Sat 26 Nov 2022
Globe sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby made the short trip to Leeds Modernians in the bid to secure a third win in a row. The weather was bleak but the rain held off allowing some good rugby to be displayed even with the lack of opposed scrumming due to the opponents not fielding a front row.
Within the first five minutes of kick off Sam Whittaker broke the line and made 25 meters ground up the field into their 22, a penalty was given to Stocksbridge but mishandling errors awarded the ball back to the opposition. Mods made their way back to midfield but Stocksbridge soon got the ball back up the park with Liam Dyson breaking the line this time, the team failed to find the first points of the game through further handling errors.
Mods quickly utilised Stockbridge’s minor errors and marched back down the field from a line out before breaking the Stocksbridge defence with two carries and scoring on the far right. Conversion missed. 0-5
From the scrum back up at the top of the field, Andrew Beal charged the ball in, recycled for Lewis Bowman to follow the trend with Gary Woodcock (sponsored by Mr J Woodcock) picking it up, sidestepping over the pile of bodies to score the first points for the travelling team. Conversion missed. 5-5
Pat O Leary cleared the line by kicking up the field with Dyson sprinting through, catching the high ball and blitzing into a carry. A scrum was awarded to Stocksbridge allowing for young talent Jack Martin to make a run from 8. Simple carries to build momentum came to a standstill with another penalty given to Stocksbridge for off feet at ruck. The scrum was chosen with another carry by Martin, replicated by Mikey Hartley and then Steve Hawksworth. A further penalty was given to Stocksbridge where the forwards stuck to what they know and carried, this time Mods turned it over on the line before the half time whistle.
Stocksbridge received a penalty in the middle of the field for not rolling and chose to attempt for the points over the post but the kick fell short. Joe Jnr Martin made another debut from the bench showing his capabilities by handing off the defence and making good ground allowing for the ball to be recycled into a maul where Mikey “Vagas” Hartley (sponsored by Hartley Haulage) scored from the back. Conversion missed. 10-5 Now playing downhill, Stocksbridge utilised it’s back line sending the ball to the far right, after a ruck Jacob Crosby offloaded round the back to Dyson who scored out wide. Spectators said the offload was mesmerising! Conversion missed. 15-5 Mods followed the try with a good five minutes of possession but Stocksbridge defence kept them out with text book one on one tackles from Dan Burt and Adam Royles Middlehurst. Eventually after consecutive penalties Mods lost a player to the sin bin quickly followed by a break in play for an injured Stocksbridge player. Stocksbridge started the game back with Martin picking from the scrum, storming the back line, dummying 10 and landing under the sticks with a successful conversion by Adam Frith (sponsored by Mr & Mrs Mills). 22-5 A tiring Stocksbridge and slight lack of concentration allowed for Mods to score in the top corner in the last play, conversion missed. 22-10
Stocksbridge now sit in 6th position in Counties 4 Yorkshire and travel to Hornsea on the 3rd who are 9th. Can the pigs make it 4 wins in a row?
Man of the Match chosen by Mr N George was awarded to Andy Beal sponsored by Mr M Gribbins.
Novembers Man of Steel sponsored by Bradfield Brewery is awarded to Gary Woodcock sponsored by Mr J Woodcock for consecutive good performances throughout the month.
Match report written by Dawn Woodcock.
