Bradfield Brewery sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby returned to action after the Christmas break, but were unable to complete a good performance with a victory over in form visitors York RI, leading from the 2nd minute before going down to 13 points to 11 points defeat at the death. Stocksbridge were denied a deserved victory with the final act of a compelling game condemning the Piggy’s to yet another defeat, which ends their prospects of entering the play offs. This is the 4th defeat on the bounce, all by 6pts or less, when Stocksbridge have dominated their opponents, poor discipline continues to plague the team with another heavy penalty count contributing to the end result. 'I must have run over a black cat today' bemoaned Head Coach Keenan 'York RI must still think it's Christmas with the presents we gave them!'
Selecting from strength, and on the back of some good work in training, the mercurial Paul Kelly was chosen at fly half, and clock tower Andy Beal returned to partner Sam Whitaker in the 2nd row. Stocksbridge started well and skipper Rowett drove hard into the visiting set of forwards, back row colleagues Newton and Aspin continued the movement, and when Frith released Kelly the back line did its job by drawing the defence to send winger Westby scampering away for the first score of 2019, Ben is kindly sponsored by Mark Logan Gas Services, Bowskill was unable to add the extras.
The pack were dominant in open play with Beal and Joe Smith showing up well, and the pressure lead to an infringement by the visitors close enough for Bowskill to nudge Stocksbridge Rugby further ahead, Scott is kindly sponsored by Mr Byron and Mrs Theresa Turner. Stocksbridge should have scored a further try when Rowett broke from a scrum and was tackled just short of the line, harshly judged to have passed forward to the supporting Westby.
The visitors were allowed back into the game courtesy of some poor kicking and from a line out error, a gaping hole in the defence allowed the York RI hooker to score almost unopposed under the posts with the conversion a formality. Woodcock replaced Smith in the front row only to be sin binned almost immediately for collapsing a scrum as the visitors enjoyed a period of dominance. Stocksbridge held on and reached half time 8 points to 7 points ahead.
The warning signs were there as the official asked for more discipline during the half time team talk, and Stocksbridge were on the front foot from the off in the second stanza, Bowskill again converting a simple penalty as the home forwards pressed. The referee was as good as his word, sin binning two York RI forwards for persistent infringing. Stocksbridge gassed another try scoring opportunity when forward Woodcock and Whitaker combined with backs Kelly and Yere to send Westby away again, only to be pulled back for another forward pass. Former PNG Rugby League international Menzie Yere made his presence felt with a couple of huge tackles, fully living up to his 'Dukebox' nickname.
Injury struck the home side with first Beal, then the influential Newton both succumbing to knocks to be replaced by the improving Lewis Bowman and Gary Woodcock. York RI excerpted some pressure of their own and had the home scrum struggling, so it was a bit of a surprise when they chose to kick at goal rather than scrum when awarded a penalty for off side. This cut the lead down to just one point, with time running out. There followed a sustained period of desperate attack from the visitors matched by even more desperate defending from the home side, who struggled to get out of their own half, coughing the ball up and giving away too many penalties to ease the pressure. Sure enough, with the final play of a pulsating contest a stray hand in a ruck lead to a penalty, which the visiting kicker coolly slotted to win the game with a final score of Stocksbridge Rugby 11 points - York RI 13 points. With a very relieved set of visitors, and a frustrated home support.

The Man of the Match for Stocksbridge Rugby was the hard-working Peter Newton, kindly sponsored by Mr Pete Lakin, with skipper Rowett and Bowman also showing up well. 'They didn't win this game, we gave it to them' said a disconsolate Keenan afterwards, adding 'we just can't give teams piggy backs like we do. Indiscipline, unnecessary penalties and turning over cheap ball is killing us'
Stocksbridge Rugby have been arguably the better team in the last four games, yet still failed to record a victory in any of them, despite improving performances, this is something Keenan and his coaching team will be working on during this week's training. Stocksbridge Rugby are away at York this weekend to take on the Nestle Rowntree side in the final game of the competition before the teams split for the play offs.
Veteran playmaker Ricky Christopherson has had an operation to repair a fractured cheek bone and is recovering, whilst the club were saddened by the recent passing of Mick Malley, our thoughts and prayers to his family