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Sheffield Tigers RUFC
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(Established 1932)
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A National League 2 North Club
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Reports 2007-2008:
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19/04/08 - Tigers 1st XV Weary Squad Lose to Undefeated North 1 League Winners Kendal
Kendal 43 - Sheffield Tigers 0
Tigers travelled to Kendal with the knowledge that they were playing against the already crowned champions of North 1 but also knowing that Tigers have coped well in their debutant season in this very competitive league. Richard Senior, Richard Selkirk and the rest of the team should be very proud of their achievements in maintaining the standards they have set over the last few seasons which have brought such success to Dore Moor.
The match was initially delayed by the late arrival on the pitch of the referee who added colour to the occasion with his outstanding outfit. Tigers started well but the problem which dogged them all afternoon was to give Kendal their first scoring opportunity when a dropped pass in the backs gave Kendal field position. Richard Joel managed to hold up over the line a good drive by the Kendal pack but from the resultant five metre scrum, the man of the match Kendal fly-half New Zealander Hoanni Moore scored under the posts, converted by full-back Chris Parks to give Kendal a 7-0 lead on twelve minutes. Tigers then enjoyed their best period of play with opportunities to score wasted by poor handling and again following a Tigers mistake and good work by Kendal number eight Mark Wilson the same combination of Moore with the try and Parks with the conversion gave Kendal a 14-0 lead on twentyfive minutes. The same pattern followed the initial score with an excellent break by Simon Tillyer which Tigers were unable to turn into a scoring situation and Kendal showed why they are Champions with a 40 metre relieving kick. This was to be Tigers best opportunity, the Kendal defence maintaining their line with vigour. Tigers then lost winger Gareth Morley with a shoulder injury replaced by Will Kirtley on thirtyeight minutes and the first-half closed with Kendal leading by 14-0.
The second-half started badly as within a minute Tigers lost Prop Anthony Parkin to a calf injury and he was replaced by Dave Price. Kendal then turned up the pressure and scored from a lineout with a short side peel move finished by No 8 Mark Wilson to give the home side a commanding 19-0 lead on fiftyfive minutes. Tigers then came the closest to scoring when Andy Barnes was held up inches from the line again. Tigers were not in the same clinical mode as their opponents who turned virtually every opportunity into a score. The contribution from Barnes and his fellow lock Richard Joel has been outstanding this season and a score from Barnes would have been well deserved but was not to be. On sixty minutes Tom Denton replaced Dominic Parsons but the Kendal machine now kicked into overdrive with a well taken try by winger John Ladell which went unconverted to increase the Kendal lead to 24-0 on sixtyeight minutes. Tigers exertion over the last two weeks where they have played 5 games in 14 days started to take its toll, but this is to take nothing away from Kendal who played some clinical rugby to give Moore his third try of the afternoon after good work by scrum-half Gough who was outstanding all afternoon. This made the score 31-0 as Parks converted after seventytwo minutes. Tigers were then reduced to 14 men when, not for the first time this season, prop Roger Fuaalaetoelau was yellow carded. Kendal then added two scores in the remaining minutes from winger Luke Ladell, which went unconverted, and the final score a converted try from back rower Nick McCain from fifty metres. This capped a fine display and a good all round team effort from Kendal who finally won by 43-0.
Team – Toews, Parkin (Price), Fuaaletoelau, Joel, Parsons (Denton), Barrett, Barnes, Nick Pearson, Scheinkonige, Butler, Hartnoll, Tillyer, Outram, Morley (Kirtley), Spon-Smith
Subs - All Used
Report By: Stuart Headford
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15/04/08 - Tigers 1st XV Beaten by Beverley in Yorkshire Cup Quarter-Final
Beverley 32 - Sheffield Tigers 0
Tigers and their small, loyal band of supporters arrived at Beverley having made their way through the roadworks and rain in Sheffield. After an opening exchange of kicks for territorial position Tigers had the early advantage of more possession but were finding it hard to make yardage other than through tactical kicking. It needed a good last ditch tackle by Tim Bowman to stop a Beverley try after fifteen minutes before the home team opened their account with a penalty when Tigers backs were caught offside. A good forward drive to the Beverley try line was thwarted when the pack were penalised for not releasing and shortly afterwards Nick Pearson was yellow carded. The forwards withstood the pressure of being a man down until the last move of the half when the Beverley backs scored wide out after drives by their pack for a half-time score of 0 - 8.
Beverley started the second half strongly with driving forward play and from a resulting penalty a quick tap and go was finished wide out for 0 - 15 .The Tigers scrum was under pressure, especially when Tom Denton was also yellow carded. Beverley were now using the experience gained at the higher level of National Three North. Their forwards were recycling and switching the line of attack and then quick ball was released to their strong running centres and quick wings. Tigers continued to tackle for all they were worth but the last fifteen minutes brought three further Beverley tries and a slightly flattering final scoreboard of 0 - 32.
It must be remembered that this was Tigers fourth hard match in eleven days. The pack found it hard going against a strong and well organised opposition eight and the backs found it difficult to make gaps off slow ball. However, to their credit the whole team stuck to their task and deserve all our congratulations on getting to the quarter final of the Yorkshire Cup. The players can now look forward to a good break during the close season. Before then though it is a visit on Saturday to unbeaten North 1 league champions Kendal!
Team – Toews, Price, Fuaaletoelau, Joel, Parsons (Denton), Barrett, Barnes, Nick Pearson, Drage (Scheinkonige), Spon-Smith, Hartnoll, Tillyer, Outram, Morley, Bowman
Sub not used - Kirtley
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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12/04/08 - Tigers 1st XV Defeated by Determined Darlington in North 1 League Match
Sheffield Tigers 7 - Darlington 20
Darlington came to Dore Moor needing a win to improve their chances of remaining in this league for next season. Tigers came into their third game in a week after the excellent but abrasive Yorkshire Cup first round win over Hull Ionians. The visitors
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Andy Barnes Lineout Take
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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started promisingly when Tigers lost a defensive scrum against the head and a quick feed from their scrum-half saw the stand-off go over untouched for a converted try after only three minutes. Tigers pack then drove the ball upfield before, for the first of several occasions, the ball did not quite go to hand. Then on fourteen minutes Tigers took good ball from a line-out on the Darlington twentytwo and drove over the try line. Hooker Dave Price claimed the try and
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Richard Butler Conversion
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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Richard Butler converted. Tigers were now getting more ball but on twentyfive minutes a break down the Darlington right against the run of play saw the winger pass inside to a supporting forward who scored for 12 - 7 to Darlington. Tigers pressed strongly with half-time approaching.
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Gareth Morley Break
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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Winger Gareth Morley was tackled into touch just short of the line and then centre Will Kirtley made a good break but as with two other attacks the ball went to ground and the score remained the same at half-time.
Darlington started the second half in exactly the same manner as they had the first. A break down the left by their full-back saw him burst through three weak tackles to score an excellent individual try. Six minutes later he added three more points when Tigers were penalised for killing the ball. Tigers had chances to score after that but it was not to be. Winger Jamie Hartnoll was stopped just short as he cut inside and beat two defenders and then Alex Drage was tackled a metre short. The Darlington pack continued to more than hold their own, driving Tigers off ruck ball, taking another scrum against the head, and pushing the home forwards backwards at a scrum but there were no further scores. The visitors gutsy performance earned them a deserved win and with it the two points to keep them clear of the relegation places. We wish them good luck in their remaining game and look forward to meeting the players and committee next season.
Team – Toews, Price (Parkin), Fuaaletoelau , Joel, Parsons, Barrett, Barnes, Nick Pearson, Drage (Scheinkonige), Butler, Hartnoll, Kirtley (Tillyer), Outram, Morley, Spon-Smith
Subs - All Used
Report By: Nigel Dakin |
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08/04/08 - Tigers 1st XV Dogged Performance to Beat Hull Ionians in Yorkshire Cup First Round
Sheffield Tigers 20 - Hull Ionians14
Tigers kicked off in this first round Yorkshire Cup match against Hull Ionians (National 3 North) a side they had lost to 41-12 three months earlier in a friendly game. Ionians started strongly and made clear their intentions to play open fifteen man rugby. The visitor’s initial pressure was rewarded after six minutes when they opened the scoring with a penalty by their stand-off James Ferguson. Tigers forwards then ran the ball at Ionians with number eight Nick Pearson leading the way. Ionians were playing at least up to the offside line to deny Tigers quick ball but it was fifteen minutes before they were penalised for offside and four minutes later stand-off Richard Butler levelled the scores when a second offside penalty was awarded. A fortunate break by Ionians saw Charlie Spon-Smith make a good tackle to stop a try but a second penalty gave the visitors the lead on twentytwo minutes. Butler was kicking intelligently and forcing the Ionians rush defence to turn with well weighted grubber kicks. From one of these, Ionians were harried into taking the ball into touch and when a good Tigers drive from the line-out was pulled down by Ionians, Butler kicked the penalty to bring the scores level after twentyfive minutes. The game then ebbed and flowed but Ionians regained the lead with a penalty when Tigers were offside at a ruck five minutes before half-time. The half closed with a strong run by prop Roger Fuaaletoelau and a chance to level the scores from the boot of Butler that fell just short from forty metres.
Tigers excellent first half performance had given them confidence and it was now a question of whether they could go on to win the tie. Ionians started the second half by pulling down yet another maul and this tactic was to cost them dear. First a penalty kick to the corner was driven on and recycled by the pack before scrum-half Alex Drage darted over from close range to give the home side the lead after fortyfive minutes. Butler converted for 13 - 9. Then, ten minutes later, another excellent maul drove Ionians backwards towards their own line at a rapid rate of knots. When they again pulled down the maul with the line looming the referee did not hesitate in awarding a penalty try, Butler again converted. This opened up an eleven point lead and Tigers were now firmly in charge up front with the rare Ionian attacks being well defended by the Tigers midfield. Ionians looked rattled, passes were being forced and in the gathering twilight the ball dropped to the cheers of the home supporters. With time running out the visitors did score a consolation try five minutes into stoppage time to make the final score 20 - 14.
This was an excellent win for Tigers against a team from National Three North. It would be unfair to single out any one player as this was an outstanding team performance. Apart from the two Twickenham successes this is the biggest win in the Club’s history ranking alongside the play-off match against Lymm last season. But whereas that was an exhibition of free flowing champagne rugby this was a dogged performance to dominate a determined opposition. The win puts Tigers into the last eight of the competition with a quarter-final game, still to be drawn, to be played next week (April 15th or 16th).
The last home league game of the season is this Saturday against Darlington. Let’s have a good turnout of supporters to cheer on the team!
Team – Toews, Price (Denton), Fuaaletoelau , Joel, Parsons, Barrett, Barnes, Nick Pearson, Drage, Butler, Hartnoll (Bowman), Kirtley (Tillyer), Outram, Morley, Spon-Smith
Subs not used - O Evans, Scheinkonige
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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05/04/08 - Tigers 1st XV Start Yorkshire Cup Campaign with Away Win at Driffield
Driffield 0 - Sheffield Tigers 16
This Yorkshire Cup preliminary round game was played in conditions more akin to Dore Moor in winter with a stiff breeze blowing sleet and rain across the pitch. Tigers started a potentially difficult away game with plenty of possession against a team who are third in North 2 East. The early pressure was rewarded after eleven minutes when stand-off Richard Butler opened the scoring with a well struck penalty. The Driffield backs then began to use the ball and it needed a good covering tackle by scrum-half Nick Scheinkonige on the Driffield winger to stop a threatening attacking move. Tigers line-out was now dominating and continued to do so all match. This caused Driffield to run a penalty but the ball was immediately dropped. However, even when Tigers were judged offside the home side failed to open their account when a simple kick at goal went under the bar. Butler continued to kick Tigers into good field position from the excellent ball supplied by the pack. On twentyfive minutes Butler doubled the lead before prop Roger Fuaaletoelau was sin-binned with his opposite number after a skirmish. With half-time approaching Tigers backs were beginning to run confidently with the ball and making progress and then a thirty metre drive by the forwards nearly resulted in a try.
The second half continued with more of the same, Tigers forwards securing plenty of possession and Butler kicking for position. After the backs had handled down the line, man of the match Butler then put through a short grubber kick into the corner and when the defence failed to tidy up he was just beaten to the touchdown by winger Tim Bowman. That made the score 11 - 0 after fortyfive minutes. Tigers pack continued to put pressure on their opposite numbers but the Driffield defence around the breakdown was good. When Driffield were penalised and a forward yellow carded for killing the ball the game was made safe with a second try on sixty minutes. From a kick to the corner the resulting forward drive saw the ball recycled and Fuaaletoelau made up for his earlier ten minute rest with a try. The match ended with Driffield at last getting some ball and being able to mount some pressure on the Tigers try line but the defence held firm. Charlie Spon-Smith, playing at full-back, made an excellent tackle in the corner to stop a certain try to keep the home side pointless. This comfortable win gives Tigers a home match against Hull Ionians in the next round on Tuesday night 8th April 2008 at 18:30.
Team – Parkin (Denton), Toews, Fuaaletoelau , Joel, Parsons (Price), Barrett, Barnes, Nick Pearson, Scheinkonige, Butler, Hartnoll, Kirtley (Tillyer), Outram, Bowman, Spon-Smith
Subs - All used
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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29/03/08 - Tigers 1st XV Resolute Defence Finally Breached in North 1 League Defeat
Sheffield Tigers 0 - Huddersfield 5
The match was played on a cold, grey windswept afternoon with driving rain. From the start it was obvious that there was going to be very little open play and that the game would be forward dominated. Tigers started well with the wind behind them and had early territorial advantage. After Richard Butler missed a long range penalty attempt in the gusting wind the Huddersfield forwards made their way slowly upfield and much of the remainder of the half was played either side of the half-way line. Tigers could not get into the visitors twentytwo to put any real pressure on the Huddersfield defence and with half- time approaching Huddersfield had pressure on the Tigers line. A good run out of defence by centre Will Kirtley, in which he beat four men, relieved the pressure temporarily but then prop Roger Fuaaletoelau was yellow carded for slowing up ball from a ruck. However, solid tackling by Tigers kept the match scoreless at half-time.
Huddersfield turned round and might have thought that the job had been done at half-time but the Tigers team had different ideas. Huddersfield used the wind to kick for position but the Tigers pack repeatedly drove the ball out of defence. Four Huddersfield penalty kicks at goal were missed, indeed two from inside their own half both hit the bar but did not go over. A scrum was taken against the head by Tigers front row and a Huddersfield drop goal attempt did not gain enough height to threaten a score. With the home supporters beginning to think that the match could finish scoreless Huddersfield stuck. A mistake as Tigers were running out of defence saw the ball fall to the ground and stand-off Johnson picked up and scored the match winning try.
This was a good performance by Tigers in trying conditions against a well organised and strong Huddersfield team. The defence was better than in recent matches and although it would be hard to single anyone out prop Anthony Parkin worked hard all afternoon putting in some big hits. We wish Huddersfield well in the play-off match for promotion that this win guarantees them but hope to be playing them again in the not too distant future
Next week sees a break from league action as we visit Driffield in the preliminary round of the Yorkshire Cup. All support welcome.
Team – Parkin, Toews (Denton), Fuaaletoelau , Joel, Parsons, Barrett, Price, Nick Pearson, Drage, Spon-Smith, Hartnoll, Kirtley, Tillyer, Morley, Butler
Sub not used – Evans (O), Johnstone
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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15/03/08 - Tigers 1st XV Miss Out at Middlesbrough in North 1 League Defeat
Middlesbrough 25 - Sheffield Tigers 7
Tigers arrived at Acklam Park in need of a win after a run of three successive defeats. Middlesbrough started the sharper with early pressure on the Tigers line and opened the scoring on eight minutes when Tigers conceded a penalty within kicking range. Middlesbrough then had to replace a back-row player who was concussed after a bullocking run by number eight Edu Hanekom. Good defence prevented a further score after Tigers had lost possession, before Middlesbrough missed with a second penalty attempt. The home side then had a back-rower sin binned for killing the ball and from the kick to the corner and line-out the Tigers pack drove over from ten metres with Hanekom scoring the try converted by Rob Ferguson. Tigers then defended three opposition recyclings on their line and with half-time approaching looked like turning round with a slender lead. Unfortunately, as at Hull last week, this was not to be. From a scrum near the centre spot the Middlesbrough number eight picked up and broke through the Tigers defence before linking with the scrum-half who drew the full-back before passing to the centre who scored an unconverted try to make the score 8-7 on thirtyseven minutes. Worse was still to follow. After a penalty and ball down the backs the other Middlesbrough centre dummied and went over for a converted try to give the home side a 15-7 half-time lead.
The second half saw Middlesbrough permanently reduced to fourteen players when the same back-row player was yellow carded a second time. Despite this the home side were still first to any loose ball and their scrum-half was running the game and allowing his centres to make good ground whenever they got the ball. A penalty on sixtyone minutes extended the lead before the last score of the match. Seven minutes later and following pressure near Tigers line the ball was passed left and when the move was stopped just short of the line the Middlesbrough scrum-half and man of the match darted over from one metre out. The conversion made the final score 25-7.
Tigers never gave up, the pack competing throughout, with Hanekom and Richard Joel leading by example. Substitutions gave the back play a bit more structure but the Easter break will be welcomed as a chance to get some of the injured players fit again. The next match is at home on 29th March against second placed Huddersfield.
Team – Parkin (Denton), Toews, Fuaaletoelau , Joel, Parsons, Price, Nick Pearson, Hanekom, Drage, Ferguson (Tillyer), Sovatabua (Johnstone), Kirtley, Spon-Smith, Morley, Wardle
Subs all used -
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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08/03/08 - Tigers 1st XV Injuries Take their Toll in Heavy Defeat at Hull in North 1 League
Hull 60 - Sheffield Tigers 8
Tigers travelled to Hull with noticeable absentees in second-row Andy Barnes and back-row Edu Hanekom. The situation worsened when centre Tom Outram injured his groin during the warm up and prop John Mu had to leave the field after only four minutes with a back injury. However, playing against a strong wind in the first half the Tigers pack had the edge over their Hull counterparts. The tackling was sound and good metres were being made with the ball in hand. Indeed, after fifteen minutes Tigers took the lead from a kick to the corner after a penalty for a Hull high tackle. Centre Waisale Sovatabua brought slow ball back into the pack and Harry Toews carried on the move. When the ball came loose Sovatabua was on hand to go over from two metres out. Hull hit back on twenty minutes with a good try when an inside pass from their scrum-half gave space to a back-row forward who scored a converted try to give the home side the lead. A bad penalty miss in front of the posts and good Tigers control of the ball kept the lead to just two points going into injury time at the end of the half. Then came disaster as a Tigers player had the ball stripped in the tackle on the half-way line. Hull made good ground before the ball went loose on the Tigers twentytwo. Despite two chances to re-gather the ball, Hull collected and centre Tevita Vaikona (of Bradford Bulls fame) had an easy run in and the conversion made the half-time score 14-5.
The home supporters were not optimistic at this stage as Tigers had had the better of the play in the first forty minutes and now had the wind. A penalty after fortyeight minutes by Richard Butler narrowed the lead to just one score approaching the final quarter. However, the wind dropping and Tigers not kicking well territorially meant that the Hull side were beginning to exert more and more pressure as Tigers tired. A try in the fiftysixth minute and a penalty seven minutes later extended the Hull lead to 22-8. Hard working Tigers wing forward Nick Barrett then had to leave the field with knee ligament damage and meant that substitute Scheinkonig had to play out of position on the wing. This further disrupted the Tigers side and sadly for the away supporters the Hull side were now brimming with confidence. Their big experienced second rowers were having more and more influence on proceedings and during the last twenty minutes the Hull backs showed how lethal they could be as they cut the Tigers defence to shreds with six further tries. While this was the heaviest defeat Tigers have suffered in a long time it was by no means the sides worst performance this season. The final score in no way reflected a very good sixty minutes when the game was still in the balance.
Thanks to the Hull committee for their excellent hospitality and usual friendly banter. All at Tigers wish you well in the move to your new ground where we look forward to meeting you next season.
Team – Mu (Parkin), Toews, Fuaaletoelau , Joel, Parsons, Barrett (Scheinkonig), Price, Nick Pearson, Drage, Spon-Smith, Bowman, Kirtley, Sovatabua, Morley, Butler
Sub not used - Senior
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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01/03/08 - Tigers 1st XV Driven to Defeat by Westoe Pack in North 1 League Match
Sheffield Tigers 0 - Westoe 8
Third placed Westoe were welcomed to Dore Moor by a stiff north westerly wind blowing diagonally across the pitch. Handling was difficult and the match was always going to be an arm wrestle between the packs with little opportunity for open rugby. Tigers used the wind to mount early pressure in the Westoe twentytwo. When Westoe were caught offside after ten minutes Tom Outram just missed with a good attempt at the posts in tricky conditions. A Westoe back then made a break to get his side into the Tigers half for the first time and the visiting pack then ground their way to the Tigers twentytwo, only for the fifty metre gain to be wiped out by one clearance kick by stand-off Charlie Spon-Smith when the ball was lost. The bigger, well organised Westoe pack continued to drive the ball forwards and scrum-half
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Alex Drage on the way to the Bin
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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Alex Drage was yellow carded for what was judged a trip at the back of a ruck. Westoe, now with an extra man, then camped and recycled on the Tigers line but were twice held up by excellent defence from the home forwards. The pressure was finally relieved when Tigers scrum stole a ball against the head. With half time approaching a Westoe back rower was yellow carded for again slowing down ball from a ruck. Deep into injury time Tigers best chance of a score disappeared when Spon-Smith kicked a loose ball towards the Westoe line but lost the chase to gather the ball. The half-time score of 0-0 summed up a half of few chances and good defence by both sides.
Westoe now had the advantage of the wind and after the referee had played a very long advantage to them, play was brought back for a penalty and this was kicked by their stand-off Sam Rasch after only three minutes. The Westoe side knew exactly how they were going to get the points from the match and rucks and mauls became the order of the day. Andy Barnes was yellow carded for slowing
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Will Kirtley nearly gets away
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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up Westoe possession and then on fiftysix minutes Tigers were down to thirteen players when full-back Rob Ferguson joined him in the sin-bin. Indeed, Tigers could have been down to twelve players when Drage again offended but the referee seemed to remember just in time that a second yellow card would have meant a red and the card did not fully emerge from his pocket. Despite these cards the referee did not manage to tidy up the mess around the rucks and mauls and neither side was allowed the luxury of early ball. Tigers now defended resolutely and with any ball they got tried to attack the Westoe midfield but the visitors backs tackled soundly.
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Charlie Spon-Smith no way through
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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With the temperature dropping and the hottest thing on the park the referees whistle, Westoe at last secured the win. With the eighty minutes up their pack drove the ball over the Tigers try line for a final score of 8-0. The visitors deserved the win for a strong, well organised team performance. However, much credit goes to Tigers for the way the whole team tackled and defended and for trying to play attacking rugby off slow ball into the strong wind in the second-half.
Team – Mu, Toews, Fuaaletoelau , Joel, Barnes (Evans), Barrett, Price, Nick Pearson, Drage, Spon-Smith, Morley, Kirtley, Outram, Bowman (Hartnoll), Ferguson
Subs not used - Parkin
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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23/02/08 - Tigers 1st XV No Match on EDF Energy Cup QF Weekend
Sheffield Tigers ???
Tigers take a break on Cup weekend and cannot play postponed league match as Middlesbrough are playing in the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup Quarter-Final..
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16/02/08 - Tigers 1st XV Error Strewn First Half Results in North 1 League Defeat
Altrincham Kersal 24 - Sheffield Tigers 17
Tigers started quickly with a clean take at a lineout after an Altrincham Kersal penalty. Charlie Spon-Smith made a good break before being tackled just short but Tom Outram kicked a penalty after only two minutes when AK again offended. A Tigers touch kick did not find touch and after a mazy crossfield run by the AK winger and several missed tackles by Tigers an inside pass saw the AK stand-off in support to score a converted try and give the home side a 7-3 lead after ten minutes. AK backs were playing good rugby but Tigers were turning over the ball and five minutes later a chip ahead into the twentytwo was not cleaned up by Tigers defence. Early ball was passed left for the AK winger to score and increase the lead to 12-3. More mistakes followed and prevented Tigers pressure being turned into points. On twenty minutes the Tigers defence was caught napping when AK took a quick lineout near the half-way line and their winger raced in unopposed for 17-3. More missed tackles and dropped passes combined to relieve pressure on the AK defence before Simon Tillyer was yellow carded for a high tackle. As half-time approached Tigers had a catch and drive opportunity but the forward momentum of the maul was lost and the score remained at 17-3 after a disappointing performance by Tigers.
Tigers started the second-half with further pressure on AK but good defence and more mistakes prevented any scores. The game was not allowed to flow with the AK midfield never more than ten metres in defence and often less than that. Tigers were constantly denied early ball and players were entering the ruck from all angles. With the game entering the last ten minutes Tigers at last scored a try. After full-back Zac Hill had entered the threequarter line a crunching tackle on him saw the ball fall free but Winger Tillyer picked up and finished strongly with Outram converting. Tigers spirits were raised and at last ball retention and recycling improved. A try was denied for a forward pass after a good run by substitute Richard Butler before the pack forced the AK pack to concede a penalty try which Outram converted to level the scores with just two minutes left. Into injury time saw Tigers seeking an unlikely win. However, adventurous handling in their own twenty-two only resulted in a pass being intercepted by an AK second-row. The conversion was successful for a final score of 24-17 and a win AK just about deserved. They had four good chances and scored four tries while Tigers could not convert chances into points.
The AK scrum-half and number eight controlled the match while for Tigers the second row pair of Richard Joel and Andy Barnes yet again had excellent games.
Team – Toews, Price (Mu), Fuaaletoelau (Parkin), Joel, Barnes, Barrett (Butler), Hanekom, Nick Pearson, Drage, Spon-Smith, Johnstone, Kirtley, Outram, Tillyer, Hill
Subs all used
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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09/02/08 - Tigers 1st XV Complete First Double of the Season in North 1 League Victory
Sheffield Tigers 11 - Liverpool St Helens 8
As expected, this was a very close match with Tigers only securing victory in the last five minutes. Playing against the wind Tigers took the lead with a well struck penalty by Tom Outram after nine minutes when a Liverpool St Helens player came in from the side at a ruck. LSH were having the majority of the possession and territorial advantage early on and should have been in the lead but for missing three straightforward penalty kicks at goal. Their stand-off was kicking intelligently to the corners but Tigers were defending well. Tigers stand-off Charlie Spon-Smith then made a good outside break before forwards John Mu and Richard Joel carried the ball into the LSH twentytwo.
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Alex Drage Try
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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Scrum-half Alex Drage spotted an opening and ducking under an attempted tackle and showed excellent balance to keep his feet and score. That made the score 8-0 after twentyfive minutes. Outram then got back well to make safe a LSH chip to the corner before the visitors got on the scoreboard with a penalty when prop Mu was offside in the LSH three-quarter line. The Tigers backs were now using the ball well and looking
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Simon Tillyer Forced Out at the Corner
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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threatening and it was against the balance of play when a long kick into Tigers right hand corner was handled down the LSH backs and the inside pass was carried over the line in the left hand corner by their stand-off Simon Worsley. That tied the scores at eight all at half-time.
The wind dropped in the second half and after an even start to the half LSH started to get on top in terms of both possession and territory. The visitors fought hard for every ball and Tigers substitute Edu Hanekom was sent to the sin bin for killing the ball in a ruck with LSH pressing the Tigers line. LSH were on top at this stage, but, as so often before at Dore
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Roger Fuaaletoelau Gets to Grips with his Opposite Number
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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Moor, the home defence was excellent and denied LSH a score despite their extra man. Tigers at last got out of their own half when a penalty near the half-way found touch in the visitors twentytwo. Tigers now battered the LSH line but good defence and a dropped ball prevented a Tigers try. With only five minutes left the referee again adjudged a LSH forward to have entered a ruck from the side and Outram calmly slotted the penalty to win the match. This gave Tigers their first “double” of the season but it shows how even the fixtures with LSH have been in that Tigers only scored a total of four more aggregate points in the two matches.
The result may have seemed a bit harsh on LSH but at this level three missed penalty kicks and not being able to score when they had an extra man cost them dear. Finally, a deserved mention to the referee Mr Simon McConnell from Essex who had a fine match.
Team – Mu, Toews, Fuaaletoelau, Joel, Barnes, Barrett, Price (Hanekom), Nick Pearson, Drage, Spon-Smith, Sovatabua, Kirtley (Butler), Outram, Tillyer, Ferguson
Subs not used - Parkin
Report By: Nigel Dakin |
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02/02/08 - Tigers 1st XV Weather Again Causes Postponement of North 1 League Match
Middlesbrough ??? - Sheffield Tigers ???
Tigers match at Middlesbrough was again called off on Saturday morning due to a frozen pitch.
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26/01/08 - Tigers 1st XV Pack Leads Way to North 1 League Victory
Sheffield Tigers 16 - Birkenhead Park 10
Tigers welcomed third placed Birkenhead Park to a breezy Dore Moor for the return fixture when Park were victors in October by 31 - 17. Tigers won the toss and elected to face the strong breeze in the first-half. The first action came from Tigers after five minutes when Jamie Sutton combined with Alex Drage to make good ground from quick ruck ball. From the ensuing ruck Park were penalised for coming in at the side and Tom Outram struck a good penalty against the breeze to give Tigers an early lead of 3 - 0. Park came back into the game when Tigers lost the ball in contact and their fly-half, Tony Handley, put in a good kick to the corner using the strong breeze. From which Park, despite a clear knock-on were awarded a penalty which was converted by Dave Hall on twelve minutes to draw level at 3 - 3. Tigers hit back going straight up field with good interplay with Sutton again breaking the gain line and again Park conceded a penalty for a ruck offence. Outram was unable to convert as the wind had increased in strength. Park were incurring the referees whistle but no yellow cards appeared which would have helped the match from being very stop start for a period. Tigers then took the initative with a good break from full-back Neil Pearson which allowed the ball to be spun wide for winger Zak Hill to go close in the corner. He was penalised for holding on and from the Park clearing kick centre Will Kirtley made a searing break well supported by the forwards and with rapid recycling at the ruck allowed scrum-half Drage to score under the posts giving Outram an easy conversion to take a 10 - 3 lead on twenty minutes. The penalty count continued to rise with no sanction from the referee and a succession of mistakes by both sides eventually allowed Park to kick deep to the corner. From the lineout Tigers were penalised for numbers and Park elected to take a scrum, an area where Park were in control all afternoon. Following which they were controversially awarded a penalty try for Tigers either collapsing the scrum or the ensuing maul, again no sanction by the referee. This was easily converted to take the score to 10 - 10. This was the last scoring action of the half but the penalty count continued to rise for both sides as they struggled with the windy conditions.
Tigers as in the first-half started well and a promising move was spoiled by a forward pass. After ten minutes of even play Tigers substituted Dominic Parsons for Nick Barrett, Andy Barnes went to second-row with Barrett moving to flanker. Tigers now started to take advantage of the wind and a number of excellent touch kicks from debutant fly-half Charlie Spon-Smith gave Tigers good field position. Park despite their dominance up front, were unable to make much ground through their forwards or backs and Tigers were much sharper behind the scrum when the ball came their way. On sixty minutes Spon-Smith smashed another huge relieving kick to the corner and Park gave away another penalty which Outram slotted with aplomb to take the lead at 13 - 10. Tigers then suffered an injury to veteran full-back Neil Pearson who was replaced by Simon Tillyer. As the penalty count rose the referee then warned both captains about player conduct but again, no yellow card was issued as tempers frayed. The match continued in much the same format with Park forwards dominating the scrum and Tigers backs making the most of the ball they received and on seventy minutes Spon–Smith made a half break to be stopped by a high tackle which allowed Outram to increase the lead to 16 - 10 with another well struck penalty from 30 metres out. From the restart Tigers again made good ground with prop John Mu bustling forward for twenty metres, this resulted in another altercation from which the referee then decided to yellow card both captains, neither of whom was involved in the incident. The game came to a close with Park battering away at Tigers line through their forwards but Tigers forwards held them out for a well deserved victory.
Team – Mu, Toews (Price), Fuaaletoelau, Joel, Parsons (Barrett), Barnes, Sutton, Nick Pearson, Drage, Spon-Smith, Sovatabua, Kirtley, Outram, Hill, Neil Pearson (Tillyer)
Subs all used
Report By: Stuart Headford
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19/01/08 - Tigers 1st XV Poor Start Leads to Defeat in North 1 League
Penrith 36 - Sheffield Tigers 18
Tigers good form of last week did not continue in the Lake District as Penrith ran out deserved winners. The home side started strongly with an early penalty after only four minutes. Their backs were looking to use the ball and often releasing their wingers with missed passes in the midfield. An early scrum against the head saw Penrith make ground and when the ball was recycled the stand-off kicked wide to the right winger who gathered and scored unopposed for a converted try on twelve minutes. A further three points from a penalty followed soon after. Tigers were trying to get into the game but despite good runs by number eight Nick Pearson and centre Simon Tillyer they were finding any continuity difficult. Two Tigers clearance kicks were charged down and the tackling was not up to previous high standards. The Tigers backs were lying flat and this coupled with a Penrith midfield at best quick out of the traps reduced the space for three-quarter play. Tigers allowed themselves to be frustrated by some of the refereeing decisions which were denying them possession and Waisale Sovatabua and prop Roger Fuaaletoelau both received yellows cards. During the second, Penrith used the extra man well when yet another long pass freed their right winger and after a good run and several broken tackles a supporting back-row forward scored a second converted try on thirtytwo minutes. At 0-20 down Tigers were still having the worst of the referees decisions, especially when a clear high tackle by a Penrith player resulted in yet another penalty to the home side before in first half injury time, Tom Outram opened the Tigers account with a well struck penalty to take the score to 3-23 at the break.
Tigers started the second half strongly and on fortyfive minutes an excellent run in open play by second-row Andy Barnes was supported by Nick Barrett who scored with Outram converting. Tigers now started to play and a lovely break by Outram saw him chip the full-back, re-gather the ball, only to be tackled just short of the line. Tigers were getting more possession and good handling out wide by number eight Pearson and debutant open-side Jamie Sutton forced good Penrith tackling. Penalties were exchanged at the threequarter mark before Tigers really got back into the match with further good play by Outram. His kick to the corner was taken by winger Zac Hill who touched down to reduce the deficit to just eight points. Just when the home side seemed to be tiring they rallied and a late penalty increased their lead before a try under the posts in the last minute made the final score 18-36. While this slightly flattered Penrith they thoroughly deserved their win which improves their chances of survival in this league for next season.
Thanks to the Penrith committee for looking after the travelling supporters so well and we hope to meet you all again next season.
Team – Mu, Price, Fuaaletoelau (Parkin), Joel, Barnes, Barrett (Parsons), Sutton, Nick Pearson, Drage, Butler, Sovatabua, Tillyer (Kirtley), Outram, Hill, Neil Pearson
Subs all used
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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12/01/08 - Tigers 1st XV Compete Well in Defeat by National 3 North Side Hull Ionians
Hull Ionians 41 - Sheffield Tigers 12
This was a friendly fixture due to both teams no longer being in their respective cup competitions, Ionians playing in National 3 North, a league higher than Tigers. Tigers had to withstand early pressure and were soon a try down after good work by the Ionians backs. Then with Tigers pressing on the Ionians twentytwo the home team broke away to score a second try, this time converted. Despite being 12-0 down after only ten minutes Tigers pack fought back and Richard Joel forced his way over with Richard Butler converting. Ionians were struggling to achieve parity against the Tigers pack and this resulted in one of their forwards being yellow carded. On forty minutes a kick through saw the Ionians right winger touch down in the corner to make the half time score 17-7.
Tigers started the second half in determined fashion and declined a kick at goal. This decision was rewarded after good forward pressure with a try by Simon Tillyer to close the gap to just five points. The game then ebbed and flowed with Tigers continuing to tackle well and when Ionians were awarded a penalty within kicking range they opted for the three points to put them two scores ahead. It was only in the last ten minutes that the home team pulled away as they spread the ball wide and their young quick backs ran in three converted tries as the Tigers defence struggled to get out wide. Overall this was an excellent run out for Tigers against good opposition. The pack played as well as they had done against Cleckheaton the week before and the backs defended well for seventy minutes.
Next week sees the longest away trip of the season to Penrith who lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with their second win of the campaign.
Team – Mu, Price, Fuaaletoelau, Joel, Parsons (Robinson), Barnes, Barrett, (Summers), Nick Pearson, Neil Pearson, Butler, Sovatabua, Tillyer, Kirtley (Scheinkonige), Johnstone, Wardle.
Subs all used
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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05/01/08 - Tigers 1st XV Roar into 2008 with Emphatic Victory in North 1 League
Sheffield Tigers 33 - Cleckheaton 10
Tigers began 2008 with an emphatic victory over Cleckheaton. They kicked-off with a stiff breeze behind them and took the lead almost immediately when centre Tom Outram kicked a penalty conceded by the
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Tom Outram Penalty Kick
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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Cleckheaton pack for hands in a ruck. Stand-off Richard Butler was using the wind to kick Tigers into good field position and the Tigers scrum was already putting the Cleckheaton eight under pressure. On sixteen minutes Outram doubled the lead when a visitors back-row forward was yellow carded for killing the ball on the ground and while the opposition were down to fourteen men Outram added a further three points for an offside offence. Cleckheaton were finding it just about impossible to get out of their half with Tigers tackling soundly in mid-field. On twentyeight minutes Tigers scored their first try when winger Waisaile Sovatabua, returning after a lengthy absence due to injury, made an excellent run infield from the halfway line. He linked with centre Simon Tillyer who was tackled just short. Early ball enabled scrum-half Alex Drage to squeeze over for a good try converted by Outram.
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Andy Barnes Lineout Leap
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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The Tigers pack were now getting well on top and on thirtyfour minutes drove the Cleckheaton forwards backwards in a maul over their try line for a score touched down by second-row Richard Joel. That made the score 21-0 which remained that way till half-time.
As in the Cup game before Xmas, Tigers started the second-half into the wind and by presenting Cleckheaton with points, this time only three from a penalty for not releasing. However, Tigers were still getting more possession and playing the game mainly around the half-way line. A second penalty on fiftyone minutes, again for not releasing, saw Cleckheaton take a quick tap and attempt a long pass to the left winger. The problem was that Tigers right winger
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Zak Hill Interception Try
- © Ian Anderson 2008
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Zac Hill was wide awake to this and snatched the interception at pace to race in from forty metres. Outram again converted for 28-3. The forward pressure on Cleckheaton was now mounting and they then had a prop yellow carded for pulling down a maul. The penalty kick to the corner gave Tigers an attacking position near the Cleckheaton line. Tigers lost the line-out but forced Cleckheaton to carry the ball over their own line and concede a five metre scrum. Quick ball down the Tigers threequarter line saw Tillyer take the ball into contact in front of the posts and quick recycling allowed full-back Neil Pearson to enter the line and create the overlap for Hill to score near the corner. That made the score 33-3 on sixty minutes. Cleckheaton never gave up and with only minutes remaining kicked deep into Tigers territory. Substitute winger Alan Johnstone did well to cover across from the opposite wing but was rather harshly adjudged to be holding onto the ball while not being allowed to get to his feet. A quickly taken penalty saw Cleckheaton score a converted consolation try to make the final score 33-10.
This was an excellent start to 2008 and partly avenged two earlier defeats to Cleckheaton. More importantly it was two league points from an excellent all round performance in which the pack played particularly well. Next week sees a friendly against Bradford and Bingley from National 3 North at Dore Moor before the trip up to Penrith in two weeks time.
Team – Mu, Toews (Parsons), Fuaaletoelau, Joel, Barnes, Price, Barrett, Nick Pearson, Drage, Butler (Johnstone), Sovatabua, Tillyer (Kirtley), Outram, Hill, Neil Pearson.
Subs all used
Report By: Nigel Dakin |
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22/12/07 - Tigers 1st XV No Match on Christmas Holiday Weekend
Sheffield Tigers ???
Tigers were scheduled to play their re-arranged North 1 League Match against Middlesbrough on this non-league saturday but the match was cancelled by mutual agreement as neither side had enough players due to holiday absences.
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15/12/07 - Tigers 1st XV Weather Causes Postponement of North 1 League Match
Middlesbrough ??? - Sheffield Tigers ???
Tigers match at Middlesbrough was called off on Saturday morning due to a frozen pitch.
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08/12/07 - Tigers 1st XV No Match on EDF Energy Intermediate Cup Weekend
Sheffield Tigers ???
Tigers take a break on Cup weekend after being knocked out in the previous round.
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01/12/07 - Tigers 1st XV Run League Leaders Close in North 1 Defeat
Sheffield Tigers 3 - Kendal 10
Tigers welcomed their opponents from the Lakes for their first visit to Dore Moor. On a bright but very cold day with a strong wind at their backs you would have expected the visitors to control the early stages but it was not the case. Tigers pack dominated playing their best rugby of the season with the front five picking and driving to good effect, The Tigers line-out was also working well with both Richard Joel and Andy Barnes making light of the difficult conditions as they again ensured that the visitors were denied possession for long periods and it was fifteen minutes before Kendal got into the Tigers twentytwo from a long clearance kick by fly-half Dan Stephens. From the ensuing line-out and ruck Tigers were penalised for entering at the side, Stephens hitting the post with the penalty. As the ball came back into play Kendal were penalised for holding on the floor and as the cumulative penalty count grew their hooker, Duncan Green was sin-binned. Tigers continued to play well and good work down the blindside by Tom Outram and Jimmy Lyons took Tigers up field but they were unable to capitalise as Kendal started to exert some forward control in the latter stages of the first half. However Tigers again attacked with Outram the instigator well supported by Tom Rice who was having an excellent game supporting the front five. The half looked like it was to end scoreless when Tigers lost possession on halfway and probably the first time the ball went down either back line, Kendal left wing Luke Ladell finished in the corner to take a 0 - 5 lead on the stroke of half-time.
With the elements in their favour Tigers would have expected to dominate possession and territory but the opposite was the case as Kendal showed why they were still unbeaten this season. Their forwards stepped up the pace with flanker Nick McCain to the forefront and it was no surprise after sustained pressure by the forwards that scum-half James Gough scored from close range five minutes into the second half. Stephens was again unable to convert in the windy conditions leaving the score at 0 - 10 to the visitors. Tigers then had to re-organise up front as Rice injured an ankle and was replaced by debutant prop Roger Fuaaletoelau with Dave Price moving to flanker and skipper Harry Toews hooking.
The game was then played around the halfway line for long periods with neither side able to break down well organised defences with Kendal centres Voortman and Bester tackling strongly and only on rare occasions did Tigers manage to break the first line of defence. Tigers replaced scrum half Alex Drage on fiftyfive minutes with Neil Pearson giving Tigers the Pearson tri-umberate of Nick at 8, cousin Neil at 9 and Neil’s brother Jimmy at 10. Shortly after, some good work by the Tigers backs opened up the defence only for a forward pass to spoil a scoring opportunity. On sixty minutes Tigers opened their account with a penalty from Outram to reduce the lead to only seven points. This was followed by Tigers best chance when Jimmy Pearson intercepted and kicked for the corner for Lyons to chase. However, the referee gave the benefit of the doubt to the covering Kendal winger. This was really the last scoring opportunity and the game came to an end with Tigers pressing but unable to score.
Kendal retained their unbeaten record but Tigers will rue the missed opportunities and the chance to inflict the first defeat of the season on Kendal. Tigers pack will take a lot of credit from this performance with Richard Joel again continuing to put in a class performance each week followed closely by his second row partner Andy Barnes. The day was also enhanced by the large visiting support which saw the best crowd of the season at Dore Moor.
Team – Mu, Price, Toews, Joel, Barnes, Barratt, Rice (Fuaaletoelau), Nick Pearson, Drage (Neil Pearson), Pearson J, Lyons, Hirst, Tillyer, Miller, Outram
Subs not used - Parsons
Report By: Stuart Headford
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24/11/07 - Tigers 1st XV Get Second Away Win in North 1 League
Darlington 10 - Sheffield Tigers 24
Tigers again lost the toss and were given use of the wind at Blackwell Meadows. Two good positional kicks by Jimmy Pearson resulted in Darlington conceding a penalty kicked by Tom Outram after just five minutes. The home side came back strongly but after good clearance work by scrum-half Alex Drage their pressure told when a catch at the tail of the line-out saw prop Bill Smith score an unconverted try on twelve minutes. Tigers were not playing well with balls being turned over and penalties given away. Ball down the backs was slow and to compound matters back-row Edu Hanekom had to leave the field with an Achilles injury. Things improved on twentyfive minutes when a catch and drive saw hooker Dave Price score and Outram convert to give Tigers a 10-5 lead and a Darlington prop yellow carded for persistent slowing up of Tigers possession. Tigers then wasted a golden try scoring opportunity when a fifty metre blindside break was not finished despite a two on one situation. Tigers had more territorial advantage and possession and a good burst by centre Simon Tillyer was wasted when the ball was lost. Darlington finished the half with a fifty metre break of their own and only excellent defence on the line maintained Tigers slim 10-5 advantage till halftime.
A chip early in the second half and lost line-out ball by Tigers saw Darlington gain possession on the Tigers line. They opted for two five metre scrums after consecutive penalties by Tigers and the decision proved correct as back-row forward Semi Rokotovitovo grounded the ball to level the scores after fifty minutes. Tigers were finding it difficult to get out of their own half and memories of the match the previous week were in the mind. However, the earlier pressure now started to tell and the backs began to find spaces further out. On sixty minutes a technical penalty against Darlington for early lifting at a line-out saw Drage take a quick tap and Jimmy Pearson see space behind the opposition backs. His kick was well chased by winger Marlon Miller who beat the full-back to the ball and passed inside to supporting centre Greg Hirst to score a try converted by Outram. Hirst was now finding space to make outside breaks but Darlington were still competing and holding their own up front. Only an excellent catch on the touch line by Outram denied them good field position. On seventytwo minutes and with Darlington having to chase a seven point deficit Jimmy Pearson intercepted a ball being passed down the Darlington threequarters and raced in from sixty metres for a converted try. As one Darlington spectator was heard to say, “that’s well buggered it”. With the final whistle approaching young Tiger’s prop Tom Denton and his opposite number were yellow carded, and this being the Darlington player’s second meant red. This was atypical of a competitive game with Tigers deserved winners by 24-10.
Man of the match was Jimmy Pearson for his control of the game and his excellent positional kicking from hand. This was a game of excellent defence by all Tigers players and one where the backs showed they have a cutting edge. The performance should give the team confidence for next week’s home game against unbeaten top of the table Kendal. Finally, a warm thank you to the Darlington committee for their generous and friendly hospitality and to ex-Tiger Fred Traice for sponsoring the match.
Team – Mu, Price, Toews, Joel (Parsons), Barnes, Barratt, Hanekom (Denton), Nick Pearson, Drage (Neil Pearson), Pearson J, Lyons, Hirst, Tillyer, Miller, Outram
Subs all used
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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17/11/07 - Tigers 1st XV Defeated by Experienced Cleckheaton in EDF Energy Intermediate Cup
Sheffield Tigers 13 - Cleckheaton 22
The first half started with Tigers playing with the wind at their backs and with both sides making mistakes in the cold conditions. The first score came after sixteen minutes when a Tigers forward drive in the corner was stopped short of the line. The ball went down the backs and centre
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Simon Tillyer - Try
- © Ian Anderson 2007
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Simon Tillyer scored a good try under the posts having beaten his opposite number on the outside. Zak Hill converted. Cleckheaton were having to carry the ball into the wind using their forwards but the Tigers defence was making progress difficult. The pick and drive broke down on twentythree minutes when the visitors were penalised for holding on and Hill added the three points. With half-time approaching Cleckheaton were pressing in the Tigers twentytwo when second-row Andy Barnes was yellow carded for killing the ball but the catch and drive from the line-out was well defended. The half ended with a Tigers penalty kick to the Cleckheaton corner but the line-out ball and scoring chance were lost.
The question of whether a lead of ten points would be enough was answered as soon as the first minute of the second half. A kick into the Tigers twentytwo was naively run back by Tigers only for the ball to be stripped in the tackle in front of the posts and number eight Ryan Burrows scored for Jonny West to convert. Two minutes later things got worse when an attempted chip ahead in the Cleckheaton half was taken by John Dudley who made ground before being tackled. Despite the ball being lost forward in the tackle and the referee being unsighted Burrows broke downfield and passed to fullback
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Richard Joel & Andy Barnes in Support - © Ian Anderson 2007
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Owen Edwards who then converted his own try. All this took place with Tigers still reduced to fourteen players and shows yet again how important discipline is at this level of competition. Almost immediately Tigers went back up field and Hill kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to just one point. Unfortunately it was to be one of the last visits to the Cleckheaton half as the visitors used the wind to kick for territory and their pack started to wind the clock down by recyling ball efficiently. There were several lengthy stoppages during the half as a player form each team took heavy knocks to the head and then the Cleckheaton number eight was stretched off with a bad leg injury. We wish him a speedy recovery. With about ten minutes left Cleckheaton stretched the lead with a successful penalty and then with time running out lost line-out ball saw Dudley score in the corner to seal the result.
Cleckheaton deserved the win, more so than their one point victory in the league of two weeks previously. Full credit goes to the Tigers pack for sticking at their task with Richard Joel and John Mu both having excellent games. The backs for once found it hard to penetrate and rarely looked threatening.
Next week sees an away trip to Darlington before a home game against unbeaten league leaders Kendal.
Team – Mu, Price (Denton), Toews, Joel, Barnes, Burger (Barrett), Pearson, Hanekom, Drage, Ferguson, Hill, Hirst, Tillyer, Miller, Booysen
Subs not used – Johnstone, Scheinkonig
Report By: Nigel Dakin |
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10/11/07 - Tigers 1st XV Second Half Surge to Victory in North 1 League
Sheffield Tigers 30 - Middlesbrough 11
This was a much awaited game as Middlesbrough had been promoted as champions along with Tigers last season. Then they had comfortably completed the double and so this match promised to provide a yardstick on the progress Tigers had made so far.
Tigers kicked off in an unfamiliar White Strip on a breezy, grey day with the wind slightly at their backs and were soon three nil down to a Simon Moore penalty. The home forwards then stole
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Line-out - © Ian Anderson 2007
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line-out ball and nearly drove over but were just stopped short. Further pressure and recycling forced Middlesbrough to concede a penalty ten metres out and scrum-half Alec Drage quickly tapped and was driven over for a try converted by fullback Tom Outram. Tigers were playing adventurous rugby with ample possession but not quite finishing against a solid Middlesbrough midfield defence. On twenty minutes Outram added a further three points when Middlesbrough were penalised for slowing up ball on the ground. Middlesbrough pegged back three points seven minutes later through Moore when Tigers went over the top at a ruck. Three minutes later the away team took the lead when Tigers lost the ball on the wing. Despite a strong scrum by Tigers the Middlesbrough number eight picked up and made ground down the narrow side before feeding centre Lee Rust. He took the ball at pace and running strongly brushed off two attempted tackles to score an unconverted try in the corner. A further score for the away team was prevented by a good tackle by Outram to keep the score to 10 - 11 at half-time.
Despite losing the assistance of the wind Tigers spent the first ten minutes of the second half in the Middlesbrough half. The Middlesbrough scrum was being put under increasing pressure and Tigers line-out was performing well. Outram hit a post with a penalty attempt and stand-off Jimmy Pearson was starting to control the game with tactical kicking. The game was being played more and more in the Middlesbrough half and on fiftyseven minutes Tigers regained the lead with an Outram penalty for offside at a ruck.
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Franco Booysen Try - © Ian Anderson 2007
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Tigers added a try three minutes later after individualism by centre Franco Booysen. His grubber kick ahead was followed up by winger Marlon Miller who tackled his opposite number. The pack arrived to secure quick turnover ball and Booysen saw a gap down the narrow side to speed over. Tigers pack was now well on top and a line-out ball on the opposition twentytwo was nearly driven over. From the five metre scrum, number eight Edu Hanekom picked up, the ball went loose but somehow it was kicked on the full into the hands of Pearson who could not believe his luck and seared through a huge gap in the defence to score a
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Jimmy Pearson Try
- © Ian Anderson 2007
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try converted by Outram. That made the score 25-11 on seventyone minutes but the scoring was not over yet. Tigers again finished strongly and when, with only two minutes left, Middlesbrough lost the ball on half-way on one touchline the ball was rapidly passed down the three-quarter line for substitute winger Zac Hill to score in the opposite corner. That made the final score 30-11 at the end of Tigers best performance of the season.
Next week sees a break from league action with a second round RFU EDF Energy Intermediate Cup tie against Cleckheaton. If Tigers can play like this again they have an excellent chance of reversing the one point defeat suffered in the league at Cleckheaton last week.
Team – Mu, Price (Denton), Toews, Joel (Parsons), Barnes, Barratt, Burger, Hanekom, Drage, Pearson J, Farrow, Hirst, Booysen, Miller (Hill), Outram
Subs all used
Report By: Nigel Dakin |
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03/11/07 - Tigers 1st XV Another 1 Point Away Defeat in North 1 League
Cleckheaton 12 - Sheffield Tigers 11
Tigers kicked off into a fresh breeze on a lovely November afternoon at Cleckheaton. An early exchange of kicks for position and handling errors from both sides led to Tigers giving away successive penalties for first holding onto the ball, which was kicked to the corner, and then off-side which allowed the Cleckheaton stand-off to put three points on the score board after ten minutes. Three more points were added just three minutes later when Tigers tried to run ball in their own half only to lose the ball and be penalised on their ten metre line. Tigers were continuing to spill too much ball in the tackle and despite trying to play fifteen man rugby were not getting the ball to the wingers. Debutante Jimmy Pearson was kicking well for position and on twentyfive minutes Tigers would have scored a try but for a forward pass. An excellent break from the Cleckheaton full-back was only stopped from being a score when the ball was dropped by their winger. Cleckheaton had the edge on the Tigers forwards both in the set piece and the line-out but on thirty minutes Tigers were again denied a try by a knock on when over the Cleckheaton line. Three minutes later it was the home side who were penalised for off-side under their own posts. A quick tap to centre Zak Hill saw him score an unconverted try. Two further Tigers attacks were repelled by Cleckheaton when points should have been scored but ball was still being lost in the tackle and a crucial line-out ball was also stolen. As a result the score remained at 6-5 to Cleckheaton as the sides changed ends.
Both sides continued to cough up possession at the start of the second half. Ball was knocked on at a line-out and when on fifty minutes Tigers were adjudged to be holding onto the ball on the floor Cleckheaton extended their lead by a further three points. Five minutes and a couple of forward skirmishes later saw Tigers again penalised and the reliable boot of Jonny West added yet another three points. Five minutes later Tigers missed a penalty kick. Franco Booysen twice made inroads down the left side put neither resulted in a try. With ten minutes left Cleckheaton were penalised for pulling round a scrum and Tom Outram reduced the deficit to just four points. Five minutes later Cleckheaton were forced into conceding another penalty for killing the ball and Outram was again on target. As the final whistle approached a drop kick attempt by Pearson was charged down and the match ended appropriately with yet another knock-on.
This was another game where Tigers showed promise and a game they should have won. It was a game littered with mistakes and little flowing rugby. The experience of Cleckheaton of playing at a higher level was a telling factor as was their possession of a more reliable place kicker.
Finally, to matters off the field, Cleckheaton are to be thanked for their tremendous hospitality and good humoured banter throughout the afternoon. All at Tigers look forward to the Intermediate Cup game with them at Dore Moor in two weeks time when we will be hoping to make home advantage tell and reverse the result.
Team – Toews, Price, Parkin (Denton), Joel (Barrett), Barnes, Hanekom, Burger, Pearson N, Drage, Pearson J, Miller, Hill (Tillyer), Booysen, Farrow, Outram
Subs all used
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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27/10/07 - Tigers 1st XV Late Burst Leads to North One League Victory
Sheffield Tigers 28 - Penrith 10
Tigers elected to play into a stiff breeze in the first-half. The home side looked to play open rugby from the kick-off but Penrith used the wind well for position and after a kick to the corner on eleven minutes their pack drove over for a converted try. Tigers continued to use the backs whenever possible but the wind led to inevitable errors. On nineteen minutes a forward drive near the Penrith line was carried forward strongly by back-row Edu Hanekom and prop John Mu forced his way over for an unconverted try. A good run by number-eight Nick Pearson was wasted when a lack of support led to a Penrith penalty for holding on. This was missed as was an attempted drop-goal before a high tackle allowed centre Zac Hill to add three points to give Tigers the lead for the first time on twentyeight minutes. Penrith ended the half strongly. Their forwards wheeled Tigers to turn over possession and from the line-out they
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Nick Pearson Break - © Ian Anderson 2007
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were getting plenty of ball. Tigers were defending well but deep into injury time a penalty in front of the posts gave Penrith a narrow 10-8 interval lead.
Tigers gave away a penalty chance at the start of the second-half but this was missed before Hill restored the lead with three points on fortysix minutes. Tigers were still trying to run the ball through the Penrith backs rather than use the wind to gain field position and little progress was being made against a well organised defence. Midway through the half the crowd cheered as Tigers at last used the wind to kick for territory and soon after Hill kicked another penalty. Mu then made an excellent tackle in the centre with Penrith starting to have to play catch up rugby. A second kick pushed Penrith back into their own half before the event that settled the game. Penrith had second phase ball and were passing it down their three-quarters only to pass straight to
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Morne Burger Interception - © Ian Anderson 2007
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Tigers back-row Morne Burger who had the pace to run in unopposed under the posts for seven points when Hill converted. That made the score 21-10 with four minutes and injury time left. In injury time a penalty to Tigers was kicked to near the Penrith line and two drives later wing replacement Nick Barrett entered the line at pace from the blindside to sear through a gap for a fine try. Hill converted for a final score of 28-10.
This was a sound performance against a well organised Penrith team but showed that there will be no easy matches in this division. From the Penrith point of view the score did not do justice to their efforts with Tigers slightly flattered by the final margin. However, that said, it was Penrith’s biggest defeat of this campaign and that includes matches against top two sides Kendal and Huddersfield. Particularly encouraging was that the penalty count this week was reduced and even ended up two to one in Tiger’s favour.
Special mention must be made of the excellent contribution to the game by referee Clare Daniels, on exchange from the South West, who let the game flow while at the same time maintaining control. Also a mention for the very sociable Penrith committee and alickadoos who made the long trip south to support their team. I look forward to the return match in January and to sampling Cumbrian beer.
Team – Mu, Toews, Parkin (Denton), Joel, Barnes, Hanekom, Burger, Pearson, Drage, Outram, Miller, Hill, Hirst (Barrett), Oosthuizen (Farrow), Booysen
Subs all used
Report By: Nigel Dakin |
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20/10/07 - Tigers 1st XV Park Hooker scores 5 tries in North One League Defeat
Birkenhead Park 31 - Sheffield Tigers 17
The first ten minutes saw both sides miss penalty kicks at goal before Birkenhead Park showed why their hooker had already scored seven tries before today’s match. In the fourteen minutes between the eleventh and twentyfourth Tigers conceded three penalties near the halfway line. All three were kicked to the corner and the catch and drives saw the Park hooker touch down for a first-half hat trick of tries, two being converted to establish a 19-0 lead. Captain Harry Toews did question whether the Park forward drives involved “truck and trailer” but all three were adjudged legal. Tigers were still not getting much clean possession and were under pressure in the scrum. With half-time due this pressure produced a Park break down field and scrambling Tiger defence. A weak clearance kick gave Park a further chance to show their skill at the catch and drive to increase the lead to 24 points at half-time.
The second half saw Tigers at last play some rugby. However, poor decision making relaxed the pressure on the Park line when a short penalty was passed short side to stand-off Franco Booysen with three defenders marking him. Tigers then replaced hooker Dave Price with Anthony Parkin and back rower Nick Barrett with Dominic Ramsden. Further Park pressure was relieved by a length of the field move from Tigers which saw them then mount further strong pressure. After several penalties were conceded by Park, centre Zac Hill got over in the corner to open Tigers account after fiftyfive minutes. Tigers were now getting more of the ball and using the backs well and after sixtyfive minutes winger Ernst Oosthuizen scored an unconverted try. Park then stepped up their forward effort but Tigers again broke from deep and a long mazy run by Booysen saw wing-forward Morne Burger in excellent support to score a try converted by Hill. That reduced the lead to just seven points with ten minutes to play. A kick at goal was declined by Tigers but the kick to the corner and ensuing catch and drive did not result in the hoped for score. The Tigers fight back was finally ended by a blind side break by the man of the match Park hooker who made fifty metres before being supported and finally touching down himself for his fifth try. That made the final score 31–17.
Tigers must learn that they cannot afford to give away the number of penalties they are doing and the words of the Park coach should be remembered next week. All afternoon he was shouting to his side to “let them have the ball” when it was lost and thereby prevent the award of needless penalties against his side.
Team – Mu, Price (Parkin), Toews, Joel, Parsons, Barrett (Ramsden), Burger, Pearson, Drage, Booysen, Miller, Hill, Hirst, Oosthuizen, Outram
Sub not used - Johnstone
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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13/10/07 - Tigers 1st XV Take a Break on EDF Energy Intermediate Cup Saturday
Sheffield Tigers ?? -
Tigers got a bye in the first round of the competition and an arranged friendly fixture fell through.
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06/10/07 - Tigers 1st XV Injury Time Penalty Gives First Away Win in North One
Liverpool St Helens 27 - Sheffield Tigers 28
Tigers made the worst possible start when after only two minutes Liverpool Saint Helens put a penalty kick into the corner and from the line-out drove over from fifteen metres for a converted try. LSH continued to dominate and after a long penalty attempt by Zak Hill fell short they increased their lead to 10 points with a penalty on fifteen minutes. Tigers had not got into the game at all so far and were finding it hard to make ground with the forwards struggling to get any control. After twentyfive minutes LSH were adjudged offside at a ruck and this time Hill did not miss, although Tigers had not yet been in the LSH twentytwo. This gave Tigers confidence and the team at last started to play some rugby and Hill added a second penalty after thirtyone minutes. However, two poor penalty kicks were returned with interest by LSH and a second catch and drive was only just stopped short by Tigers. Tigers were trying to force the game and an over adventurous piece of play nearly led to a LSH try except the ball was knocked-on. With half-time approaching Tigers got finger tips to a LSH line out-ball but could not gather it. A tackle was missed in the midfield and despite a good tackle by full-back Tom Outram LSH scored their second converted try to make the half-time score 17-6 to LSH.
Whatever coach Richard Selkirk said at half-time had an immediate impact. Many of the crowd were still to take their places, having witnessed the last minutes of the magnificent England win over Australia, when stand-off Franco Booysen fielded a LSH kick ahead and broke in centre field. His pass found Outram in support who drew the full-back and passed to winger Ernst Oosthuizen who scored for Hill to convert. Instead of consolidating their position the Tigers backs then committed suicide by trying to open out in their own twentytwo. A pass went astray and as it hit the foot of a post a LSH centre touched it down for 7 points to restore the 11 point lead after fortyfive minutes. To their credit Tigers did not let this knock their confidence and with the forwards beginning to get better ball the backs were now looking very dangerous. A passing movement that went left then right saw centre Grant Farrow tackled short but the ball was quickly recycled and back-row replacement Tom Rice scored with what must have been his first touch after fifyfour minutes. Tiger’s then wasted several chances to score, including a very forward, forward pass with the line open, before early ball from the tail of the line-out was spun left. Inside centre Hill delayed his pass to feed fellow centre Farrow a short ball at pace through a gap in the LSH midfield. He was tackled a metre short but Rice, again providing excellent support, picked up to score. Hill added the conversion to give Tigers the lead for the first time in the match after sixty four minutes at 25-24. The lead was nearly wiped out immediately as LSH restarted and the ball, coming out of the low sun, was dropped. The LSH pack drove to ten metres but good Tigers defence prevented a score. Nick Pearson made a great interception and had set sail for the distant LSH line only to be harshly adjudged offside by the referee. The touch kick by LSH was fielded by Tigers and the backs again tried to open out from their own twentytwo only to concede a penalty easily kicked by LSH to again give them the lead at 27-25 with only seven minutes and injury time left. Three minutes later Tigers had a chance to kick for goal from twentyfive metres but a tap was taken and the ball immediately knocked-on. Stand-off Booysen then made an outside break but lost his footing with the line at his mercy and further chances were missed as the match went into injury time. After eightyfour minutes the referee gave LSH offside forty metres out and Hill calmly kicked an excellent penalty to give Tigers a one point lead at 28-27. However, the drama continued on into the eightyeighth minute when the LSH full-back had a similar kick to Hill’s to win the match. Fortunately his kick came back into play and after a further minute of defence the referee blew for full-time.
Tigers again showed their ability to finish strongly and that they can create chances in the backs and more than hold their own up-front. What needs to be improved is kicking from hand and the option taking in our own twentytwo.
Special mentions must go to Club Secretary Alick Bush for making the six hour round trip from Aberystwyth to run touch, to the referee Steve Lee for his contribution to an entertaining game of rugby and to the LSH committee for making the Tigers committee and spectators so welcome.
Next week sees a break from league action with a friendly match at Dore Moor against South Leicester from Midlands One.
Team – Mu, Price, Toews, Norris (Rice), Barnes, Hanekom, Burger, Pearson, Drage, Booysen, Miller, Hill, Farrow, Oosthuizen (Johnstone), Outram.
Sub not used - Denton
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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29/09/07 - Tigers 1st XV Hang on for Second Home Win in North One
Sheffield Tigers 27 - Altrincham Kersal 21
Tigers welcomed their opponents from Altrincham Kersal to Dore Moor for the first time in a league fixture. The game started well for Tigers with a good catch and a good field position from the clearing kick, however they were unable to gain lineout position from the first two lineouts which Altrincham managed to steal. Altrincham were dominating the early stages of the game and it was no surprise when a well worked three-quarter move allowed the Altrincham winger Burgess to score in the corner to give the visitors a 0 - 5 lead. Whilst defending this move Tigers lost wing Ernst Oosthuizen with a dislocated shoulder who was replaced by Doug Trivella. Tigers then gained their first points after a half-break by Franco Booysen caught the Altrincham defence offside and Zak Hill kicked the penalty to cut the deficit to 3 - 5 after twenty minutes. The Tigers pack then started to exert some control and from a good drive the Altrincham prop Ian Ridgeway was sin-binned for deliberate collapse of a rolling maul. From the penalty Tigers won the lineout and good work from the backs allowed Grant Farrow to score under the posts. Hill converted to take Tigers into a 10 - 5 lead after twentytwo minutes. Altrincham replied with a good break from the restart and then Tigers were penalised for not rolling away. The Altrincham fullback added the penalty to cut Tigers lead to 10 - 8. The match became a scrappy affair with Hill scoring another penalty for Tigers, when Altrincham impeded scum-half Alex Drage, to increase the lead to 13 - 8. Then followed what became the best try of the match, a wonderful break and searing pace from fly-half Booysen left the Altrincham defence in tatters as he scored from 35 metres out, and was duly converted by Hill to give Tigers some breathing space at 20 - 8. However Altrincham continued to press and this time Tigers were penalised as prop John Mu was yellow carded for going over the top. The Altrincham fullback kicked the resulting penalty to take the score to 20 - 11 at half-time.
The second half saw Tigers exert significant pressure but were unable to convert this into points as several easy chances were wasted. Coach Richard Selkirk then made a double substitution in the pack with Tom Rice making his debut and the return after injury of Edu Hanekom. The changes saw an almost immediate score when from a five metre scrum Altrincham collapsed the scrum as Tigers drove them backwards and the referee immediately awarded a penalty try. Hill duly added the conversion points to give Tigers a 27 - 11 lead after fiftyfive minutes. Tigers were in control but again missed several scoring opportunities. Tom Outram was making good ground from fullback and Trivella on the wing were the outstanding contributors but the team were unable to make the most of the chances being created. Altrincham kept in the game with a good score from wing Paul Edwards when Tigers should have had the match won. Tigers concentration let them down again when Altrincham scored a further try by Burgess to give a Tigers an anxious last five minutes.
Team – Mu, Price, Toews, Norris (Hanekom), Joel, Barrett (Rice), Burger, Pearson, Drage, Booysen, Miller, Hill, Farrow, Oosthuizen (Trivella), Outram.
Subs all used
Report By: Stuart Headford
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22/09/07 - Tigers 1st XV Edged Out by Westoe in North One Defeat
Westoe 18 - Sheffield Tigers 15
This was Tigers first visit to South Shields to play a match against the side that had finished third in the division for the past two seasons. Westoe won the toss and elected to play uphill for the first half. With the first attacking move of the match the ball went along the Tigers back line, Doug Trivella went through a gap and his short pass was taken by newcomer Ernst Oosterhuizen to score in the first minute. Tigers continued to look to play expansive rugby and the backs were showing plenty of pace. However, Westoe slowly got themselves back in the game and scored three points midway through the half when Tigers were adjudged over the top at a ruck. The rest of the first half was a scrappy affair played mainly between the two twentytwo metre lines but with Tigers slightly on top. Two promising backs moves failed to produce tries until with halftime approaching a penalty to Tigers was kicked to the corner. The catch and drive was stopped but Tigers were awarded the scrum and the ball went down the threequarter line for fullback Franco Booysen to enter the line and score on his debut. Zak Hill converted to give Tigers a 12-3 interval lead.
Westoe started the second half strongly and scored a try after fortyeight minutes when their prop and skipper Gareth Nesbit forced his way over the line from short range. On fiftyseven minutes further Westoe pressure resulted in a penalty to reduce the lead to just one point. Tiger’s Hill then kicked a penalty after a pick up from the base of a scrum by number eight Nick Pearson caught the Westoe backs offside. With the match developing into a forward tussle with neither pack really on top the last five minutes was reached. Westoe were mounting pressure and after a very long advantage, when they were just prevented from crossing the Tigers line, the referee brought play back to the original penalty. A kick to the corner gave Westoe position and possession and in defending James Norris was given offside and yellow carded. Tigers held the scrum but a secondary surge saw the Westoe number eight score the winning try. Tigers had two last attacks in an attempt to win the game but with Tigers pressing again, the referee blew his whistle with some injury time still left to play.
Whilst Westoe earned the points with a fighting second half display this was very much a match that Tigers should have won. Nevertheless, the performance again showed that the team are more than capable of competing in this league.
Team – Mu, Price, Toews (Norris), Barnes, Joel, Holes (Barrett), Burger, Pearson, Drage (Scheinkonige), Trivella, Miller, Hill, Oosthuizen, Johnstone, Booysen.
Subs all used
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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15/09/07 - Tigers 1st XV Record First Win Ever in North One
Sheffield Tigers 20 - Hull 15
Hull arrived at Dore Moor with the comfort of an opening day win and two victories over Tigers in the Yorkshire Cup in the past two years. Having strengthened their squad over the summer they seemed optimistic of a win. Tigers had the wind at their backs and looked from the start as if they were going to play more rugby than in the defeat at Huddersfield. The ball went down the backs both ways early on and the forwards were more dynamic in the ruck area with newcomer Morne Burger leading the way. Hull however took the lead against the run of play when a loose pass in defence was intercepted and the Hull full-back scored an unconverted try after ten minutes. Tigers replied on sixteen minutes. A kick deep into Hull territory was put out by Hull and from good line-out ball the forwards drove the ball towards the Hull line. The ball was then passed down the backs and full-back Tom Outram entered the line and gave a long pass for left wing Marlon Miller to score in the corner. The conversion hit the bar and came back. Three minutes later Zak Hill was successful with a penalty kick when a Hull player was given offside. An excellent break from the base of the scrum by Alex Drage was continued by the forwards before stand-off Doug Trivella’s chip to the corner was allowed to bounce and wing forward Stuart Holes gathered to touch down and increase the lead to 13-5 after just twentytwo minutes. Tigers continued to dominate territory and possession and the forwards were winning good early ball. As halftime approached centre Hill again fed Outram through a gap in the Hull midfield and his clever pass behind a defender found Miller. His elusiveness allowed him to cut inside and squeeze between two defenders to cross the line for a try converted by Hill. That made the score 20-5 and was a fair reflection on play. With the halftime whistle about to blow an easy penalty kick to reduce the deficit was missed by the Hull stand-off.
Hull were now able to use the wind to kick for position. Another interception nearly ended in a Hull try but a good tackle by Outram slowed down the attack and then Hull knocked-on with the try line at their mercy. Tigers were defending well and tackling strongly. On fifty minutes Trivella was yellow carded for slowing down Hull ball and a penalty reduced the lead. Then Hull were offside and Hill hit the post with a penalty attempt. As Trivella returned Hull lost their captain for ten minutes for a similar offence. Tigers kicked to the corner and drove for the line from the line out, only to lose possession. The game was then made closer than Hull deserved, as on seventy minutes from open play the ball was fed to their right winger who raced round the cover defence to score a converted try from forty metres. At 20-15 Hull sensed they had a chance of sneaking a win but Tigers were the stronger and fitter side in the final quarter and the last ten minutes were played mainly in the Hull half. The Tigers forwards were content to keep possession for as long as they could. After five minutes of injury time the whistle went and the team and their fans were able to embark on celebrating the club’s first ever win in North One.
Man of the match was scrum-half Alex Drage who edged the award from number eight Nick Pearson. Both had excellent games but it would be unfair to pick out just two players from what was a very good all round team performance. Next week sees a trip to the Northeast to take on unbeaten Westoe.
Team – Mu, Price, Toews, Barnes, Joel, Holes, Burger, Pearson, Drage, Trivella, Miller, Hill, Farrow, Johnstone, Outram (Evans).
Subs not used – Norris, Barrett
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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08/09/07 - Tigers 1st XV Start First Ever North One Campaign With a Loss at Huddersfield
Huddersfield 24 - Sheffield Tigers 9
The sun came out as Tigers arrived in Huddersfield to play their first ever match in North One. A knock-on from the Huddersfield kick-off showed that the nerves were jangling. Good Tiger tackling was undone after only five minutes when a Tigers player was offside from a kick ahead and the penalty was kicked. Three minutes later centre Zak Hill levelled the scores when it was Huddersfield’s turn to be offside after a handling move by Tigers. On ten minutes an attack down the right seemed to have been dealt with by the defence only for a Huddersfield wing forward to continue the move to score a converted try. Number eight Edu Hanekom then had to leave the field with a hamstring injury before the two sides swapped penalties to make the score 13-6 after twentyfour minutes. Fullback Jon Storey hit a post with a drop goal attempt before Tigers lost a line-out on their ten metre line. The ball was moved crisply down the Huddersfield backs for the left winger to score a good try in the corner. A further Hill penalty five minutes before half-time reduced the deficit to 18-9 and two easy penalty misses by Huddersfield kept Tigers in the match.
Huddersfield began the second-half looking as if they had stepped up a gear. Tigers prospects were not improved when prop John Mu was yellow carded for handling in a ruck. Two Tigers players apparently let this and other decisions get to them and were yellow carded for “giving advice” to the referee. This reduced Tigers to only twelve players for several minutes. Huddersfield did not make the best of this bonus and still refused to pass the ball wide and were over-persistent with crash ball runs in the mid-field area. Tigers tackling was magnificent and all Huddersfield had to show for their time with extra players were two further penalties to make the score 24-9. However, the result was now beyond doubt. Tigers finished strongly and showed that their pre season fitness work will pay dividends in games. However, their day was summed up in the final minute when a tap penalty near the Huddersfield line was immediately knocked-on.
Huddersfield deserved the points for their dynamic support play in the contact area. However, there were positives for Tigers, especially the way in which the newcomers fitted into the side. Tigers now realise, if they didn’t before, that both the physical and mental pace of the matches will be faster this year. Penalties must be given aware sparingly, the kicking game needs to have more direction and passing down the three-quarters more accurate.
Finally, mention must be made of the excellent welcome given to the Tigers’ committee and supporters by Alan and his committee at Huddersfield. If such hospitality is common in North One then the travelling Tigers’ fans will be well catered for indeed!
Team – Mu, Price, Toews, Barnes, Joel, Pearson, Holes, Hanekom (Barrett then Norris), Drage, Trivella, Miller, Hill, Evans, Johnstone, Storey
Subs - Not used Scheinkonige
Report By: Nigel Dakin
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01/09/07 - Tigers 1st XV Open Anniversary Season with a Good Win in a Friendly against Scunthorpe (our first ever opponents in 1932)
Sheffield Tigers 37 - Scunthorpe 12
Tigers welcomed their first ever opponents, Scunthorpe, from 1932 when the score was a victory for the Lincolnshire side by 13 - 3 though the actual scorers are not known. On a bright and sunny day with a breeze at their backs Tigers started the better of the two teams with a number of debutants in the Tigers ranks. It was an encouraging start particularly by the forwards when after five minutes skipper Harry Toews opened the scoring from a well constructed driving maul with Tom Outram adding the conversion to give Tigers a 7 nil lead. Tigers pack then dominated the game and kept the opposition pinned in their own twentytwo for long periods and finally, from quick ball at a ruck, debutant New Zealand prop John Mu crashed over from 15 metres to take the score to 12 nil on twenty minutes. Almost immediately Scunthorpe got back into the game as Tigers relaxed their concentrations to allow the visiting pack to drive over from short range to reduce the deficit to 12 - 7. The match then became a close fought encounter with little between the two teams until on the verge of half-time the Tigers backs combined to give Doug Trivella space to attack the defence and with Stuart Holes in close support was able to offload in the tackle to put Holes in the corner for an excellent score just on 40 minutes to make the half-time score 17 - 7.
Tigers started the second half with a flourish after a pick up from a scrum by No. 8 Nick Pearson also making his debut, he fed Trivella on the burst who unselfishly fed Outram to score Tigers fourth try to take the score to 22 - 7. It was difficult for Scunthorpe to deal with Trivella who was making ground each time he was involved in the play and he was the instigator and finisher for Tigers fifth try on sixty minutes which virtually sealed the game for the home side taking the score to 27 - 7. Then following some sloppy work in the backs by Tigers, Scunthorpe scored an interception try by their speedy left wing. However this galvanised the Tigers team who in the last 10 minutes finished strongly and scored two further excellent team tries. Firstly on 70 minutes the impressive Mu made a break of about 30 metres, well supported by new boy Grant Farrow in the centre who was able to feed Outram to score unopposed. Finally a strong run by the Tigers backrow Edu Hanekom gave fellow centre debutant Zak Hill a chance to show his pace and score on 75 minutes to make the final score 37 - 7.
This capped an excellent team performance as Tigers prepare for the real challenge in North 1 for the first time in their history. With seven new players the team did very well but the real test for Harry Toews and his team comes next week away to Huddersfield in their opening league fixture.
Team – Mu, Price, Toews, Barnes (Norris), Joel, Pearson, Rice (Barratt), Hanekom, Scheinkonige, Trivella, Holes, Hill, Farrow, Evans, Outram
Subs - All used
Report By: Stuart Headford
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