Sat 1 Oct 2022
‘Stocksbridge Rugby secure 1st League win’
A magnificent effort on both sides of the ball helped Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby to a try bonus point victory over visitors York RI at the weekend. Superb support play & a flowing back line lead to a total of 7 tries, & a final score of 41pts – 5pts lifting Stocksbridge to 8th place in the Counties 4 Yorkshire league ladder. The home team started well, against the slope on a near perfect surface thanks to Charlesworth Landscapes, & some nifty footwork from fly half Jack Spencer saw him cross the whitewash for the first score, the blustery wind made kicking difficult all day. Try No.2 followed soon after when Slammin’ Sam Whittaker turned the ball over to release the returning, rampaging centre Liam O’Leary, a deft pass gave fellow midfield partner Jack Pearson time to release young flyer Logan Hannah to scorch in at the corner. The home pack were dominant with Woodcock & ‘clock tower’ Beal leading the way & Smith was just tackled into touch as he sped away for the try line following good work by that man Frith, sniping at scrum half. From an attacking scrum, good ball allowed the backs to produce a training ground move, Pearson fed Spencer who put O’Leary through the defensive line to barrel his way over for the third try, Pearson hitting the woodwork with the attempted conversion. Half time Stocksbridge Rugby 15pts – York RI nil.
Stocksbridge continued their dominance in the 2nd stanza & the driving maul was gaining territory, allowing the midfield of Pearson & O’Leary room to make dents in the tiring visitors defence, it was a matter of time before Pearson himself crashed over for the bonus point score, managing to convert his own effort close to the posts. Full back John Saddington was next on the scoresheet, steaming on to a nice pass from Spencer to out pace the covering defence & leave the visiting full back in a heap as he crossed the whitewash. O’Leary turned from hero to villain, spending 10 minutes in the sin bin for a high tackle, & York used their numerical advantage to cross for their only try of the match. Stocksbridge came back strong & Beal won a line out, giving that man Frith time to release the backs, & again Pearson ran riot through the visiting defence to score close enough to tag on the conversion too ! Coach Lawrence unloaded his bench players or finishers giving Luke Horton, wrecking ball Joe Smith, the evergreen Ricky Christopherson, Steve Hawksworth & youngster Jacob Crosby some valuable game time & Horton was unfortunate to slip on seemingly fresh air as the try line loomed in front of him. The home side playing a great brand of offloading rugby, probably saved the best try till the end when the pack again turned over York possession & Christopherson put the hard working Newton through a gap, he duly offloaded to the supporting Whittaker who, in turn found the ever present ‘clock tower’ Beal to crash over for the 7th & last try. Final score Stocksbridge Rugby 41pts – York RI 5pts.
The Fox Catering Man of the Match award went to fly half Jack Spencer with Pearson, Beal & Saddington also producing worthy performances in an all round great team effort. Head Coach Andy Lawrence was full of praise for his charges afterwards, ‘this has been coming’ he said, adding ‘we defended well when we had to & played a pretty good off loading game. We can build on this performance’. Vice Captain & influential 2nd rower Sam Whittaker said ‘we are building week on week & our first up tackling was very strong, particularly in midfield. These are the standards we need to reach consistently now’.
Stocksbridge will have to wait a couple of weeks for their next fixture, as they have a bye week next week. The next scheduled fixture is away at Aireborough Rugby on 15th October, with the next home clash on 22nd October when Nestle Rowntree will be the visitors to Coal Pit Lane, kick off 3.00pm, all are welcome.
Match Report written by And Tyers.
