Not a game to remember as both sides struggled to find any consistency. Neither side really deserved to win but it was Sheffield Tigers who snatched an improbable victory with a try in the 74th minute. Jamie Broadley, Sheffield Tigers Head Coach, said after the game “it had been a very gritty game which could have gone either way. We were lucky to find the decisive moment and score the winning try”. These words were echoed by Wharfedale Head Coach, Jon Feeley, who said “It looked like two teams who had had a three-week break. It was won by …
After rumours of stranded buses and sleeping-in students, Huddersfield eventually arrived and took to the pitch looking nothing like the few old heads who like social rugby which we had been promised.
The Dalesmen, skippered by JD, played up the slope of the floodlit first team pitch and soon opened the scoring with Tom Fitsell crashing over from close range. Marcus Farnsworth converted.
Joel Gill was the next to score an unconverted try. Huddersfield’s indiscipline saw Farnsworth taking the points with the boot. Tom Oakes scored just before half time with Farnsworth adding the extras. It was, therefore, 22-0 …
Wharfedale ran on to the pitch at Lockwood Park to a rousing cheer from the travelling faithful. It was good to see so many supporters making the trip down to Huddersfield. The Green Machine responded by playing with plenty of commitment. They showed this in the first few minutes when Huddersfield put in a clever 50-22 kick to win a line-out just in Dale’s 22. It was as close as they got, even though they went through 24 phases they made no progress, their only reward was a penalty kick by Will Milner to lead 3-0.
A scrappy few minutes …
Loughborough went in for oranges leading the game by 14 points to 3. They were gifted two tries by horrendous mistakes by Wharfedale. Dale had the courage to come back out at half time and, apart from a brief period, dominate the play. The Dale pack were awesome winning penalty after penalty at the scrum which allowed them to also dominate territory. They were also extremely efficient at the rolling maul often driving the students back 20 metres.
Dale had chances to keep the scoreboard ticking over in the first half but the usually very accurate Tom Davidson was having …
Dale turned out at Tynedale and were greeted with a cold day and a moderate breeze. A lot better than when they set off from the Avenue. The game drifted away from Wharfedale very early with the home side making a very positive start. Wharfedale hardly had a touch of the ball before Tynedale set up camp in the visitors 22. A knock on gave Dale a defensive scrum which they won but, as so often in this match, they lost possession. 4 phases later Chris Wearmouth forced his way over the try line. Cameron Grant slotted the conversion. The …
Another exciting game of rugby at the Avenue but at last Wharfedale ended up holding on to claim a fine win. Chester showed some early promise, and playing with the wind had some good possession in Dale’s half without really threatening the try line. The Dale defence held and Chester’s only reward was a penalty kick from 40 metres by Liam Reeve after 4 minutes.
Dale then came more into the game and worked their way into the visitor’s 22. A period of sustained pressure then saw Dale getting close, eventually a catch and drive from a 5-metre line out …