A strong Stocksbridge squad travelled to York with a point to prove, and determined to see the 'Dukebox', aka Menzie Yere off in style as he completed his short stint with the club, to return to Rugby League action. Jonny Finlay replaced the injured player/coach Keenan in the front row in an otherwise unchanged starting XV, with a strong bench to support. Receiving the kick off, Beal claimed well, and the visitors exited with Bowskill making good ground with his clearing kick. Reese Aspin cleverly picked the Rowntree line out call to steal the ball, and the Stocksbridge pack drove their opponents towards their own try line. Scrum half Frith demanded and received good, front foot ball to release fly half Kelly, who used Yere as a decoy to send Newton crashing through the home defence, neatly drawing the fullback and feed the supporting Scotty Bowskill who took the final pass and scored under the sticks, adding the conversion to set Stocksbridge on their way. Bowskill is sponsored by Mr Byron and Mrs Theresa Turner.

Old habits die hard, and Stocksbridge allowed the home side back into the game conceding a penalty, then being nudged back themselves to concede a try. Playing some good rugby, Stocksbridge created several chances, finally using Yere to his strengths, creating havoc on and off the ball for Rowntree. Skipper Rowett broke from a scrum and fed the eager Frith who put Westby thru a gap with defenders left in his trail. Somehow, he was caught, and although Stocksbridge recycled the ball, a hesitant Finlay spilled the pass and the chance was gone. More Stocksbridge pressure, this time in open play as Kelly fed Yere to blast his way thru the defence, forwards and backs linked up before big Joe Smith, on the run, carried two defenders over the try line with him, Bowskill nailed the conversion. Joe Smith is available for sponsorship.

It was a period of dominance for the visiting forwards, and the backs enjoyed some quality possession, using it to their advantage Yere broke thru again, this time Bowskill ran the right support line to take the pass and cross the try line, just too far out for him to add the extras. Stocksbridge Rugby again allowed the home side back into the contest, conceding needless penalties and Bowskill turned from hero to villain as he bounced off the Rowntree winger allowing a soft try. This was compounded just a few minutes later as further weak defence led to another score for the home side, raising their expectations.

Stocksbridge again had the final say of a gripping first stanza when a sweeping back line move, straight from the training paddock, rewarded the hard-working Westby as he scampered in the corner for a well-deserved try, again on the back of some good interplay between Kelly, Yere and Jack Spencer. Ben Westby is sponsored by Mark Logan Gas Services. The half time score was Nestle Rowntree 17 points - Stocksbridge Rugby 24 points.

Although the result was never in doubt, the home side, to their credit refused to buckle. Yere continued his one-man demolition of the home defence, sending jet heeled Ryan Smith away, only to be halted by a desperation, last ditch tackle. The game alternated between Stocksbridge at their best, and scrappy but determined defence. Bowskill nudged home a simple penalty for a high shot on Yere, to extend the lead, and as Coach Keenan emptied the bench, the visitors were reduced to 14 men as Booth saw yellow for throwing and missing with a haymaker as a Rowntree defender killed the ball on the wrong side of the ruck.

Further Stocksbridge pressure with O'Leary going close, and Woodcock growing in confidence was rewarded with another successful penalty from Bowskill, as the referee grew tired of the home sides antics in trying to kill the ball to relieve the onslaught. Stocksbridge created several further chances, but struggled for that final killer pass, and could have easily registered three or four more scores until Frith and Kelly again combined to give winger Joe Jones a walk in for the final try of the game. Jones is sponsored by Clarach General Building Contractors. Bowskill converted with the last act of a real confidence boosting win for the Piggy’s, leaving the final score: Nestle Rowntree Rugby 17 points - Stocksbridge Rugby 37 points.

'We showed today what we're capable of' said a smiling Rhys Keenan afterwards, adding 'it's just a shame we've got it together a bit too late for the play offs, but we'll be going all out for some late season silverware in the plate and vase competitions we have coming up'. There were several contenders for the Man of the Match award which went to Menzie Yere for a barnstorming performance. Yere is sponsored by XPert Travel. Westby, Frith, Bowman, Ryan Smith and Woodcock can all be pleased with their own contributions to well deserved, if long awaited victory.

With a free weekend next up, Stocksbridge Rugby now wait for the fixtures for their next phase of the season, with Burley, Thirsk and Halifax being in the same side of the draw. 'Perhaps we're getting it together at the right end of the season' said skipper Rowett 'it's been hard work, but the lads are in good spirits and focussed on the next challenge' he added.