Sat 3 Oct 2026
A 6 try mauling away over much fancied Dinnington's 2nd string, resulted in a bonus point victory for Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby in their opening fixture in the Counties 4 Yorkshire C competition at the weekend. A final score of 38pts to 12pts was no more than the visitors deserved, with a fine all-round display by all of the match day squad.
Stocksbridge agreed to switch the tie, to help with Dinnington's sponsors day celebrations, but their generosity ended when the whistle was blown to start the match.
With regular scrum half that man Frith unavailable, the versatile Jack Spencer slotted in at scrum half to partner veteran Scotty Bowskill. Head Coach Aaron Kaye selected a huge, physical pack with Woodcock & the big rig Jack Rooney in the front row, & a welcome return to fitness for back row men, the evergreen Reece 'diesel' Aspin & Finlay Dodsworth. Stocksbridge fielded a youthful pacey set of backs, & an experienced bench which included the returning Luke Birch.
The visitors struck first with Max Bevan, sponsored by Lyn Armitage Sports Massage & Well-being, touching down at the end of some good work by the forwards, Bowskill added the extras. The boiler room set up the next score as first skipper Beal, then Whitaker made holes in the home defence, & Finn neatly found Aspin, sponsored by club chairman Mr Phil Watts, to score a further try. Bowskill narrowly missed the conversion. With the forwards dominating, young prop Jack 'big rig' Rooney got on the scoresheet, plunging over from close range, & this time Bowskill was able to add the extras, before he received a yellow card & 10 minutes in the sin bin for a loose swinging arm in the tackle. The home side took advantage of their numerical superiority to register their first score of the afternoon, but this was quickly nullified as promising youngster Tim Burton finished off a sweeping back line move to seal a first half bonus point for the dominant visitors. Bowskill converted to leave the half time score : Dinnington 2nd's 7pts - Stocksbridge Rugby 26pts.
The home side began the 2nd stanza with a burst of enthusiasm, & scored their 2nd try of the afternoon on the back of a well-controlled forward rumble. That was the last crack in the 'blue wall' as Luke Birch marked his welcome return with a try, almost from his first touch. There was still time for George Leary to receive a further yellow card for an infringement, before the pack defended well to hold another Dinnington rolling maul out. Step up, the wrecking ball Luke Birch to score his 2nd try after a neat sidestep, Bowskill to tag on the conversion, plus a yellow card for a Dinnington player as only a high tackle could halt the rampaging Birch. The game ended : Dinnington 2nds's 12pts - Stocksbridge Rugby 38pts.
Captain & inspirational leader 'clock tower' Andy Beal, started where he left off last season with a dominant Man of the Match display. Beal sponsored by Ms Charlotte Watts.
Beal said afterwards 'a great start to the season, where all our hard work & grind in training just seemed to click', adding 'this is the standard we have set, & we will be looking to improve week on week, this was a complete team & squad performance & all the lads deserve credit after this encouraging display'.
Stocksbridge are on the road again next week, with a trip to Abbeydale to face the Sheffield club's 3rd string, before the Fox Valley 'derby' away at neighbours Wortley RUFC on 17th October. The first competitive game at the newly renamed 'Grov Park Arena' will be on 24th October when Wath 3rd's will be the visitors, with a 3pm kick off.
Written by Andrew Tyers
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