Sat 16 Mar 2019
Match Report for Stocksbridge Rugby vs Halifax Rugby. Final Result Stocksbridge 12:13 Halifax
Bradfield Brewery sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby made the trip to Halifax at the weekend, with found a rain-soaked pitch, with a blustery gale making any effort to play open rugby almost an impossibility. The pitch was only declared fit by the official at the last minute, with the conditions deteriorated during the game.
Head Coach Rhys Keenan selected a huge pack, with one eye on the weather with Gentles retained his place in the starting line up on the wing. The home side started brightly, with pressed Stocksbridge in their own half, using the considerable gale to good advantage, they were rewarded with a simple penalty on 10 minutes to take a narrow lead. Stocksbridge lost Ricky James to injury, and he was replaced by Lewis Bowman, the visiting forwards gradually gained some dominance with Beal with the impressive Roebuck running the line out, with the hard-working Newton seemingly everywhere in attack and defence.
What little open rugby was on offer, was attempted by the visitors with Gentles being bundled into touch from one such play. In a close game, goal kicking would prove to be vital with the home marksman was on target with a 2nd penalty to nudge Halifax a little further ahead. A ball resembling a bar of soap made any real effort to play rugby almost impossible, there were many errors on both sides. Stocksbridge were guilty of trying to open play up a little too often, paying the price as the wind with rain combined to alter the course of their passing efforts. Bowskill was unable to slot a 40 yard penalty, awarded for a high tackle on Whitaker however, on the stoke of half time more good, tight, phase play from the forwards lead to Gary Woodcock, sponsored by Chappell Brickwork with Plastering Services, plunging over the line from close range, this time close enough for Bowskill, sponsored by Byron with Teresa Turner to convert, giving Stocksbridge Rugby a narrow 7 points to 6 points half time lead.
The second stanza was almost exclusively played in the Halifax 20-meter zone, with the visitors throwing everything with the kitchen sink into their efforts, with the home side defending heroically as if their lives depended on it! Stocksbridge trying to play rugby, got caught in possession, a Bowskill pass went astray, with more than a suspicion of a knock on, the home winger won the foot race with Jones to the line to score a decisive try against the run of play, where crucially the conversion was successful.
Stocksbridge battled back into the game, with scrum after scrum, line out after line out opened up opportunities, but still the home defence would not yield. Hartley left the field with an ankle injury while the reliable Reece Aspin succumbed to a neck injury and had to be replaced, still Stocksbridge Rugby heaped the pressure on without reward. Roebuck broke from a scrum and fed that man Frith, who was stopped in his tracks with a huge hit, forcing the withdrawal of the home winger through concussion, which was almost the game changing moment. Only the overworked official will know why he only awarded one single yellow card for persistent infringement as the home sides desperation reached new heights, as the visitors were unlucky not to have a penalty try award for further with repeated scrum infringements.
As the match went into overtime, a bit of pace injected by Liam O’Leary, sponsored by SAM Business Systems, from another scrum lead to a try, leaving the visitors a point behind with the conversion to come. What followed can only be described as bad sportsmanship from the home side who ignored convention, shouted and screamed at Bowskill as he attempted to take, what would have been the match winning conversion. The referee allowed it, Bowskill missed and the game was gone. A final score of Halifax Rugby 13 points – Stocksbridge Rugby 12 points means that the final fixture on 6th April away at Leeds based Burley Rugby is a straight shoot out for the Shield Trophy, in a winner takes all contest.
Despite the terrible conditions, both sides provided some entertainment with XPert Travel Man of the Match award, went to Pete Newton, sponsored by Mr Pete Lakin, for a whole hearted and committed performance in a losing cause, with that man Frith also catching the eye with some sniping runs.
‘We got caught out trying to play some rugby’ said Director of Rugby Andy Tyers afterwards ‘we gifted Halifax a try’ adding ‘we have to treat the final fixture at Burley as a Cup Final, and we’ll be going all out to win it.’
Tickets are selling fast for the Clubs annual awards dinner in May, interested parties are asked to contact Martin Bye or Rhys Keenan to reserve your place.
