Stocksbridge RUFC

After 5 consecutive away fixtures in the Counties 4 Yorkshire South league competition, Globe Holidays sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby will make their seasonal debut at home this weekend with a Round 6 clash against Hessle RUFC from just under the Humber Bridge, where a large crowd is expected for the scheduled 3pm kick off. The club have benefitted from a generous six figure grant from Sheffield Council to improve their pitch drainage, & with the improvements complete, the 1stXV will look forward to playing on their home patch. ‘we’ve missed the home surroundings, & the local support’, said Club Captain Andy ‘clock tower’ Beal, adding, ‘we’re really looking forward to turning the Coal Pit Lane Arena into a fortress again’. Without a game last weekend, several players including Beal (hand), ‘diesel’ Aspin, Teeling (both knee), Goldsworthy (ankle), Woodcock (leg), Hinchcliffe (hamstring) & Ricky ‘rooney’ James (back) were able to rest & rehab for a further week. Player/Coach Aaron Kaye will be looking to select from a near full strength squad for what will be a tough outing against 3^rd place Hessle, but he remains confident his charges can deliver if they carry on with the progress made during club training. ‘the boys are training well enough’, enthused Kaye, before adding, ‘we just have to bring this to the games & we’ll start to climb the table’. Stocksbridge Rugby remain in 5^th place after last weekend’s results. There is another home fixture on the horizon, where Stocksbridge will look to complete a rare league double over the students of Sheffield Medics & Dentists on Saturday 9^th November, with a 2.15pm kick off. Meanwhile off the pitch, the Club held their annual Harvest Festival over the weekend, raising more than £1100 for their chosen charities including the Daniel Wilkinson Foundation, which will help provide defibrillators for grass root sports in the area.

Written by Andrew Tyers