Sat 7 Jan 2023
Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge travelled to York RI in the opening game of the New Year with ambitions to restart a winning streak. Although when leaving Stocksbridge the rain was lashing down, at York the sun was shining and it was a pleasant day for rugby. The team sheet looked strong regardless of not taking a full squad due to other commitments, illness and late drop outs, however it allowed for experienced Ben Westby to return in a starting shirt on the wing.
Kick off saw Stocksbridge receive the ball and the game was pretty even until York put the first points on the board by playing out wide then kicking through with their speedy winger scoring just a foot inside the dead ball line. Conversion missed. 5-0 From the restart Stocksbridge returned with pressure offloading through hands and pulling in the defence. Regular debutant Jonathan Gill landed just short of the line but vice captain Sam Whittaker (sponsored by S&M Pipework) picked it up and dropped over the line to bring Stocksbridge back into the game. Conversion missed. 5-5 York’s approach was to overload with forward phases but Stocksbridge turned the ball over allowing for a kick into the 22 for a line-out. Stocksbridge lost possession with a mistake offloading off the top which allowed for York to take advantage before yet another mistake giving York a scrum. York then kept possession for a little while but didn’t really do anything to aid the score line. A scrum awarded to Stockbridge in their 22 gave play to Paul Kelly at 10 who kicked over the defenders allowing for Jack Pearson to collect from the bounce and break the line passing to support player Ben Tyres and then out to Logan Hannah who took a tackle ten meters out. The ball was recycled and spread out wide to Westby but he was tackled into touch by a pressured York defence. From the line-out Stocksbridge made a steel and formed a maul but was turned over taking them into half time even on points.
Stocksbridge started the second half with fire in their bellies seeing Newton turning the ball over from the first tackle and then admirable off load support play from Rooney, Aspin, Bowman and Gill. From a Stocksbridge line-out in Yorks half, York turned the ball over and managed to break the line down the wing to score under the sticks. Conversion successful. 12-5 to the home side. From the restart York continued to dominate for a short period, a pick and go from a scrum at half way and another replication of spreading the ball wide allowed their 15 to sprint through Stocksbridges defence. Conversion successful. 19-5 Youngsters Crosby and Martin Jnr continued to build on game time bringing fresh legs to the field. The speed of Yorks back three seemed to be their advantage, however Stocksbridge refused to sit back and found some inspiration from a line out setting up a text book maul followed by carries from forwards Martin Snr and Woodcock before sending the ball out to Ben Tyres (sponsored by The White Hart) who scored under the sticks. Conversion converted by Paul Kelly. 19-12. Nothing spectacular happened for the remainder of the game other than the same theme from the first half with continuous stoppages in play for York injuries meaning any opportunity to build phases was kiboshed. A penalty was given in front of the sticks to York for a high tackle, the kick was successfully converted. 22-12 Stocksbridge dug deep for the remaining 3 minutes keeping the defence standards high but was unable to utilise any opportunity in attack to put more points on the scoreboard.
Man of The Match was awarded to Ben Tyres by the opposition team for a solid performance.
Stocksbridge now sit 7th in Yorkshire 4 having drop a position from the last run out.
The pigs return to Bolsterstone Saturday 14th January to face Airborough - 2.15pm Kick Off.
Report written by Dawn Woodcock
