Sheffield RUFC 43 - 20 Wharfedale RUFC

Team Selection for Saturday, 9th November 2024

Sheffield RUFC
15. George Castledine
14. Jack Dawson
13. Vilikesa (Billy) Wara
12. Will Smith
11. Chris Hooper
10. Callum Posa
9. Elliot Fisher

1. Aaron Lonsdale
2. Rhodri Campbell
3. Jake Hicklin
4. Archie Crapper
5. Dom Parsons (Capt.)
6. Alex Fawdry
7. Jason Hignell
8. Ryan Burrows
Reoplacements: -
18. Alex Reid (FR)
26. George Rogers (FR)
17. Matt Adcock
20. Matty Drennan
16. Cameron Catleugh

Following the very successful trip away to Billingham two weeks ago and last weekend’s free week, Sheffield would host Wharfedale, who have won both of their last two matches against Billingham, who they were comfortable winners, and Hull Ionians where they had a much tougher test, both matches at home. Sheffield would make only one change from the one that won comfortably at Billingham, with Billy Wara moving off the bench to start at outside centre and Cameron Catleugh retuning to the squad on the bench to replace Billy.

Sheffield got off to a lively start with Wharfedale giving up two penalties back-to-back to give Sheffield a lineout on Wharfedale’s 22-metre, from which Jack Dawson made a break deep into the visitor’s territory. Wharfedale then saw another penalty given up and their second row, Elliot Stockton yellow carded with just four minutes gone. Sheffield went to touch again for the lineout and a driving maul for hooker, Rhodri Campbell to score the first try of the afternoon. Elliot Fisher could not add the conversion, but led by 5 points to nil with barley five minutes gone. However, Wharfedale were unfazed and came straight back like an express train, with backrow forward, Jack Pinder scoring out on the fifteen-metre line on the left. Fly-half, Robbie Davidson could not add the conversion, and the scores were tied at 5 points all after eight minutes.

Sheffield looked as little lack lustre and Wharfedale were much the better of the two teams for a long period. Sheffield did have their chances, with a number of penalties going their way, but without a positive result, and then a promising break came to a halt with a forward pass. Then with the match just into the second quarter, Sheffield coughed up a couple of penalties to give Wharfedale excellent field position on the five-metre line. The ball secured, saw Wharfedale’s hooker, Dan Stockdale going over for Wharfedale’s second try on twenty-four minutes. Robbie Davidson could not add the conversion, but the visitors led by 10 points to 5. The match remained in neutral until the thirty fifth minute, when Sheffield’s Jason Hignell was yellow carded for a high tackle and Robbie Davidson knocked over the penalty to take Wharfedale’s lead out to 13 points to 5. The penalty appeared to reenergise the Sheffield players and despite being down to fourteen men, they were straight on to the attack, and when Wharfedale gave up a penalty five metres out right in front of their posts, Callam Posa’s quick thinking saw him take a tap and go to score under the posts. Elliot Fisher converted and Wharfedale’s lead at half time was just one point at 13 points to 12.

The half time talk in the Sheffield camp saw them come out with real purpose. Wharfedale were immediately penalised at the breakdown from the restart, and then again at the resulting lineout. Sheffiedl moved their attack to the centre of the park, in front of the posts for replacement prop forward. Alex Reid to go in under the posts. Elliot Fisher added the conversion and Sheffield led by 19 points to 13, with just four minutes of the half gone. Wharfedale were awarded a free kick at a scrum shortly after the restart, but they immediately gave the ball back to Sheffield, who were back on the attack. A Sheffield penalty followed and again we saw a tap and go as the confidence grew. Sheffiedl were immediately playing with a penalty advantage, and the ball went wide to left wing, Chris Hooper, who hopped and swerved his way past the floundering Wharfedale defence to score the fourth try wide out on the left. Again, the conversion went missing, but Sheffield had moved their lead to 24 points to 13 after forty-nine minutes.

Wharfedale’s restart was probably as bad a s it can get when the ball was kicked dead and Sheffield had a scrum on halfway and Wharfedale gave up a penalty. Sheffield thought they had a further try after fifty-four minutes. but referee Nikki O’Donnell ruled it out on the basis of a double movement in placing the ball. However, Wharfedale were soon to give away two further penalties in Sheffield’s favour, with a lineout just five metres out. Where, once again, Sheffield took to the driving maul for hooker. Rhodri Campbell to add his second and Sheffield’s fifth try. Callum Posa took on the kicking duties and converted to move the lead out to 31 points to 13 after fifty-nine minutes.

The next period of the match was definitely Wharfedale’s. Sheffield seemed to go into their shell, and Wharfedale raised their levels, and they were duly rewarded for all their efforts with sixty-six minutes on the clock, when replacement front row forward, Jimie Meehan crashed over for a third Wharfedale try out on the right. Robbie Davidson had his kicking boots on and knocked over the conversion, to reduce the Sheffield lead to 31 points to 20, with the hope of chasing down that 11-point lead. With seventy minutes on the clock, Wharfedale had a lineout just fifteen metres from their own line. Unfortunately for Wharfedale it was deemed ‘not straight’, and Sheffield had a scrum. After the scrum was reset twice, Sheffield were awarded a penalty. Sheffield went ‘tap and go’ again and broke through the Wharfedale defence with Camaeron Catleugh before Chris Hooper worked his magic once more to escape the defence and score wide out on the left once more. Callum Posa could not add the conversion, but Sheffield lead was out to 36 points to 20 after just seventy-two minutes.

It did look for a moment that Wharfedale might get the last word when a well worked move allowed the m to open up the Sheffield defence with a break from deep in their own territory, but a forward pass would bring it to an end. With the clock ticking to closure, Sheffield were awarded a penalty at the scrum and kicked to touch. The lineout ball was secured and the play moved in field. Exactly how, I know not, but replacement flank forward Matt Adcock emerged from the melee, barged his way through a number of tackles and sprinted toward to Wharfedale post and scored the seventh try. Callum Posa added the conversion and the match was drawn to a close, with Sheffield having secured a. what once looked like an unlikely, comfortable bonus point victory, 43 points to 20, and 7 tries to 3.

Wharfedale RUFC’s Team: -
Forwards: -
1: Sam Dickinson; 2: Dan Stockdale; 3: Jake Armstrong; 4: Elliot Stockton; 5: George Hedgley (C); 6: Jack Pinder; 7: Ben Markey; 8: Tom Beresford.
Backs: -
15: Harry Bullough; 14: Bradley: Rian Hamilton; 10: Robbie Davidson; 9: Ollie Riddiough.
Replacements: -
16: Robbie Collinson; 17: James Meehan; 18: Jimie Weston; 19: Joe Fawcett; 21: Omari Kaup-Samuels.

Up-coming fixtures: -