Sat 4 Mar 2023
It was an anniversary to remember for Stocksbridge with this win over Leeds, Sam Whittaker put the icing on the anniversary cake with a last-minute try which secured the win.
The home side dominated proceedings in the opening 10 minutes of the game, pinning Leeds in their own half. Despite Stockbridge’s domination - a poor pass was intercepted by Leeds’s no.18 who will remain nameless out of respect, as he ran clean through and looked destined to score the opening try but lost his footing at the worst possible time as he slumped to the ground and punched it in the process in frustration.
But it was the hosts who opened the scoring on the 18th minute a lovely passage of play allowed Jack Pearson to force his way through the backline with sheer force to score the only try of the first half. Things got better and better for Stocksbridge as they chose to take the kick which increased their lead to 10.
Both sides struggled to get any kind of flow together with a referee who saw infringements at every turn of the ball. This suited Stocksbridge who continued to defend well, holding what seemed like an unbreakable backline.
Leeds were offered a reprieve at the end of the first half when they were awarded a penalty which they converted, bringing the game down to within one try.
The second half saw Leeds pushed for the try to equal the game, but Stocksbridge held firm throughout and never lost concentration and within the last minute of the game the win was sealed, Stocksbridge once again forced their through Leeds’s backline to slam down the final try by Sam Whitaker, and in the final moment of the game as Stocksbridge ran out deserved winners with the final score 15-3, in what was a dull game.
The Opposition Man of The Match was awarded to Sam Whitaker.
Report written by James Fletcher, Look Local, Stocksbridge
