Sat 5 Nov 2022
Yorkshire 4 Counties league leaders Rotherham Phoenix rolled into town at the weekend, & were made to work hard for a slightly flattering 27pts to 10pts victory over a committed & competitive Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby. Again missing several front line players due to work commitments, suspension, injury & Vice Captain ‘slammin Sam Whitaker celebrating his engagement in Dubai, Head Coach Andy Lawrence was again forced to dig deep into his playing roster with dual coders Dan Burt starting at full back, & Dom Mannion in the centres. Promising youngster Joe Martin making his debut from the bench became the 6th junior debutant for the 1st XV this season. A breezy Autumnal afternoon at Coal Pit Lane, & a larger crowd than usual saw the visitors draw first blood, using the conditions wisely to maul a successful line out to open the scoring. Phoenix made the most of their weather advantage to run in 2 further tries thru their power pack, despite heroic defence from Gary Woodcock. Liam O’Leary in particular. Half Time: Stocksbridge Rugby nil pts – Rotherham Phoenix 17pts.
Missing their 1st choice boiler house 2nd rows, Stocksbridge understandably struggled in the line out, despite the best efforts of those on the field however the home team were rewarded when mercurial fly half Paul Kelly, slotted a close range penalty to get Stocksbridge on the score board. Another catch & drive line out extended the visitors lead further, & finally Phoenix moved the ball thru their talented back line to outflank the covering Stocksbridge defence for another score. With time running out, Stocksbridge provided the move of the match, running the ball from their own try line, the forwards recycling possession allowing Kelly to chip over the onrushing defenders. The full back was unable to cope with the ‘Blue wall’ & spilled the ball, allowing the returning Pat O’Leary to pounce & score under the sticks, for Kelly to convert for a final score of : Stocksbridge Rugby 10pts – Rotherham Phoenix 27pts.
The result see Stocksbridge drop 1 place to 9thin the League table however, they will be hoping for a return of several 1st team squad members in preparation for a tricky but winnable home fixture against Hessle Rugby from the East Coast at the weekend, kick off 2.15pm.
The Bradfield Brewery Man of the Match award went to Liam O’Leary, available for sponsorship, playing in the back row this week, with Woodcock, Kelly & both Martin boys showing up well in an encouraging team performance.
Head Coach Andy Lawrence was full of praise for his charges afterwards, ‘Phoenix are the best team I’ve seen in this comp & we matched them for large parts of this game’, he said, adding ‘If we develop on our performance today, showing the same heart & determination, we could be pushing for the play offs come the end of the regular season’. A challenge indeed for the improving Stocksbridge 1st XV.
Match report by Andrew Tyers.
