It was by no means a classic, with the weather making flowing rugby almost impossible, so credit must be given to both teams for producing an entertaining game, with the final result in some doubt right up until the final whistle. Credit too for those who braved the weather to watch, it was worth it!

Roebuck replaced Beal in the second row, and Tom Spencer made a welcome return to the back row after injury.

Stocksbridge had the lion’s share of both possession and territory in a dominant first half display, and came close to scoring with forwards Newton, Whitaker and Jordan Fletcher all going close. A penalty converted by Scott Bowskill, sponsored by Byron and Teresa Turner, was all the home side had to show for their efforts, with no one realising how crucial this effort would prove to be at the time. Thirsk tried hard to make some headway, but a combination of strong home defense, with O’Leary taking no prisoners in midfield, and their own lack of imagination proved their downfall. Half time came with Stocksbridge Rugby just 3 points to nil up.

Most of the action in the second stanza was in the visitor’s half, as Stocksbridge sustained the pressure on the Thirsk line. A sweeping move lead to an overlap for winger Joe Jones to score in the corner, but somehow, he found a way to get tackled when a try seemed the easier option. Stocksbridge did try to play some attacking football with fly half Westby reveling in his favoured position, getting the back line moving at every opportunity, and linking well with stand in skipper, that man Frith. The last 10 minutes though belonged to the visitors who pinned Stockbridge in their own 20 metre zone and forced tackle after tackle from the overworked home defensive unit, who just about held firm, despite being reduced to 14 men for the final 8 minutes when flanker Reece Aspin was sin binned after retaliating to a punch thrown from a Thirsk forward. There was relief all round, at the final whistle, from the large crowd and watching sponsors who braved the conditions to see Stocksbridge hold on to record a narrow 3 point victory, effectively ending Thirsk’s interest in the title race.

The Club’s sponsors chose that man Frith, sponsored by BM Decorating Services, as the Man of the Match, although Woodcock, Aspin and Ricky James delivered solid performances as Stocksbridge Rugby hold on to top spot in the Shield league table with just two fixtures remaining. The first of these, a tricky trip away at Halifax Rugby this weekend, and then on 6th April the showdown with Leeds based Burley Rugby where the winner may well take the title.

The club are grateful to all of the partners who helped make the sponsors event a success, and are delighted to announce dual code international, British and Irish Lion John ‘Bentos’ Bentley as guest speaker at their prestigious annual awards dinner on 17th May, there is limited availability and the event is expected to sell out, so please contact the club for the hottest ticket in town.