Sat 22 Oct 2022
After a disappointing performance last week, Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby bounced back with a clinical demolition of visitors from York, Nestle Rowntree, gaining a try bonus point in the process of a 33pts to 12pts victory. On a warm autumnal afternoon at Coal Pit Lane, a sizeable crowd were treated to some fine attacking play & resolute defence from a determined Stocksbridge squad. Missing ‘clock tower’ Beal, industrious back rower Newton & that man Frith all absent thru injury, Head Coach Andy Lawrence used his playing roster to the full, bringing in big Jordan ‘Spud’ Fletcher, evergreen playmaker Ricky Christopherson along with flyer Callum ‘whippet’ Green. Ricky ‘Rooney’ James & veteran Scotty Bowskill also brought a wealth of experience to the bench. The match balls were kindly supplied by Charlesworth Landscapes.
The early signs were worrying for the home side as they failed to deal with the kick off, lost possession at a line out & gave away a succession of penalties as the Referee made his mark on the game. The dam burst as Nestle took advantage & scored a converted try to take the lead, this seemed to spur the home side into action & ‘slammin’ Sam Whittaker lead the way with some punishing charges, well supported by Bowman, young ‘milky’ Martin & Fletcher. Ricky Christopherson snook thru’ a gap, & put fly half Spencer into space to release the impressive Jack Pearson, sponsored by Hamshaw Plumbing to cross for the opening Stocksbridge try, which he converted himself to level the scores. More pressure from the dominant Stocksbridge pack brought a series of penalties as the visitors struggled to hold on & Pearson converted a simple penalty to nudge the home side ahead. The lead was short lived as some weak defence allowed the visitors space to break the line for a further score to retake the lead. Stocksbridge again worked their way up the field & made space for Tyers to break up the right flank, the ball was recycled & Whittaker, doing an excellent job as stand in skipper, held the ball to enable hard working prop forward Lewis ‘eggsy’ Bowman, sponsored by Mr Mark Logan, to plunge over for a score, Pearson unable to convert. Just before the break burly prop Joe Smith was given a straight red card for illegal use of an elbow in a tackle, & will now face the League’s disciplinary commission to determine his fate. Half time: Stocksbridge Rugby 15pts – Nestle Rowntree 12pts.
Whatever Head Coach Andy Lawrence said to his troops at half time seemed to work, as Stocksbridge, even with a man down, dominated the territory & possession & controlled the majority of the 2nd half. The visitors were desperate in defence & Pearson capitalised on an error to slot a simple penalty to extend the lead. With Christopherson calling the shots & bustling centre Liam O’Leary causing mayhem & destruction in the visitors defensive line, a try was sure to come & it did in the shape of hooker Mikey Hartley darting over from short range to extend the lead. The visitors were reduced to 14 men when a yellow card was issued for a high tackle on Scotty Bowskill, Stocksbridge took full advantage & a rumbling line out lead by Rees ‘Diesel’ Aspin again proved too hot to handle as Hartley completed his brace from close range to claim the deserved bonus point try, with the successful conversion from Bowskill, who completed the scoring with a further penalty just before the final whistle. Final score: Stocksbridge Rugby 33pts – Nestle Rowntree 12pts.
This victory cements 8th spot in the Counties 4 Yorkshire league ladder as Stocksbridge head for a testing couple of weeks, travelling to in form Old Otliensians next week, before the next home clash with table toppers Rotherham Phoenix on 5th November kick off 2.15pm.
The Clarach Builders player of the day award, selected by Mr Nigel George went to Lewis Bowman for a stoic display on both sides of the ball, Fletcher, Martin & Aspin also shone in an all round team performance. Skipper for the day Whittaker said afterwards, ‘this was a great team effort & shows what we can do when we’re in the mood’, adding ‘we have some tough games coming up, but we can approach these with confidence in ourselves & in each other’.
The Community Club also raised over £700 for their chosen charities with their annual Harvest Festival auction at the Clubhouse with thanks going to all who contributed.
Match report by Andrew Tyers
