As both Stocksbridge Rugby Snr XV's boarded the Globe Travel sponsored executive coaches for last weeks' fixtures away at promotion chasing Goole Rugby, both teams knew they were in for a busy day at the office, & both proved to be correct.
Missing several 1st Team regulars, Ben Brown was called into action in the front row, & Mike Hartley was added to the interchange bench along with diminutive half back Tommy Hughes.
High flying Goole keen on revenge for a Stocksbridge win early on in the season are a young , fit, fast outfit & it doesn't pay to give them easy turnover ball !! Stocksbridge Rugby began well, keeping the ball away from the home team & taking early territorial advantage.
A loose kick gave Goole possession & they were away in a flash to register the first try of the afternoon. Whilst the visiting pack were dominant in the set piece, they found it hard to make ground & keep the ball against a determined & busy home set.
A penalty kick success showed some respect as Stocksbridge were penalised. Try as they might, Stocksbridge Rugby were unable to pierce a determined home defensive line, & all too often resorted to kicking for territory, & turning over priceless possession.
The forwards worked hard, Aspin & Spencer in particular getting through huge workload, but all too often the visitors were guilty of coughing up possession when in a good position to strike. A succession of penalties gave Goole good field position, & they rolled over for a try, although the home touch judge seemed to miss a suspicious foot in touch !! Two killer blows just before the break broke the hearts of the travelling Stocksbridge players & supporters, the home fly half took advantage of an absent full back to chip & chase, & catch & score, & to compound this a mistake from the kick off gave Goole further possession from which they engineered a further score on the stroke half time, to leave the half time score Goole Rugby 27pts - Stocksbridge Rugby nil pts.
Stocksbridge Rugby introduced Beal, Hartley & the tireless Rowett at half time & the effect was 'nearly' immediate. The home side created an overlap to send their pacey winger in the corner for the opening score of the half, but the valiant visitors tore back & skipper Keenan was at the back of the maul from a line out to lunge over from close range, Frith unable to convert. The comeback was short lived, as injuries to fly half Westby, centre O'Leary, & Rowett & the fatigue of too much defence started to take effect, with Goole adding two further tries without response.
A final score of Goole Rugby 46 - Stocksbridge Rugby 5 pts probably flattered the home side, but showed the difference in class between a side gunning for promotion, & one just about establishing their Division Three credentials.
Hard working flanker Rees 'Diesel' Aspin took the Bradfield Brewery man of the match award this week, although Beal, Whitaker & Ben Brown showed up well too.
'it's no disgrace losing to a side like this' said Head Coach Tyers afterwards 'these boys are the bench mark for aspiring teams like ours, & we just ran out of numbers' adding 'the pleasing aspect for me is the boys never stopped, even when the going got tough, so there isplenty for us to build on'
Tyers now steps down from his role as Head Coach & is due for knee surgery this week. The Piggys play their final home fixture of the season on Saturday against Harrogate Pythons, with 8th place in the League table on offer for the victors, kick off at Coal Pit Lane is 3pm & all are welcome.