Wharfedale’s makeshift side travelled down the M1 to Abbeydale in Sheffield and put in a superb performance. Only in the last quarter of the match did the league leaders pull away and create a score that was a little flattering. This was not a gallant display by the men in green but a performance full of determination, Dales grit, and working to a united cause. One of the meanings of “gallant” is to suggest spirited and dashing behaviour and expressions of courtesy.
One Sheffield veteran supporter was totally dissatisfied with the home side’s performance as they were used to dominating teams. Another complemented Wharfedale for dominating much of the match. Sheffield’s score came from a couple of lucky tries, whilst Dale missed out on excellent opportunities to add to theirs. Such is rugby but a good-natured meeting left Sheffield gleaning another 5 points to move towards their goal of reaching National 1.
There was no gallantry in Dale’s opening salvo. Courtesy of a leap from Jack Cherry Dale regathered their kick-off and set up camp in Sheffield’s half. Eight phases of good rugby with speedy recycling and one defence busting run from Joe Fawcett ended with Jimmy Meehan crashing over with barely a minute on the clock. Archie Haddon slotted the conversion.
The visitors had further chances to score but Sheffield scored two tries to lead 14 – 7. The first try came after Dale had again set up camp in Field’s 22. After losing an attacking lineout Wharfedale gave away three penalties which allowed Sheffield to move into Dale’s22. 5 bruising phases, after a 5-metre lineout, Josh Redfearn crossed the whitewash and Callum Posa’s conversion tied the scores.
The second try came after a rare event. The Green Machine lost a scrum and Sheffield found room down the left for Matty Drennan to touch down for a converted try. Archie Haddon added three points for Wharfedale and that should have ended the scoring in the first half. A last gasp effort from Sheffield looked to have been stopped when the ball was lost in a fantastic tackle from Oli Cicognini but after a discussion the officials awarded a try. No conversion and time for oranges!
Archie Haddon closed the gap again from the tee after very ungallant behaviour from a Sheffield player gave him a shot from 32 metres. Wharfedale made a few mistakes in the last twenty minutes and these were ruthlessly punished by Sheffield. A lost lineout led to an attacking Sheffield scrum and a converted try for Will Smith.
Dale should have scored from close range after 12 phases in Sheffield’s 22 but a mistake allowed the home defence to clear. A Sheffield kick was allowed to bounce and the ball fell into the hands of a Sheffield player and a lucky break led to Smith’s second try. No conversion but Sheffield now had a commanding eighteen-point lead.
Sheffield finished the match with a well-taken try. Dale lost a lineout on halfway and the home side went through 7 creative phases, with some good passing and support play, to eventually set up a converted try for Aaron Lonsdale.
A difficult day for the lads in the City of Steel but it was Dale who showed how hardened they have become and gave a gilt-edged performance. Fly-half, Jack Greig, had a very promising start in a green shirt. His positional kicking and good length of kicking out of defence were especially noted.
Wharfedale: – Haddon; Kaup-Samuels (Macnab 70), Viner, Cicognini, Cherry; Greig, Riddiough: Ward (Wills 40), Stockdale (Holden 78), Meehan (Ward 73), Heys (Middleton-Smith 78), Borrill, Armstrong, Tweedale, Fawcett (Brewster 2).