearance from the bench. Despite their best efforts, Stocksbridge just couldn't score the bonus point try & the game ended with the score, Full Time : Stocksbridge Rugby 22pts - Hallamshire RUFC 12pts.
A commanding display & some astute kicking from the full back position was rewarded with the Asphalt Grid player of the Match award for Jono Burton. Although he was pushed hard by other impressive performances from Norman, Staley-Howson, Max Bevan & Tim Burton. All roads lead to next door neighbours Wortley RUFC & the first round of this Year's Fox Valley Trophy as Stocksbridge make the short journey over the hill in Round 2 of the league competition. Wortley themselves, made a promising start to their league campaign with victory over Sheffield Medics, so a tough task & an exciting clash lies ahead for both teams, kick off is 3pm. The next home game at the Coal Pit Lane Arena is on Saturday 27th September when the Medics will be the visitors.
Club Captain, Andy 'clock tower' Beal said afterwards, 'it's nice to get the season underway with a victory, we could feel the benefit from the tough pre-season we have been going thru', before adding, 'we all feel we have another couple of gears to go & will look forward to it as we improve week on week'.
Written by Andrew Tyers
