The 1st XV squad remains beset by injuries however, Head Coach Keenan was able to include prop Ricky James after a period on the sidelines.
With the weather making the main pitch ‘out of bounds’, the curator prepared the reserve field, but the conditions were heavy, wet & the beginnings of the storm made running rugby a difficult task.

Stocksbridge started brightly, & were 9pts to the good after just 14 minutes with Scotty Bowskill, sponsored by Mr Byron & Mrs Teresa Turner, slotting 3 penalties as the visitors struggled to cope with the initial intensity & pressure brought by the home forwards. This ascendancy lasted until the 27th minute when some weak defence presented the visitors with a try scoring opportunity, which they accepted along with a further gift on 35 minutes, leaving the half time score ; Stocksbridge Rugby 9pts – Burley Rugby 10pts.

With the Stocksbridge bench being emptied shortly after the break, Keenan himself & livewire back rower Newton were added to fray to make some impact, but it was the visitors who struck first with a well taken try of their own on 50 minutes. Try as they might, Stocksbridge were unable to breach the Burley defensive line, & they added a further, bonus point, try of their own on 61 minutes. With time running out & the game gone, Burley closed the scoring with their 5th & final try of the afternoon, leaving the final score Stocksbridge Rugby 9 pts – Burley Rugby 27 pts.

The Wilson Construction Player of the Day award went to the returning Ricky Rooney for a heroic defensive performance, whilst centre Adam Middlehurst put up a good fight in the mid field, halting many attacks almost single handedly. A clearly disappointed Rhys Keenan said afterwards ‘credit to them, they were a well drilled side, & their style was effective in the conditions’ adding ‘this shows the true benefit of a commitment to training by the whole squad’. Stocksbridge’s rugby Supremo will need to rally his troops for the weekend as they face table toppers Bramley Phoenix in round three of the play off series, where a win will just about keep the Piggy’s in contention. Keenan is relying on availability to produce a squad capable of completing a difficult task.

Match report by Andy Tyers | Director of Rugby