“We are definitely improving” Rhys Keenan

Bradfield Brewery sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby entertained in form Hessle Rugby at the weekend, on a pleasant autumn afternoon, and despite an improved team performance, the visitors eventually grabbed the spoils with 21 points to 12 points victory to secure their second place spot, as Stocksbridge drop to fourth on the Division 4 league ladder.

A crippling injury list, with many of the minor injured playing through, unavailability’s and suspension robbed the Piggy’s of 14 members of their 1st Team squad. Head Coach Rhys Keenan and his back-room team are indebted to the lads who have put their hand up for 1st XV duty.

Veteran forward Nigel Dowkes earned a recall to the starting pack, and an un-named Australian trialist was handed an opportunity from the bench. After a tough week in training and with a positive warm up behind them, Stocksbridge Rugby again started well and put pressure on the visiting defence with centres Kelly and Westby looking in good touch with ball in hand. Hessle held their line firm and almost from their first meaningful attack scored a try after some clever interplay from their own back line.

The home side pressed hard with back row forwards Newton and Spencer, alongside inflaming skipper Rowett producing a good supply of the ball for Frith to set Bowskill and the pacey Stocksbridge back line away. The home side gained some reward for their efforts when the improving Jordan Fletcher stole a line out ball and Rowett was on hand to crash over the line from close range to put Stocksbridge back in the game. The Pigs were further hampered when the resurgent Joe Smith was injured and replaced by Lewis Bowman however, the heavy Hessle forwards began to struggle and resorted to slowing the game down to halt Stocksbridge’s progress.

A yellow card and a 10-minute sin bin were admonished to the persistent offender. Stocksbridge tried hard, but a combination of loose passes, and wrong options meant they were unable to turn their superiority into points. From a rare breakout the visitors were awarded a penalty within goal kicking range, which they gleefully accepted, and then slotted a drop goal deep into 1st half injury time to leave the half time score Stocksbridge Rugby 5 points – Hessle Rugby 13 points, and all still to play for.

With two evenly matched sides, there were chances at both ends during the second stanza, Stocksbridge pressed hard, encouraged by talisman skipper Rowett, winger Jones latched on to a Frith box kick but couldn’t round the full back to score. Then Tom Spencer was bundled into touch as he sped for the try line. Almost against the run of play Hessle’s big forwards found some effort and trundled over the line to extend their lead and backed this up with a successful penalty goal to keep their scoreboard ticking over. In contrast, Stocksbridge spurned 2 chances at goal and chose to run the ball searching for the score to bring them back into the contest, again losing the ball when it counted most.

By the time the evergreen Ricky Christopherson plunged over in the corner for a further Stocksbridge score and Bowskill converted, it was a case of too little too late, and a final score line of Stocksbridge Rugby 12 points – Hessle Rugby 21 points, left the home side again frustrated.

‘We are definitely improving’ said Keenan afterwards ‘we need to stick together as we have done through previous tough times, and the results will come again’ adding ‘credit to the lads who are carrying injuries and still playing, we know our time will come.’

The Man of the Match award went to Ben Westby sponsored by Mark Logan Gas Services, Frith and Fletcher also caught the eye with some good work, whilst skipper Rowett tried hard to add fuel to the Stocksbridge fire.

Stocksbridge Rugby are on the road this week for a difficult encounter with York RI, who are also on a run of good form, so Keenan will hope to have some of his injured troops available for selection and a good week of training behind them.

Updated 17:17 - 22 Oct 2018 by Lewis Bowman