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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 2010-2011:
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14/05/11 - Tigers 1st XV Hold Their Nerve to Win Play-Off in National Three Midlands/North
Sheffield Tigers 16 - Chester 14
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Final Whistle - Richard Joel & Alex Drage celebrate, everybody else is shattered!!
© Tony Groombridge 2011
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Chester arrived at a breezy Dore Moor to be greeted by sunshine and occasional showers for the promotion play-off game between the runners-up in National Three Midlands and National Three North. Tigers were still without the injured Nick Pearson but were pleased that Richard Joel had returned early from holiday to take his place in the second-row. Jamie Clark came back into the side on the wing freeing Callum Mackenzie to play in the back-row. The home fans were expecting a tight match with both sides boasting good defensive records and so it turned out. To loud applause from a large crowd Tigers were led out by prop Simon Bunting who was playing his last match of competitive rugby before a well earned retirement after three decades of service to the game.
Tigers kicked off with the breeze behind them and immediately the Chester tactics were obvious as they put boot to ball to gain territory. Winger Gareth Morley cleared up well before the first penalty of the match saw Jonny West kick for position into the visitors twentytwo. The catch and drive was not successful but the Chester backs were caught offside in their midfield. What seemed an easy three points proved not to be so as the strong swirling wind took the kick wide of the uprights. However, from the restart Sam Cook made a charge and this was continued deep into the Chester twentytwo by Jon
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Gareth Morley - Break
© Tony Groombridge 2011
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Buchanan. When the ball came back West made no mistake with his snap drop kick and Tigers were first onto the score board after just three minutes. Chester responded with two minutes of pressure before Tigers were penalised for not rolling away from the tackler and Rhys Hayes levelled the scores. There was as yet no pattern to the match. A break by Morley was not quite supported quickly enough and then Jon Feeley made a break leading to Chester being penalised for killing the ball in the ruck. West added the three points for 6-3 to Tigers after thirteen minutes. A Tigers try nearly followed when Sam Lockwood stole Chester possession and an excellent pass by West saw him feed Tom Outram who released winger Clark only for the pass to be judged forward. Now Chester were upping the pace of their game and from a quick tap from a penalty they attacked and created the opportunity for Hayes to drop a goal and level the scores after twentysix minutes. Tigers were starting to gain some degree of control but a couple of penalties at rucks relieved the pressure on Chester. A penalty in front of the posts saw Rhys with a golden opportunity to take the lead but like West earlier his kick went wide of the posts. What a key miss that was to turn out to be! Back play went to the Chester end and Tigers thought they had scored a try from a catch and drive only for the referee to decide the ball had been knocked on and bring play back to a penalty ten metres out. Another catch and drive failed before the pressure was relieved when Tigers backs were offside. Andy Barnes then stole another of the several Chester line-out throw ins he took during the match and West put the ball fifty
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Capt. Andy Barnes - Lineout
© Tony Groombridge 2011
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metres down the pitch. Again Chester seemed to have done their homework as a third attempted catch and drive was foiled. Despite Tigers getting on top in the scrum and dominating the line-out Chester had shown resilience up front, had defended manfully and were well organised. Tigers had shaded the half creating three try scoring situations to Chester’s one but with the scores level at 6-6 the advantage was with Chester who would have the benefit of the strengthening breeze.
The wind was still making things difficult for both sides. First Chester knocked on, then a Tigers line-out throw drifted not straight. Despite this both sides were looking to run the ball where possible. A pass created space down the right for Morley who cut inside and fed Feeley but he was held up on the line. Chester were penalised at the resulting scrum and Tigers sensed a score when they opted for a reset of the scrum with an easy three points available. The Chester pack were now beginning to look uncomfortable at the set piece and from the third reset scrum the ball was passed right to Feeley entering the line and his strength got him over the line to give Tigers a 11-6 lead after fiftytwo minutes. Chester immediately came back with pressure on the Tigers twentytwo and when Tigers were penalised wide out Rhys landed a very good penalty from thirtyfive metres just two minutes later to cut the deficit to 2 points. Both sides were now looking to play the game in their opponents half. Tigers continued to put the Chester line-out under severe pressure forcing the visitors to throw short to avoid the threat of Barnes. All this did was to bring Richard Joel into
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Jon Feeley - His 22nd try of the season
© Tony Groombridge 2011
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play. An excellent steal by him and ten metre burst through the line-out area created another attacking situation. The ball went left and Callum MacKenzie, nearly minus his head from a high tackle, scored in the corner. Sixtyfour minutes gone and 16-9 to Tigers. A further kicking dual for territory followed but Tigers were happy with this as they now had a seven point lead. Chester were then driven off their ball at a scrum and were having to live off untidy possession. A quick tap free-kick by the visitors needed Alex Drage to put in a good tackle and with Chester having to chase the game a knock-on resulted from a forced pass. Still Chester attacked and after two poor clearance kicks which did not get out of their own half Tigers were again forced to defend. Lockwood was yellow carded for hands in at the ruck and with the pack down to seven men Chester opted for the scrum twenty metres out. Tigers had to bring on prop Anthony Ross and chose to withdraw Cook. Despite Chester seeming to stand up in the scrum it was Tigers front-row who were penalised and Chester reset the scrum, again turning down the three point option. The ball went down the Chester backs only for them to knock-on. Tigers then had a chance to clear the ball but failed to do so and even worse conceded a penalty. Another Chester scrum. This time they made the pressure count when their stand-off Bryn
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Simon Bunting
Man of the Match
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Smallgrove dived over, fortunately in the corner. The very difficult kick that would have levelled the scores was missed and Tigers went into the last five minutes with a slender two point lead. The pressure of the last few matches where Tigers had had to win and score bonus point tries now stood them in good stead. More firm defence and a further steal by Joel saw the home side cling on for a narrow 16-14 victory and promotion.
This play off victory will see Tigers playing in National League Two North at level 4 rugby in September. There are only three leagues and forty teams above this level in the whole of England so what an achievement this is for all the players, coaches and especially for Director of Rugby Richard Senior. Dore Moor can look forward to welcoming such clubs as Preston Grasshoppers, Otley, Harrogate, Hull and Huddersfield next season. Well done to everyone involved in this the most successful season in the clubs history. We have now achieved our fourth promotion in seven years.
Man of the match – Simon Bunting– For doing what he has done for all his illustrious career, dominating the scrum and the unseen grunt and groan work.
Team - Bunting, Thomson, Lockwood (Ross), Joel, Hayter, Cook, MacKenzie, Barnes(C), Drage, West, Clark, Buchanan, Outram, Morley, Feeley
Replacements not used – Cone, Wragg, Wright
Referee – James Sullivan
Assistants – Matt O’Grady and Michael Patz
4th Official – Kevin Crawshaw
Report – Nigel Dakin |
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07/05/11 - Tigers 1st XV Win to Take Play-Off Spot in National Three Midlands/North
Scunthorpe 14 - Sheffield Tigers 52
Leaving Sheffield in rain Tigers arrived in Scunthorpe to be met by glorious sunshine, hopefully an omen, as Tigers looked to win the game and score the four tries needed to enable them to make the promotion play-off match. With Nick Pearson still unavailable through injury Frank Wragg started in the back-row with Callum MacKenzie moving to the wing for Jamie Clark who was with the Scotland U20 squad. The first ten minutes did little to quell the nerves of the large number of Tiger’s travelling fans as Scunthorpe dominated both possession and territory. Tigers were forced to rely on their defence which needed to live up to its statistic of being the best in the league. Scunthorpe missed an early attempt at three points and then a certain try went begging as a scoring pass went to ground. Captain Andy Barnes was leading the way in his usual uncompromising style and it was he who helped relieve the early pressure with a line-out steal. Then Gregor Hayter turned an attacker to enable Tigers to strip the ball. At last Tigers were getting into the match. Gareth Morley put in a good tackle to earn Tigers a scrum from which scrum-half Alex Drage looked to break blind only to lose his footing. However, when Scunthorpe kicked to touch to clear the ball it went only as far as Jon Buchanan on the Tigers ten metre line who fed full-back Jon Feeley. His pace beat two defenders and he then spun through an attempted tackle before scorching over for a try on nineteen minutes. Jonny West converted. Tigers were now playing patient rugby with good recycling by the forwards. West put Tigers into the Scunthorpe twentytwo and when the home side cleared to touch, hooker Ali Thomson’s reliable throw in saw Tigers catch and drive, take control, and marched their opposition the thirty metres to the try line for prop Sam Lockwood to score his sixteenth try of the season. West converted for 14-0 after twentyfive minutes. Scunthorpe came back strongly penning Tigers in their own twentytwo but again Tigers defended well. Another catch and drive was this time defended by Scunthorpe and the end to end stuff continued with a Scunthorpe break and chip ahead. West was at hand to run the ball out from his own in goal area as the visitors confidence grew. Several passes later saw West get the ball back on the half-way line and kick deep into the Scunthorpe twentytwo. Again the Tigers pack could not quite force the ball over the home sides try line. With half-time looming Tigers backs attacked from the Scunthorpe ten metre line. The ball went left and Feeley stepped two players to score under the posts. West converted for 21-0 and job three quarters done. There was still time for West to nearly score after beating two defenders and for centre Tom Outram to make a break before the half-time whistle.
Scunthorpe showed they were not prepared to give up without a fight as they again forced Tigers to defend, but Tigers could now afford to be patient. Good work by the pack saw second rowers Hayter and Richard Joel drive for the line with the former getting the touchdown. That was job done after fortyseven minutes. West added the extras. Three minutes later Outram gave good ball to winger MacKenzie who bounced off the full-back to score for 33-0. Now Tigers replaced Outram with Joe Wright, moving MacKenzie to centre, Feeley to left wing and Wright going to fullback. Charlie Cone came on for prop Simon Bunting whose last league game this was after a very long and distinguished career. Tigers were now looking to open out whenever they could and on fiftyfive minutes the ball was passed from West on his twentytwo to MacKenzie. His pass gave Feeley enough space to run sixty metres to the corner untouched. This was his hat trick and twentyfirst try of the season. West added the two points. Again Scunthorpe came back and a powerful run by their left winger Rewiti Viamoso saw him score a converted try on fiftyeight minutes for 40-7. Back came Tigers and when the ball went to ground it was claimed by Barnes. The threequarters passed it right for Morley to make the score 45-7 after sixtyfive minutes. Two excellent tackles by MacKenzie were then wiped out as Scunthorpe took a quick tap on their twentytwo. Another powerful run by Viamoso saw him leave two defenders in his wake as he fed stand-off Tom Foster for a second Scunthorpe seven pointer after sixyseven minutes. Still Scunthorpe looked to bring the game to Tigers. Another try looked possible when the home side chipped into space but Sam Cook showed calmness as he beat three would be tacklers to launch a counter attack. Barnes again drove hard into defenders and three passes later Buchanan scored in the corner. Wests good conversion made the score 52-14. In the six minutes left Scunthorpe continued to attack only to be brought to a halt by a shuddering tackle by replacement prop Anthony Ross. Credit to Scunthorpe for their never say die attitude and for making the game such an enjoyable one that was not quite as comfortable as the scoreline would suggest.
Thank you to Scunthorpe for their hospitality and to the travelling group of Longton players for their friendly banter, who despite being pipped for the play-off spot wished Tigers well for that game. Finally and most importantly, a big thank you to Richard Senior, the coaches and all the players who have worked so hard this season to entertain the fans with such fantastic rugby. The team have lost just five league matches and considering four of those were in the first six weeks of the season to get to the play-off match is a fantastic achievement. Of the last twenty matches only one has been lost and similarly only one match has been lost at home all season. Every team in the league has been beaten, with the double over eight clubs. Let us all hope that there is one big game left in the lads and make sure we are all there to see it this Saturday against Chester!
Tigers final league statistics -
Played 26, won 21, lost 5, for 783, against 379, difference 404, bonus points 17, total points 101.
Tigers finished second equal with Longton on 101 points but qualify for the promotion play-off as we have won one more match.
Chester have played 26, won 19 and lost 7 matches. They have scored 599 points and conceded 435 (difference 164). They have 11 bonus points and a total of 83 points
Man of the match – Sam Cook – Strong tackling, carrying of the ball and good all round performance.
Team - Bunting (Cone), Thomson, Lockwood (Ross), Joel, Hayter, Cook, Wragg, Barnes(C), Drage, West, MacKenzie, Buchanan, Outram (Wright), Morley, Feeley
Replacements all used –
Referee – Gareth Holsgrove
Report – Nigel Dakin
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30/04/11 - Tigers 1st XV Win Keeps Play-Off Hopes Alive in National Three Midlands
Old Northamptonians 20 - Sheffield Tigers 36
Tigers arrived at Old Northamptonians knowing that they needed to win and earn a four try bonus point to keep alive their hopes of a promotion play-off place. Having lost the toss Tigers kicked off long to the corner with a strong breeze behind them. After four minutes of pressure and several drives by the pack Gregor Hayter was stopped by three defenders but offloaded to prop Sam Lockwood who scored from short range. Jonny West added the conversion. ONs showed they were not going to lie down as they then proceeded to dominate most of the rest of the first half. Their first attack saw the ball dropped with the Tigers try line open before West again put Tigers into attacking territory. However, ONs were defending strongly and not for the last time during the afternoon took Tigers ball by aggressive counter rucking. Andy Barnes and Sam Cook put in big hits in attempts to stem ONs attacks as the home side gained in confidence. When Jon Feeley charged down an attempted clearance kick and carried a defender over the line it looked as if Tigers might extend their lead. However, a penalty against them at the scrum relieved the pressure on ONs. A free kick saw ONs break up field and it took a fine tackle by Feeley to prevent a try in the corner but quick recycling saw the ball passed down the threequarter line for the right winger to score in the corner. A good conversion levelled the score on twentytwo minutes. ONs then played some lovely slick rugby in their backs and when Tigers were penalised for going over the top at a ruck, although the penalty was missed the home side took the lead with a drop goal. The home side were now dominating possession and at times running Tigers ragged in defence. Tom Outram was then forced to leave the fray with a hip injury and Tigers brought on Frank Wragg in the back row, moving Callum MacKenzie into the centre. More slick handling and good support running should have resulted in another try for the home side but a try scoring pass out wide was put down. At last Tigers were awarded a penalty and the ball was cleared to the twentytwo but ONs drove Tigers off the resulting line-out ball. Their stand-off was continuing to turn the Tigers defence with well placed grubber kicks to the corners so that Tigers were still defending with half time approaching. A desperate long clearance kick went dead and play was brought all the way back to Tigers twentytwo. ONs opted for the scrum and this led to another penalty only two metres out. A quick tap by their scrum-half saw him score at the foot of the posts for an easy conversion and a half time lead of 17-7.
Tigers now had it all to do. They had had the worst of both possession and territory in the first forty minutes. ONs had been the better side at the scrummage and stronger at the break down. Their backs had been the more creative and pacy and Tigers were struggling. Tigers now turned to play into the strong breeze ten points adrift needing to score three tries as a minimum and also prevent ONs adding to their score. Both these things looked beyond Tigers. However, Tigers never roll over and most of the spectators heard coach Steve Salvin explaining in very plain English what was expected in the second half!
From the kick-off Tigers made several forward drives but these were well controlled by ONs. When Tigers were penalised for holding on at a ruck a chance to extend the lead was missed. Then Jon Buchanan made a break, but his pass went astray. Back came ONs, again forcing Tigers to concede a penalty at the ruck. This time the three points were taken for 20-7 after fortytwo minutes. In an attempt to get more strike power Feeley was moved to full-back with Gareth Morley coming onto the wing. Things continued to go badly as Tigers then lost their line-out but when ONs were penalised twice in close succession at last there was a chance for Tigers to get back into the match as they camped on the ONs line. Attempted catch and drives were well defended by ONs. First Feeley was tackled on the left and then Lockwood on the right but then the ball was fed out by scrum-half Alex Drage who had spotted West in space. He needed no second invite to race through the gap and score a seven pointer for 20-14 on fiftyfour minutes. The ruck area was getting increasingly messy with both sides not clear what was being allowed and what wasn’t. Tigers were now upping the pressure on ONs. An easy shot at three points was declined in favour of a kick to the corner. When the catch and drive was pulled down ONs lost a player for ten minutes. Tigers immediately drove over the home line with Richard Joel scoring his first try of the season, and a vital one at that, as it gave Tigers the lead when West converted well from wide out. That was on sixty minutes and three minutes later as Tigers began to dominate possession Feeley made a break down the middle of the pitch before unloading to the supporting Frank Wragg to use his pace to score. West again converted. That gave Tigers the bonus point for four tries and an eight point lead at 28-20. Now all they had to do was win the game. ONs came back strongly with good counter rucking and Tigers were only able to relieve the pressure because ONs were forced to concede a penalty. Then came a moment of brilliance. On seventy minutes Feeley entered the line on the right and went between the outside centre and winger. Four side steps later he touched down for a superb individual try to secure the win. West’s kick drifted wide in the wind but he landed a penalty three minutes from time to make the final score 36-20 for anything other than the easy win the scoreline suggests.
Now it is all down to one match, the rearranged away fixture at Scunthorpe this Saturday. With Longton getting five points in their final match Tigers must win and score four tries. This would give them the same number of points as Longton but Tigers would reach the promotion play-off game having won one more match. This play-off would be against Chester the following week and would be played at Dore Moor as Tigers have the better playing record. Hopefully an injury to Nick Pearson will have healed by then, but probably not in time for the Scunthorpe match, as he was badly missed in this match for the solidity he adds to the defence. Please make every effort to go to Scunthorpe and make the atmosphere like a home game for the lads.
Man of the match – Alex Drage – tireless work and excellent service around very competitive ruck and scrum areas.
Team - Bunting (Cone), Thomson, Lockwood, Joel, Hayter, Cook, MacKenzie, Barnes(C), Drage, West, Clark, Buchanan, Outram (Wragg), Feeley, Wright (Morley)
Replacements all used –
Referee –
Report – Nigel Dakin
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23/04/11 - Tigers 1st XV Complete Double over Longton in National Three Midlands
Sheffield Tigers 25 - Longton 16
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Captain Andy Barnes - Lineout
© Ian Anderson 2011
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Second placed Longton arrived at Dore Moor needing a win to book the promotion play-off place. The dry and warm conditions could not have been more different from the wet day of the original fixture when Longton refused to play the match as there was water on parts of the pitch. The game started badly for Tigers when prop Simon Bunting was yellow carded for retaliation after being spat at. Longton took the resultant three points. The visitors were having the better of the possession and territory although both sides were guilty of turning the ball over in the tackle. Tigers were finding it hard to make progress against sound Longton tackling but got through the ten minutes of being a man short with no further loss of points. Longton then managed to niggle another yellow card, this time for second-row Gregor Hayter, and add three more points to their score on fifteen minutes. At last Tigers were awarded a penalty for Longton being over the top at the ruck. A long kick to touch was followed by a catch and drive. Longton managed to collapse this legally only for the ball to be fed out to Jonny West who side stepped through a hole in the visitors defence and rounded the full-back to score. His own conversion gave Tigers a lead they were not to surrender for the remaining sixty minutes. With thunder over the city centre, Tigers now upped the tempo of the match. Longton line-out ball was stripped at the tail of the line-out and centre Jon Buchanan made a surging run. Play was brought back for a penalty to Tigers and West put the ball into the Longton half. Then a free kick was taken quickly and a try prevented by a cynical penalty by the Longton centre for which he was sin-binned. With Hayter returning, and now having the extra man, Tigers opted for the scrum but could not convert the pressure into points. Winger Callum MacKenzie was well tackled when sprinting for the line and then a chip ahead by full-back Joe Wright was knocked on by Longton but again Tigers could not force home any advantage. Then Wright made a good break before feeding the rampaging Hayter who went clean through the Longton defence and seemed certain to score before being cover tackled just short of the line after a forty metre burst. Rapid ball was denied by more cynicism and Longton found themselves again down to fourteen players. West added three points on thirtysix minutes. Jon Feeley then broke clear and when his kick ahead needed Longton to obstruct Tigers chasers the visitors went down to thirteen men after their third yellow card of the half and were fortunate not to concede a penalty try. West again added the three points for 13-6 at half-time.
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Man of the Match Joe Wright - Try Celebration
© Ian Anderson 2011
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A lightning flash greeted the restart and a clearance kick by Longton was gathered by Wright on the half-way line. He spotted MacKenzie in space wide out on the left and his clever crossfield kick was gathered by the winger who committed his opposite number before feeding an inside ball to Tom Outram. He sped in for a seven pointer on fortythree minutes and a 20-6 lead. Tigers were now enjoying their best spell of the match. Another kick for territory by West saw the catch and drive take Longton backwards and over the try line. Prop Sam Lockwood touched down for 25-6 on fortyeight minutes. Unlike South Leicester last Saturday Longton did not cave in and came back strongly. Tigers were now under pressure in the set piece and were being forced to concede penalties. Hooker Ali Thomson became the sixth player to be yellow carded as the ruck area continued to be somewhat of a lottery as it was all match. Despite solid Tigers defence good play enabled Longton to create an overlap for their right winger to make the score 25-11 on fiftysix minutes. Longton took a scrum against the head and then pressure saw Tigers knock-on at a line-out as the visitors pack started to get the upper hand. The pressure was relieved by a long clearance kick and had MacKenzie, after showing excellent pace, been able to gather, a fourth try
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Tigers Roar On
© Ian Anderson 2011
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could have been scored. As it was Longton again pressed and good tackles were needed in defence, especially from Outram, Richard Joel and Lockwood. Longton forced several repeat scrummages under Tigers posts before at last passing wide for a try in the corner. 25-16 with four minutes left. The question was whether Tigers could get the fourth and desperately needed bonus try or whether Longton could salvage a losing bonus point. Wright made a break but when he was penalised for holding on the ball in the tackle the last chance had gone.
For the second consecutive week this was excellent rugby entertainment at Dore Moor. Two of the top three teams have been well beaten by superb play from Tigers. (Indeed, this result completed the double over Longton). The large crowd thoroughly enjoyed the high standard of play. Whether these efforts will be enough to earn the promotion play-off spot will only be discovered in the next two weeks.
Man of the match – Joe Wright – Sound defence and good counter attacking.
Team - Bunting, Thomson, Lockwood, Joel, Hayter, Cook, Pearson, Barnes(C), Drage, West, MacKenzie, Buchanan, Outram, Feeley, Wright
Replacements not used – Cone, Clark, Wragg
Referee – Graham Dickens
Report – Nigel Dakin |
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16/04/11 - Tigers 1st XV Avenge Season Opener Defeat with National Three Midlands Victory
Sheffield Tigers 46 - South Leicester 11
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Jonny West - Penalty
© Ian Anderson 2011
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Both sides knew that they needed to win this match if they were to keep alive their play off dreams. After the eighty minutes South Leicester’s hopes lay in tatters after a six try scoring blitz by Tigers. The team showed several changes from the previous week against Luton. Props Simon Bunting and Sam Lockwood returned after injury, Jon Feeley moved to the right wing, due to Gareth Morley being unavailable, and he was replaced at full-back by Joe Wright. Finally, Callum MacKenzie started at open side wing forward and Sam Cook dropped to the replacements bench. Tigers started poorly when the kick-off did not go the required ten metres, but after that things got much better. An early break by Jon Buchanan and Gregor Hayter broke down but the referee brought play back for a penalty and Jonny West opened the scoring after just five minutes. Tigers pack showed their power with a thirty metre driving maul but South Leicester responded with a break by their left winger needing a good tackle by Jon Feeley and then further solid tackles from Callum MacKenzie and Tom Outram. A penalty by Tigers on fourteen minutes enabled Mark Lord to level the scores following which South Leicester enjoyed their best period of the first half. However, for much of the half they persisted in kicking for position and giving Tigers the ball. Winger Jamie Clark had a pacy run before a brilliant low pick up on the run and instant off load by MacKenzie saw a forward pass prevent an almost certain try. It was then back to route one with the old favourite, the line-out catch and drive. From the twentytwo the ball was driven to the South Leicester line. Careful recycling and a short pass enabled skipper Andy Barnes to score and West to convert to make it 10-3 on twentyfour minutes. Then, four minutes later, came Tigers only defensive lapse of the afternoon. A Tigers clearance kick directly into touch after the ball had been carried into the twentytwo gave South Leicester an attacking line-out on the Tigers right hand touch line. When quick ball was spun down the threequarters Tigers were caught short of numbers wide on the left and the South Leicester full back Nick Griffin entered the line to score an unconverted try and reduce the lead to just two points. Tigers response was instant. From the restart Feeley broke down the right, the ball was spun across the pitch to the left wing, back in to in front of the posts and then back left. MacKenzie scored in the corner with the South Leicester defence run ragged. West added the extras for 17-8. Tigers then began to dominate. A South Leicester scrum was put under pressure before Tigers showed patience with a long period of recycling. The visitors responded with stiff defence to show why they were second in the league. Both sides were looking to play the game in the opposition half but Tigers were having more of the ball, more of the territory and were playing the better rugby. It was a disappointment that with the last play of the half a needless late tackle saw South Leicester awarded a penalty from where the ball landed to enable Lord to reduce the deficit to 17-11 and therefore just one score behind at the break.
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Nick Pearson - Break
© Ian Anderson 2011
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Tigers started the second half strongly. Good driving play forcing South Leicester to concede a penalty at a ruck and West added the points after just four minutes. The visitors responded by now playing their best rugby of the match. For the next ten minutes they showed what they could do if they chose not to kick away most of their possession. Their pack recycled and recycled the ball and Tigers simply tackled and tackled. There was no way through Tigers defensive line although Buchanan showed his great strength in the tackle to stop an almost certain try. A kickable penalty conceded by Tigers was declined in an attempt to convert pressure into something more than three points. The catch and drive was well defended by Tigers and eventually South Leicester knocked-on. With that the pressure was relieved and the South Leicester chance gone. The away team heads started to drop and their bodies tire. For Tigers Clark was replaced by MacKenzie on the wing with Frank Wragg coming on in the back row with twenty minutes left. West was now pinning South Leicester deep in their half with long accurate kicks. A first line-out attacking option was spoiled by a Tigers infringement, but a second resulted in South Leicester losing their throw and after several forward drives prop Sam Lockwood powered over. West converted for 25-11 with twentytwo minutes left. Tigers continued to press and when the South Leicester scrum-half was yellow carded for again slowing down Tigers ball at the ruck the result was no longer in doubt. Nick Pearson picked up from the base of a scrum and his well timed pass to a rampaging Buchanan saw him cross for a seven pointer and 32-11 with nine minutes remaining. Bunting was replaced by Charlie Cone and skipper Barnes by Cook to loud cheers from the home fans. There was still time for two more tries as South Leicester continued to wilt under the sustained pressure. Outram released Pearson with a well timed pass and he beat the full-back with a hand off and sidestep before quickening to touch down with five minutes left. Then four minutes later an excellent catch and drive saw the South Leicester pack marched back fifteen metres by their Tigers counterparts for Wragg to score. West converted both tries for a final score of 46-11.
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Ali Thomson - Man of the match at Hooker
© Ian Anderson 2011
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This was an outstanding performance by the whole team and replacements, hence the longer than usual match report! Although not everyone gets a mention by name in the above match report they all deserve credit, particularly for the second half performance. The attack had a cutting edge, the defence was superb and the result shows what can be achieved when the game plan is followed. The result showed how much the side have improved since their first match in Midlands One at South Leicester last September when Tigers had been beaten 36-17. The previous highest defeat for South Leicester was by nineteen points and in the second half Tigers scored twentynine unanswered points to win by thirtyfive points! During the second forty minutes four tries were scored and the rugby played was of the highest standard. However, it looks as if the team will still need to win all three remaining matches, score a four try bonus point in each, plus probably deny this Saturdays visitors and fellow promotion contenders Longton a bonus point, if they are to qualify for the promotion play off.
Man of the match – Ali Thomson – a fine all round match, both in the tight and in open play.
Team - Bunting (Cone), Thomson, Lockwood, Joel, Hayter, MacKenzie, Pearson, Barnes(C) (Cook), Drage, West, Clark (Wragg), Buchanan, Outram, Feeley, Wright
Replacements – all used
Referee – Craig Maxwell-Keys
Report – Nigel Dakin |
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09/04/11 - Tigers 1st XV Leave it Late in National Three Midlands Victory
Luton 14 - Sheffield Tigers 19
Tigers ventured into Bedfordshire for the first time on a wonderful day for rugby with 3 changes from the settled side of late and 2 new replacements on the bench. The kick-off being delayed by fifteen minutes after an eventful journey and the joys of the M1 roadworks. The match started at a furious pace with Tigers dominating field position but unable to string together any meaningful periods of pressure despite some astute kicking for position from fly-half Joe Wright. The match did not ignite at all and with the line-outs of both sides being penalised for not straight a number of times the whistle was interupting any chance of either side dominating proceedings. The first time Tigers were able to threaten Lutons line the position was wasted. It was not until the twentieth minute that the Tigers pack turned on the power in a driving maul and the Luton flanker Will Temperley was sin-binned for pulling down the maul five metres short of the line. More problems for the home side followed when prop Neil Harris was sin-binned for not releasing following the scrum. Tigers opted for the scrum again and spun the ball wide for centre Callum MacKenzie to score to give Tigers the lead 5-0 on twentytwo minutes with Jonny West just missing the conversion from the touchline. With Luton down to thirteen men on the field Tigers would have expected to take advantage but on thirty minutes a Tigers dropped pass allowed home side flanker Mike Weston to pick up and sprint 60 metres to score a fine opportunist try duly converted by Joe Murphy, to give the home side the lead 7-5. With Luton back up to fifteen Tigers then produced a piece of class in the thirtyfifth minute with a searing break from fullback Jon Feeley who pulled the defence to him and fed flying wing Jamie Clark with a superbly timed pass, a piece of classic rugby skill from the fullback to give Tigers a 10-7 lead, which West increased with a superb strike from the touchline to increase the lead to 12-7. Luton then exerted pressure on the Tigers line and a strange decision when Tigers touched the ball down over their own line from a Luton kick, the home side were awarded a five metre scrum, However Tigers defence held firm to half-time, led positively all afternoon by Jon Buchanan who's tackling was powerful and destructive.
The home side piled on the pressure at the start of the second half and on fifty minutes from a rolling maul Nick Pearson was sin-binned for slowing the ball down, but Tigers were able to clear their lines with Feeley and Clark working hard in defence. On fiftyfive minutes Tigers replaced the injured Ross at prop with Stephen Cutts. Luton were awarded a number of penalties which pinned the Tigers fourteen men back and from a driving maul and subsequent ruck, hooker Joe Lynch scored the home sides second try on sixty minutes duly converted by Joe Murphy to give them the lead back at 14-12. With ten minutes to go Frank Wragg replaced Sam Cook in the backrow. Tigers then threw caution to the wind and two excellent breaks by Feeley both stopped by dubious tackles, Clark had an opportunity after a great break by MacKenzie and a missed long range penalty from West, it seemed the long journey would only result in a losing bonus point. However Andy Barnes and his team are made of sterner stuff these days and with a minute to go Tigers won a line-out with Richard Joel’s leap into the stratosphere akin to the proverbial salmon and the ensuing driving maul from the twentytwo allowed man of the match Barnes to touch down and West duly converted to give Tigers the victory at 19-14. It was an all round team performance with Buchanan and Clark outstanding in their defensive work with Barnes dominant in the line-out, a high tackle count and of course the match winning try.
Man of the match – Andy Barnes – line-out and defence
Team - Ross (Cutts), Thomson, Cone, Joel, Hayter, Barnes(C), Pearson, Cook (Wragg), West, Wright, Clark, MacKenzie, Buchanan, Morley, Feeley
Replacements – Strickson
Referee – Matthew O’Grady
Report – Stuart Headford
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02/04/11 - Tigers 1st XV Edged Out by League Leaders in National Three Midlands Defeat
Bromsgrove 21 - Sheffield Tigers 14
Tigers arrived at Bromsgrove on a glorious spring afternoon for the first of their remaining six matches that would determine the success or otherwise of their season. The only team change was at prop with Anthony Ross returning after injury to replace Simon Bunting. Top placed Bromsgrove kicked off and immediately the hard tackles went in from both sides. The home side took an early three point lead after ten minutes when despite good defence from a catch and drive on their line Tigers gave away a penalty for not releasing having turned over Bromsgrove ball. Tigers immediately went on the attack when Bromsgrove kicked a ball directly out of play but lost the advantage when they were forced to hold on to the ball again at a ruck. Tigers forwards recycled the ball and had their own chance for a catch and drive for the line when Bromsgrove were penalised. Sadly the move led to perhaps the turning moment of the match as early as the twentyfourth minute. Tigers were penalised for holding on, the ball was cleared and from the line-out near half-way one of the home centres broke a tackle to race for the Tigers try line. Would be defenders arrived too late to stop the off load and his fellow centre scored an easily converted try for 10-0. The home scrum-half was yellow carded for stamping but Tigers were still struggling to get any continuity into their game and the line-out was not functioning well. A delayed throw in was penalised by the referee and then a ball was overthrown. Tigers had a chance to score with an attack in the Bromsgrove twentytwo but the ball was dropped as it went down the threequarters. The home side were continuing their plan of kicking for territory and then shipping the ball wide to their high scoring wings. At last Tigers got on the score sheet with only a minute till half-time. A miss pass from Jon Buchanan to full-back Jon Feeley saw him commit two defenders before feeding Callum Mackenzie, in the line from his blind side wing slot. He did well to keep his feet and passed to right winger Gareth Morley who raced in at the corner before grounding the ball close to the posts for Jonny West to add the extras. With the referee checking his watch for half-time Tigers were again their own worst enemies. Having saved a potential try scoring situation and turned over the ball a relieving kick did not find touch and when the ball was run back at the Tigers line Feeley was penalised and yellow carded. The easy penalty made the score 13-7 to Bromsgrove with still all to play for.
The second half continued in the same manner as the first with end to end play. However, Tigers kicking game was not proving as effective as the home sides. Scrum-half Alex Drage made a break carried on by Gregor Hayter but again the ball was lost. Charlie Cone replaced the injured Sam Lockwood at prop just in time to see Feeley make an outside break and scoot down the line to be narrowly forced into touch. Tigers then had to defend with strong tackles by captain Andy Barnes and Morley and further pressure was relieved only when Barnes stole a Bromsgrove line-out. However, again the clearance kick did not find touch so Tigers continued to be under pressure but could feel hard done to when the referee awarded the home side, and not them, the put in to a scrum. They felt even more aggrieved when the home scrum-half broke blindside to feed the right winger who scored in the corner for 18-7 on fiftysix minutes. West then missed with a penalty kick at goal and Tigers were finding it hard to penetrate a firm home defence. Mistakes and poor decisions were creeping into the Tigers game, none more so than on seventy minutes, when they attempted to run the ball out from their twentytwo only to get isolated and forced to hold on in the tackle. The three points stretched the deficit to 21-7 and at this point the match looked over. Joe Wright replaced Drage and Frank Wragg replaced Richard Joel and soon after Tigers scored. A penalty to the Bromsgrove twentytwo resulted in the ball being passed smartly down the backs and Mackenzie came into the line from the left wing to score wide out on the right. West converted well for 21-14 with five minutes left. The last five minutes was nail biting as Tigers tried to get the score that would salvage a draw. Feeley made a break beating four men but the ball was lost when he tried to offload. Then Bromsgrove missed a penalty when a decision by the referee was queried by a Tigers player. Finally, another pass went to ground as Tigers attacked. It was all gripping stuff but could not prevent Tigers suffering their first reverse in fifteen matches. While most Tigers supporters would admit that the team did not play at their best today, this should not take anything away from a Bromsgrove side which had more periods of control during the match and deserved their hard earned win. The squad must now regroup for the five remaining matches, Luton away this Saturday, then South Leicester and Longton at home before away games at Old Northamptonians and Scunthorpe. Five wins could still see us involved in the promotion play off match.
Thanks to the loyal band of supporters who made the trip. Thanks also to the Bromsgrove president and his committee for their generous hospitality. Finally, good luck to Bromsgrove next season if they do earn promotion.
Man of the match – Nick Pearson – tackled hard all match
Team - Ross, Thomson, Lockwood (Cone), Joel (Wragg), Hayter, Barnes(C), Pearson, Cook, Drage (Wright), West, MacKenzie, Buchanan, Outram, Morley, Feeley
Replacements – all used
Referee –
Report – Nigel Dakin
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26/03/11 - Tigers 1st XV Eleven Try Romp in National Three Midlands League Victory
Sheffield Tigers 74 - Peterborough 7
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Callum MacKenzie - Hand-Off
© Ian Anderson 2011
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Tigers kicked off and proceeded to produce their most complete half of rugby this season. From the start the ball was moved wide and after only two minutes Jonny West opened the scoring with a penalty when Peterborough were caught offside. Six minutes later a super move down the backs saw a miss pass to Gareth Morley. His inside pass gave fellow winger Callum Mackenzie space to score and West converted for 10-0. West was using the wind to pen Peterborough deep in their own half and everything Tigers did was sharp and at pace. Scrum-half Alex Drage took a quick tap from a penalty and darted for the line but the pass went to ground. A free kick at a rare scrum saw Peterborough temporarily relieve the pressure but when a kick failed to find the safety of touch number eight Sam Cook ran the ball back to again put the visitors under pressure. They conceded another penalty and from the kick to the corner the resulting catch and drive resulted in second-row Gregor Hayter touching down. West converted for 17-0 after only a quarter of an hour. It was all Tigers, both in terms of possession and territorially with Peterborough unable to get out of their twentytwo. Then it was the turn of the Tigers centres to get in on the act. Jon Buchanan made a strong break and passed to Tom Outram
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Alex Drage - Ashtonesque Dive!
© Ian Anderson 2011
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who took a defender over the line with him as he scored. West added the extras for 24-0 at a point a minute. At last Peterborough got some ball and showed they could play rugby, if allowed to, when their centre dummied his way through the home defence to nearly score. This attacking phase was short lived and Tigers were soon recamped on the visitors twentytwo after another penalty kick to touch. This time the quick ball off the top of the line-out was taken by Drage on the burst. He went round the tail of the line out at pace before straightening to carve his way over the try line to score with an Ashtonesque dive! 29-0 after thirtyone minutes. Still Peterborough could not get out of their twentytwo and made matters worse for themselves when they dropped the ball. From the scrum the ball was recycled with several drives by the forwards before being passed out wide for Outram to score his second via a big overlap. West converted for 36-0 with four minutes till half-time. Still Tigers were not finished with the scoreboard. Jon Feeley made an incisive thirty metre burst and when the ball was recycled Hayter raced in to score. Half-time 41-0.
Tigers were now playing into the breeze, but the same pattern of possession and territory continued. Tigers tried a driving maul but good Peterborough defence showed the visitors were not going to cave in. Full-back Feeley was replaced by Joe Wright, Sam Lockwood by Charlie Cone at prop and Nick Pearson
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Gareth Morley - In Full Flight
© Ian Anderson 2011
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by Frank Wragg in the back-row. Peterborough were then reduced to fourteen players when they were forced to slow down Tigers ball and were made to pay instantly. From a poor clearance kick the ball was run back by the Tigers three-quarters and Mackenzie scored his second try. With West successful with the kick the score was now 48-0 on fifty minutes. West had a mazy run before more good handling by the Tigers backs gave Morley an overlap and he raced in to score another seven pointer. 55-0 still at a point a minute. Wragg then had a good run beating three defenders with sharp side steps but his scoring pass could not be taken. However, it was not long before Tigers scored again. Peterborough were caught short handed on the right side of their defence and Mackenzie completed his hat trick for 60-0 with twenty minutes left. At last Peterborough got out of their half and a penalty took them to the Tigers twentytwo. A crunching tackle by skipper Andy Barnes and a good cover tackle by Wragg denied Peterborough scores but on sixtyfive minutes the visitors got a
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Jonny West - Man of the Match
© Ian Anderson 2011
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deserved consolation try from their only period of sustained pressure when winger Balcunius broke two tackles to score. The conversion by Low made the score 60-7. However, the last ten minutes was all Tigers with more fifteen man rugby and Peterborough finished the game as they had been forced to play most of the match, namely on the back foot. A break by Hayter saw the ubiquitous Ali Thomson on his inside shoulder and he scored the try he thoroughly deserved for his solid week after week performances. With five finites left Drage burrowed his way under the outstretched arms of attempted tacklers to score. With West converting both tries the final score of 74-7 was by far Tigers highest of the season. This was also Tigers highest score ever at this level, just beating the previous highest of 69 against Darlington in 2008.
This was an excellent performance with all eighteen players having good games. The defence strangled the life out of Peterborough and the attack was full of invention and threat. The advantage of having been able to field a settled side for several matches was clear for all to see. More of the same will be needed in the next four weeks with matches against the top three teams and an away trip to sixth placed Luton. The trip on Saturday to top of the league Bromsgrove should be some match! All support welcome and much appreciated by the players.
Man of the match – Jonny West – all round control of the game, good territorial kicking and nine successful kicks at goal.
Team - Bunting, Thomson, Lockwood (Cone), Joel, Hayter, Barnes(C), Pearson, Cook (Wragg), Drage, West, MacKenzie, Buchanan, Outram, Morley, Feeley (Wright)
Replacements – all used
Referee – Andy Rawson (Manchester) – an excellent display, unobtrusive and let the game flow.
Report – Nigel Dakin |
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19/03/11 - Tigers 1st XV Not Unlucky With 13th Consecutive Win in National Three Midlands League
Sheffield Tigers 39 - Broadstreet 8
Broadstreet kicked off on a sunny day at Dore Moor with Tigers keen to avenge a narrow two point defeat in Coventry on the second Saturday of the season. A couple of early aimless Tigers clearance kicks and good recycling by the Broadstreet forwards saw their kicker miss an attempt at goal after the first of many Tigers offences at the ruck. When Tigers got their hands on the ball they showed their intent by looking to play open rugby. Poor passing by both sets of backs was stopping the game getting any rhythm and then Tigers lost the ball following an attempted catch and drive after a penalty. A good break by full-back Jon Feeley, a surging run by Sam Cook and a very solid tackle from Sam Lockwood were all slowly stamping Tigers control on the game. However, it was only on the quarter hour mark that the first score came and it was not to the home side. A long clearance kick downfield by the visitors saw Tigers having to work the ball out of their twentytwo. Good defence by the Broadstreet back-row stripped the ball from a Tigers player and their centre scored an unconverted try in the corner on twentytwo minutes. Tigers replied with an excellent run by Feeley but he was stopped just short. Stand-off Jonny West saw that there was nothing on open, switched play to the blind side and fed the ball to supporting right winger Gareth Morley who scored in the left corner to level the scores after twentyeight minutes. Four minutes later the visitors regained the lead with a penalty when Tigers were blown by the referee for offside after Broadstreet pressure. The game was still very disjointed with a lot of penalties being conceded at the ruck but a moment of brilliance by Feeley enabled Tigers to regain the lead. He received the ball on the halfway line, showed the ball to a couple of defenders before racing through the gap he had created and outpacing defenders to score a try converted by West. 12-8 after thirtyfour minutes. There was still time for Tigers to concede yet more penalties to keep Broadstreet in the game, but an attempt at goal went wide and Tigers took their four point lead into the break.
The second half started with a Broadstreet error as they dropped the ball from the kick-off. Again Feeley was to the fore as he entered the threequarter line, dummied to go himself but instead gave a lovely delayed pass to left winger Callum MacKenzie who scored for 17-8 after just two minutes. Now it was Tigers who were called on to defend on their twentytwo, but despite seven or eight recycles of the ball all the Broadstreet forwards had to show was a gain of two metres. Tigers immediately went to the visitors end and West took three points from a penalty beneath the posts. Both Morley and MacKenzie made strong tackles on their opposite wingers when Broadstreet did manage to get ball wide but now they were coming under increasing pressure and beginning to run out of ideas. Worse still was that indiscipline was creeping into their game. An original penalty decision to them was reversed and they were punished as Tigers moved the ball first left and then back right across the width of the field. A good pick up and pass by Gregor Hayter enabled Morley to feed centre Tom Outram and then loop around for the return pass to score. The scoreline was now growing at 25-8 with twentyfive minutes left and Tigers had attained their target of a bonus point. More Broadstreet dissent followed as the visitors were forced into conceding penalty after penalty. However, they continued to defend resolutely and an attempted catch and drive for the line was turned over. Tigers now made the usual substitutions, Charlie Cone for Simon Bunting at prop, Joe Wright for Alex Drage and Frank Wragg in the back-row for Sam Cook. More penalties and mistakes now came into the game. Tigers seemed to have taken their foot off the accelerator with the earning of the bonus point and there was a bit of niggle creeping into the game. The referee had a long chat with both captains and Tigers then finished strongly. When a Broadstreet defender dropped a clearance kick on the half-way line Tigers were back on the attack. West made a break through a tiring defence before popping a short pass to substitute Wragg on his inside shoulder. He raced in to score for West himself to convert for 32-8 with two minutes left. From the final play of the match West again carved his way through a demoralised defence for a further seven points and a final score of 39-8.
This was another very sound performance. The defence was again excellent and tries were scored when the opportunities had been created. The only criticism would be the high penalty count at the ruck but even this did not prevent a comprehensive win. Next week’s match is also at home, against Peterborough, before the away game the week after at top of the table Bromsgrove.
Man of the match – Nick Pearson – tremendous work rate and tackle count.
Team - Bunting (Cone), Thomson, Lockwood, Joel, Hayter, Barnes(C), Pearson, Cook (Wragg), Drage (Wright), West, MacKenzie, Buchanan, Outram, Morley, Feeley
Replacements – all used
Referee – Andy Attwell
Report – Nigel Dakin
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12/03/11 - Tigers 1st XV Extend Winning Run to 12 with National Three Midlands League Victory
Newport 8 - Sheffield Tigers 28
Tigers ventured into Shropshire for the first time and whilst the scoreline suggests a dominant performance, the match was entertaining and evenly matched. The difference being that Tigers converted the majority of their opportunities into scores whilst the home side did not. The match started with a Tigers knock-on from the kick-off and having regained possession, instead of clearing their lines Tigers ran from their own line and gave away possession to give Newport (Salop) an early chance. The home side put enormous pressure on Tigers defence but it held firm. Tigers were being penalised at virtually every breakdown and it was difficult to understand that they were the only team transgressing. Tigers then were awarded a penalty on five minutes and Jonny West gained good ground and the ever present Andy Barnes took the line-out and Tigers drove forward a good fifteen metres with West firing a superb pass to the full-back Jon Feeley who entered the line at pace to score a superb team try under the posts converted by West to give Tigers a 7 - 0 lead. Tigers again were tentative at the restart and Newport camped in the Tigers twentytwo with the visitors giving away possession due to penalty offences and on nine minutes the Newport fly-half kicked a penalty for offside to get their first points on the board at 7 - 3. Newport again started well from the restart and continued to pressure the Tigers line. After a number of penalties the referee sin-binned Tom Outram for not rolling away from the tackle on twenty minutes and one minute later Tigers were reduced to thirteen men when Jon Buchanan was adjudged to have committed the same offence. Newport were now on top but after taking several scrums instead of kicking for goal they were unable to score with a two man advantage. Tigers with Gregor Hayter and Richard Joel using their experience to smash a number of rucks forward, helped to keep the Tigers defence in tact for the whole of the ten minutes. Immediately on the return of Outram, Tigers quick ball from a solid scrum set up wing Callum MacKenzie to use his strength to crash over from ten metres with West again converting to extend the lead to 14 - 3 on thirtyone minutes. Tigers restored to a full complement dominated the rest of the half and went into half-time with the advantage of a small slope to come.
Tigers started the second half with a bang putting the home side under intense pressure which resulted in the home side scrum-half being sin-binned. Tigers maintained the pressure and after a sustained forward drive prop Sam Lockwood touched down for the third try duly converted on fortyfive minutes by West. Tigers were now in control but the home side continued to have opportunties which they spurned either by handling errors, or simple mistakes turning over ball to the visitors. On sixtyfive minutes, Tigers brought on replacement forwards Charlie Cone for prop Anthony Ross and Frank Wragg for second-row Joel. Three minutes later, Tigers next score to claim a bonus point came when a clever switch of direction and good swift handling by the back line allowed MacKenzie to score his second try with a powerful finish taking two defenders with him as he reached the try line, again the metronomic West added the conversion to extend the lead to 28 - 3 with only ten minutes remaining. At this point, Tigers brought on their final replacement Joe Wright to take over from Feeley at full-back. The home side kept going to the end and were rewarded with a last minute try when Tigers defence for once was unable to prevent the score. The home side missed the conversion giving a final score of 28 - 8 to the visitors.
Tigers continue their winning run with 12 games undefeated and moved up to fourth in the table with games in hand. Newport provided Tigers with a tough game and both teams provided the mainly female crowd with an entertaining fixture. We would also like to thank the Newport committee for their kind hospitality.
Team - Ross (Cone), Thomson, Lockwood, Joel (Wragg), Hayter, Barnes(C), Pearson, Cook, Drage, West, MacKenzie, Buchanan, Outram, Morley, Feeley (Wright)
Replacements – all used
Referee – E. McMaster (South West Division)
Report – Stuart Headford
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05/03/11 - Tigers 1st XV Clean Sheet in another National Three Midlands League Victory
Sheffield Tigers 37 - Malvern 0
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Alex Drage - Man of the Match - Gets the ball away
© Ian Anderson 2011
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Tigers welcomed Malvern to Dore Moor for the first time and then proceeded to give the visitors a firm lesson in how to play fifteen man rugby. On a grey, damp day the visitors kicked off with the slightly too diagonal running cool breeze behind them. Straight away skipper Andy Barnes showed Tigers resolve when he ran powerfully down the right touch line. The ball was spun down the backs twice but good defence kept Tigers out. Then Malvern had pressure on the Tigers line with a catch and drive that was well defended by Tigers but when a kick for touch only found a Malvern player a good tackle by Jonny West was needed to stop their wingers threatening run. Tigers now gained the upper hand and did not relinquish it for the rest of the match. Malvern were forced into conceding a succession of penalties that saw Tigers move into the Malvern twentytwo. Lateral running and a forward pass saw the position wasted only for the Malvern backs to be caught offside. West opened Tigers account with a well struck penalty after twentyfive minutes. Now it was all Tigers, the forwards taking a scrum against the head and dominating at the line-out and a break by the midfield only being halted by a forward pass. Even from defence Tigers were confident in the ability of their driving maul to clear their line and then to pass the ball down the three-quarters. This willingness to play open rugby was rewarded after thirtyfive minutes when full back Jon Feeley showed pace and power to score near the right hand corner. Malvern came back at Tigers as the half came to a close only for Gregor Hayter to put in good work to force a Tigers scrum from Malvern attacking ball. A pointless half for the visitors was ensured when they failed to find touch with a penalty kick to the corner.
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Simon Bunting - Try
© Ian Anderson 2011
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Tigers now had the wind at their backs and immediately used it to get into the visitors twentytwo. An initial catch and drive was stopped by Malvern. When the clearance kick did not find touch they again found themselves under strong pressure from the mauling Tigers forwards and prop Simon Bunting increased the lead to thirteen points after fortyfour minutes. Again the wind was used to gain field position deep in Malvern territory. The first half defending done by Malvern was now starting to show as their scrum was coming under pressure, with several resets needed before they could clear their ball. On fifty minutes Frank Wragg replaced Sam Cook in the back-row and a minute later following another Tigers scrum and maul prop Anthony Ross saw a gap in the Malvern defence and charged over the line from twenty metres to make the game safe at 18-0. Despite rapidly increasing forward dominance and cold hands Tigers were continuing to play fifteen man rugby. Scrum-half and man of the match Alex Drage was keeping the Malvern tight defence honest with sniping runs and quick tap penalties as Tigers looked to add to their try count to secure a bonus point. However, it was forward power that brought the next try on f
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Joe Wright - Conversion
© Ian Anderson 2011
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iftyfive minutes when, from another reset scrum, skipper Andy Barnes touched down for 23-0 with the visiting pack in disarray. Charlie Cone replaced try scorer Simon Bunting at prop with twenty minutes to go with Malvern now well beaten. Errors were littering their game and they were clearly not enjoying their first visit to the altitude and arctic wind at Dore Moor. A knock-on by the visitors resulted in another Tigers forward drive for the line and Cone scored only six minutes after coming onto the field, with West adding the extras. What a rarity this surely was with a third prop scoring a try in the same match and for the bonus point! Tigers now replaced Feeley with Joe Wright at full-back. More pressure saw the Malvern backs caught offside as they tried in vain to stem Tigers attacks. Following another solid line-out Wright showed his attacking flair with a well timed angled run and step to score on seventythree minutes. Wright converted his own try for 37-0. Malvern would not lie down and to their credit they fought back, but sadly they looked better defending than they did with ball in hand against excellent Tigers defence. To their credit they opted for a tap from a penalty well inside the Tigers half when a kick at goal could have removed their duck from the scoreboard. There was still time for one final Tigers attack and winger Gareth Morley nearly scored but was just forced into touch in goal.
This was another very good all round performance with fifteen man rugby being played based on possession won by a strong pack. The return of Hayter and Nick Pearson was a bonus but Tigers showed last week that they do have cover if injuries arise. Confidence is high. The winning streak is now eleven matches and with games in hand the three teams above can be caught. The side have lost the least number of matches of any club in the division and can boast the best defence. Add to that the fact that bonus points are now being achieved more regularly then an exciting end to the season could be in prospect. Next week sees the side travel to sixth placed Newport.
Man of the match – Alex Drage – now getting back to his best with quick sniping runs and reliable service to the backs.
Team - Ross, Thomson, Bunting (Cone), Joel, Hayter, Barnes(C), Pearson, Cook (Wragg), Drage, West, Clark, Buchanan, Outram, Morley, Feeley (Wright)
Replacements – all used
Referee- Claire Hodnett - who gave an assured performance contributing well to an entertaining game.
Report – Nigel Dakin |
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26/02/11 - Tigers 1st XV Climb to 5th after another National Three Midlands League Victory
Sheffield Tigers 25 - Luton 7
Tigers extended their winning streak to ten matches with a hard earned victory that saw them leapfrog their opponents and move up three places to fifth in the league. With games in hand and fixtures to play against the teams above them everything is still to play for. Tigers were without Nick Pearson who is away skiing and player coach Gregor Hayter who had a hamstring strain. Prop Sam Lockwood was also missing as he was on duty with England students. This meant reorganisation in the pack with No. 8 Sam Cook moving into the second-row, prop Simon Bunting returning after a long injury break, a recall for back rower Callum MacKenzie and a start for young back-row Frank Wragg.
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Sam Cook - Burst
© Ian Anderson 2011
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Luton made a good start to their first ever visit to Door Moor but they lost their first line-out when Tiger’s skipper Andy Barnes made a good steal. Both sides were showing their intention to play open rugby as well as relying on the power of their forwards when the situation demanded. Two early forward mauls by Tigers pack were well defended by Luton and then it was the visitors turn to drive for the home sides try line and show their ability to recycle the ball. The game had yet to get any pattern but Tigers relieved the pressure on their line when they chose to run ball from inside their own twentytwo and a good kick ahead and chase by winger Jamie Clark took the play to the halfway line. Both scrums were solid but Tigers were getting the better of line-outs and from one of these near halfway, centre Jon Buchanan made an initial break. The ball was recycled left and full-back Jon Feeley timed his burst to perfection, to race in from forty metres. Jonny West converted for 7-0 after twentyfive minutes. Luton then enjoyed a period of possession but this came to nothing and then worse followed for the visitors when a back-row player was yellow carded for not letting a Tigers tackled player release the ball at a ruck. Tigers kicked to the corner and the ensuing home side maul pushed their opponents back over their try line at a rapid rate of knots. Frank Wragg was accredited with the touchdown on thirythree minutes to extend the lead to 12-0. Then it was Tigers turn to be forced to slow up Luton ball at a line-out near their own line and prop Anthony Ross was yellow carded. Good Tigers defence was then needed to keep the visitors scoreless until the break.
A minute after the restart Luton were whistled for being offside and West added three more points. Tigers
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Andy Barnes - Try
© Ian Anderson 2011
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were then penalised for feeding the ball at the scrummage, a law all too rarely applied by referees. Luton ran the ball from the free kick but a knock-on and than an excellent tackle by Barnes stopped the initial threat. However soon after, from a scrum near the Tigers line, a ruck developed and a Luton prop powered over for a converted try to make the score 15-7 after fortyseven minutes. Then the referee Mr Burrell showed consistency when he penalised the visitors for a not straight put in to the scrum. The Luton mid-field were at last caught offside and West extended the lead to eleven points after fiftytwo minutes. Luton responded well but strong Tigers defence kept their eleven point lead. Buchanan made a break in midfield and Luton lost a second player to a yellow card. Tigers replaced Alex Drage with Joe Wright, with West moving to scrum-half before securing the match when they opted for a scrum following another Luton penalty. A strong surge saw the Luton pack retreat and Barnes touch down at the back of the scrum for
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Richard Joel - Charge
© Ian Anderson 2011
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West to add the extra points with fifteen minutes to play. Tigers then used their two other substitutes, Ollie Rodgers for MacKenzie and Charlie Cone for Bunting. Even with fourteen men Luton were able to exert pressure on the Tigers defence but were denied by an excellent tackle from Wright and their own knock-ons. With full time approaching Tigers pressed hard for a fourth try that would have earned them a bonus point. Despite a long passage of play during which all fifteen players handled the ball the fourth try went begging when a Tigers player knocked-on with the try line beckoning.
This was a hard but entertaining game. Luton competed throughout and Tigers did well to win by eighteen points as possession and territory were shared equally between the sides. Tigers will feel disappointed with the failure to earn the bonus point but should take a lot of confidence from a strong defensive display, that limited a fairly free scoring Luton side to just one try, and with three regular first choice pack members missing. Next week a similar performance will be required against first time visitors Malvern at Dore Moor.
Man of the match – Richard Joel who had a great game carrying the ball those hard metres and defending strongly around the ruck.
Team - Ross, Thomson, Bunting (Cone), Cook, Joel, Wragg, MacKenzie (Rodgers), Barnes(C), Drage (Wright), West, Clark, Buchanan, Outram, Morley, Feeley
Replacements – all used
Referee – Colin Burrell
Report – Nigel Dakin |
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19/02/11 - Tigers 1st XV National Three Midlands League Match Postponed as Snow Disrupted Travel
Scunthorpe ?? - Sheffield Tigers ??
This National Three Midlands League Match was postponed due to the adverse weather conditions in Sheffield and the surrounding area. The heavy early morning snow disrupted the players travelling in from the Derbyshire Peak District and Leeds to rendezvous for the trip across to Scunthorpe. With driving conditions very poor locally and the snow forecast to continue for the rest of the day, in the interests of common sense and players safety, it was agreed that the fixture should be postponed.
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12/02/11 - Tigers 1st XV 2nd Half Performance Gives National Three Midlands League Victory
Peterborough 6 - Sheffield Tigers 31
Tigers first trip to Peterborough proved successful as they returned with a five point haul that extended their winning run of league games to nine matches. The glorious spring like weather seemed to inspire the home side who started strongly and dominated the first ten minutes of the game. They took the lead at that time from their second penalty kick at goal, awarded for Tigers holding onto the ball at a ruck. Jonny West was then unsuccessful with a kick at goal as Tigers at last started to get into the match after their two week lay off. However, a strange decision by the referee saw Peterborough given a chance to double their lead when Tigers kicked the ball from defence only for the kicker to be given offside when he tackled the Peterborough player who fielded the ball! Anyway, that made it 0-6 after fifteen minutes. Tigers now got into their stride. A period of pressure saw a kick at goal declined and a kick to the corner saw the catch and drive work to perfection for Sam Lockwood to score. West added the conversion to give Tigers the lead at the twenty minute mark. The home lineout was coming under severe pressure from Tigers while the scrums were being evenly contested. The difference was that Tigers were looking to use the full width of the pitch in their attacks and threatening breaks whereas the home three-quarters were not showing any cutting edge. Tigers defence was equally impressive, best exemplified by an excellent tackle by number eight Sam Cook. Both sides and the crowd were becoming frustrated by the numerous turnovers at the ruck as both sets of forwards seemed unsure of what was and what wasn’t being allowed by the official. Despite several stoppages, but perhaps fortunately, very little injury time was played and a disappointing first half ended with Tigers holding a slim 7-6 lead.
Peterborough again started strongly after the break but it was Tigers who nearly scored as Jon Feeley picked up at a ruck and seared through a gap only to be stopped just short of the line. Now Tigers pack were starting to exert real pressure on their opposite numbers. A penalty to the corner and catch and drive saw Peterborough again infringe and the tactic was repeated. After several minutes of intense pressure on their own line the home side at last cracked and this time there was no stopping Feeley as he darted over from close range. West converted for 14-6 after fiftytwo minutes. The rather dull arm wrestle continued with neither side being able to establish dominance and little pattern to the game. All that changed in the last twenty minutes as the rewards for the previous sixty minutes softening up process were reaped. First, Andy Barnes made one of his typical storming runs which was carried on by centre Jon Buchanan who sailed through a gap to time a lovely pass to left wing Jamie Clark. His blistering pace saw him score in the corner with seventeen minutes to play. Frank Wragg now replaced Biffo Pearson in the back-row. The home side were beginning to wilt as Tigers stretched them across the field. When the ball went wide right Feeley went through a tired defence for his second try and West converted for 26-6 on seventy minutes. Tigers now completed their substitutions with Craig West replacing skipper Barnes and Joe Wright coming on for Alex Drage. Tigers were now looking to run the ball wide at every opportunity and with full time looming full-back Feeley and left wing Clark created room wide out for right winger Gareth Morley to seal the win with a fifth try. Full time 31-6 and five valuable away points secured. More importantly the points enabled Tigers to climb from eighth to fifth still with matches in hand. Next week sees the team travelling again, this time to Scunthorpe before home games against Luton and Malvern.
Team - Ross, Thomson, Lockwood, Hayter, Joel, Barnes(C) (West C), Pearson (Wragg), Cook, Drage (Wright), West J, Clark, Buchanan, Outram, Morley, Feeley
Replacements – all used
Referee – Lee Towers
Report – Nigel Dakin
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05/01/11 - Tigers 1st XV National Three Midlands League Match Postponed due to Waterlogging
Sheffield Tigers ?? - Longton ??
This was the only National Three Midlands League match which was postponed this weekend. 24 hours of continuous rain had caused a number of waterlogged patches on the pitch. It was still raining when the visitors arrived and with no sign of a let up, Longton considered the pitch to be unplayable with no chance of the conditions improving by the scheduled start time.
The Development XV travelled down the road to Abbeydale to try and achieve the double over local rivals Sheffield IIs having won the home fixture 15 - 6. On a pitch in a much worse condition than Dore Moor, Tigers conceded a converted try and a penalty to turn round at 8 - 0 down. With no let up in the incessant rain, both sides scored a converted try apiece with the home side creating the majority of the scoring opportunities to run out deserved winners by 15 - 7.
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29/01/11 - Tigers 1st XV National Three Midlands League Match Postponed due to Frozen Pitch
Old Northamptonians ?? - Sheffield Tigers ??
This was one of the four National Three Midlands League matches which were postponed this weekend due to frozen pitches.
However, Dore Moor was perfectly playable and on a firm dry pitch with little wind, Tigers Development XV beat York IIs by 33 - 0 in their Yorkshire 1st Division Merit Table match to maintain their lead at the top of the table. Those spectators who braved the cold, witnessed a very entertaining game of differing styles with Tigers trying to move the ball out wide whenever possible and York keeping the ball closer to the forwards. This was a very competitive match, Tigers were made to work hard for their points and only pulled away in the final ten minutes.
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22/01/11 - Tigers 1st XV up to 4th after Another Win in National Three Midlands League
Sheffield Tigers 36 - Kenilworth 3
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Gareth Morley - Try
© Ian Anderson 2011
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Tigers made it eight league wins in a row with a good all round performance against a Kenilworth side that never gave up. Fielding an unchanged side for the second week in a row, the home side kicked off, playing into a cool north east wind and with early possession the pack carried the ball steadily towards the Kenilworth line. A good kick to the corner saw an early Tigers line-out catch and drive for the visitors line. This was stopped by the defence but shortly after another line-out deep in Kenilworth territory saw Tigers forwards and backs involved in a flowing move resulting in centre Tom Outram beating his man to pop up an inside pass. This was taken by winger Gareth Morley who scored a try converted by Jonny West after just eight minutes. West then made a break from stand-off and put in one of many good territorial kicks he produced all match. Kenilworth lost their line-out and the loose ball was taken over their try line with prop Sam Lockwood touching down for 12-0 on eighteen minutes. It was beginning to look as if Tigers would run away with the match but Kenilworth came back strongly to pressure the Tigers line. This pressure was relieved when the visitors were adjudged to be holding on at a ruck and Tigers showed their intent to get a try scoring bonus point by looking to run the ball whenever the opportunity was right. However, the Kenilworth pack were working hard to stay in the match and were starting to have more of the play. With half-time approaching they deservedly got onto the score board with three points via the boot of Adam Canning to make the half-time score 12-3 to Tigers.
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Andy Barnes - Lineout Take
© Ian Anderson 2011
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After a brief warm in the changing rooms the two sides resumed the match as the temperature continued to fall. Tigers started strongly again. A catch and good run by coach and second rower Gregor Haytor gave ball for West to put in a sixty metre kick to within metres of the Kenilworth line. Andy Barnes “rose like a salmon” to take the visitors line-out ball and Lockwood powered over for his second try just one minute after the restart. West made it 19-3. Two consecutive penalty offences took Kenilworth to close to the Tigers line. This pressure was broken when the Kenilworth number eight picked up from a scrum and drove for the line but an excellent tackle by number eight Sam Cook saw him force his opposite number to hold on to the ball and concede a relieving penalty. Anthony Ross then replaced Charlie Cone at prop and this coincided with Kenilworth pressing the self destruct button. Two penalties were conceded by them and they found themselves ninety metres closer to their own line. Things got worse from the ensuing line-out when the visitors collapsed the rolling maul and had a player yellow carded. The resulting scrum was driven over and Hayter grounded for 24-3 after fiftyfive minutes. Five minutes later Kenilworth conceded another penalty for killing Tigers ball at the ruck and West again kicked to the
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Sam Lockwood - Charge
© Ian Anderson 2011
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corner. The drive to the line was touched down by English Universities prop Lockwood to complete his hat trick of tries. 29-3 with twenty minutes to play. For Tigers Jamie Clark replaced Gavin Lee on the wing and Frank Wragg came on for Hayter in the pack. Kenilworth were continuing to lose their self discipline with dissent costing them an extra ten metres following a penalty decision but despite showing they were niggled they were still competing. A move by their backs required a good cover tackle from mobile hooker Ali Thompson to snuff it out. Then another Kenilworth error saw Tigers score their last try when the visitors dropped the ball on the Tigers twentytwo. The ball was hacked down field. The visitors winger missed a chance to clear up and Clark kicked on again. Then the visitors full-back missed the ball as he tried to fly hack it off the pitch. Outram collected the ball and another subtle off load to Wragg saw the youngster supporting well to score his first senior league try. West was successful with the kick for 36-3. Two strong tackles in the closing minutes by second row Richard Joel and centre John Buchanan summed up the highly professional nature of Tigers performance and attitude.
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Richard Joel & No. 8 Sam Cook - Competing at the Breakdown
© Robert Prior 2011
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This was a very solid performance with some good rugby played on a cold and breezy afternoon at Dore Moor. It lifts the team into fourth place in the league, nine points behind the leaders with a game in hand. Next week sees an away trip to Old Northamptonians.
Team - Cone (Ross), Thomson, Lockwood, Hayter (Wragg), Joel, Barnes(C), Cook, Pearson, Drage, West, Lee (Clark), Buchanan, Outram, Morley, Feeley
Replacements all used –
Referee – Chris Ashton
Report – Nigel Dakin |
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15/01/11 - Tigers 1st XV Another Bonus Point Victory National in Three Midlands League
Burton 14 - Sheffield Tigers 31
Weather: dry, diagonal crosswind behind Tigers in the 1st half.
08 minutes - Lockwood try, West conversion - 7 - 0
20 minutes - Thomson try, West conversion - 14 - 0
23 minutes - Feeley try, West conversion - 21 - 0
24 minutes - Burton try & conversion - 21 - 7
31 minutes - Pearson try, West conversion - 28 - 7
Half-time: 28 - 7
52 minutes - substitution of Cook by Wragg
68 minutes - substitution of Morley by Clark
70 minutes - substitution of Lockwood by Ross
72 minutes - Burton try & conversion - 28 - 14
76 minutes - West penalty 31 - 14
Full-time: 31 - 14
Team - Cone, Thomson, Lockwood (Ross), Hayter, Joel, Barnes(C), Cook (Wragg), Pearson, Drage, West, Lee, Buchanan, Outram, Morley (Clark), Feeley
Replacements all used –
Referee – Mike Patz
Report –
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08/01/11 - Tigers 1st XV 7 Try Opener to New Year in National Three Midlands League Win
Sheffield Tigers 45 - Hereford 9
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Jon Buchanan - Break
© Ian Anderson 2011
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It was a welcome return to rugby at Dore Moor after a six week gap due to four postponed fixtures because of the terrible December weather and two more Saturdays off due to the Christmas and New Year festivities. The overnight rain had melted the inch of snow that had fallen the previous day and the morning slitting by the groundsman had resulted in a near perfect playing surface, but it was cold and got colder as the match went on and the wind increased in strength. Hereford kicked off with the wind at their backs but it was Tigers who had the first scoring chance when a break by centre Tom Outram saw him pass to supporting full-back Jon Feeley but his pass out did not go to hand and the opening score went begging. All the players looked rusty with handling errors all to common. However, even at this early stage Tigers strong line-out was supreme with skipper Andy Barnes, Richard Joel and Nick Pearson winning both the Tigers and the opposition throw ins. On the negative side Tigers were allowing Hereford into the game by conceding careless penalties at the ruck. After a missed kick at goal from one of these penalties Tigers went upfield. Scrum pressure saw the referee award Tigers a free kick. A quick tap to number eight Sam Cook saw him drive at the Hereford midfield before feeding a short ball to centre Jon Buchanan. His well angled run at pace took him clean through the visitors defence to give the home side a 5-0 lead after fifteen minutes. This lead was reduced to two points after just two minutes
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Gregor Hayter - Charge
© Ian Anderson 2011
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when Tigers were penalised for entering a ruck from the side. Tigers responded six minutes later when a line-out was won by Pearson in his own half. The ball was carried forward and a short pass saw second-row Gregor Hayter storm over the line from the twentytwo. Jonny West converted for 12-3. Again Tigers conceded a penalty at the ruck when they were adjudged to be holding onto the ball on the floor. Andy Powell added three more points for the visitors, but despite this Tigers were now dominating both in terms of possession and territory. On thirtyfive minutes good line-out ball on the Hereford ten metre line saw a short ball fed to Buchanan which enabled him to repeat his try of twenty minutes earlier, only this time from thirtyfive metres and beating the full-back for pace. West again converted. The half ended with a further three points to the visitors, again following a penalty at the ruck, for a half-time score of 19-9.
The second half started with Tigers now playing with the wind but with both sides making mistakes as player’s fingers got used to the cold again after the half-time break in the changing rooms and credit goes to the referee Mr Robin Oliver, for letting the game flow whenever possible. Tigers replaced number eight Sam Cook with Frank Wragg and after fifty minutes, a strong forward drive enabled prop Sam Lockwood to touch down for a seven pointer. Alex Drage then came on
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Sam Lockwood - Charge
© Ian Anderson 2011
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for West at scrum-half. Tigers were now pressing the Hereford line. Barnes appeared to have scored from a pick up at the base of the scrum only to have to scrummage again. This time there was no question as to the try as the same player touched down when the Tigers forwards drove the opposition pack back over their try line. The try went unconverted but the score was now 31-9 with twenty minutes still to play and Tigers used their last substitute with Anthony Ross taking the field for try scorer Lockwood. The Hereford players were sticking to their task but had very little in attack to trouble a solid Tigers defence. Their cause was not helped by a yellow card on sixtyfive minutes for one of their forwards and Tigers took full advantage from the penalty with a kick to the Hereford twentytwo, a clean line-out take that saw the pack powerfully drive the ball over from twenty metres with Barnes claiming his second try of the afternoon. Joe Wright converted for 38-9. With just five minutes left Drage scored an excellent individual try when he spotted a gap down a very narrow blind side to outpace a defender before smartly sidestepping inside the covering full-back to score. Wright again converted to make the final score 45-9.
This was just the game the team needed after the long lay off with a solid all round performance. Fitness levels seem to have been maintained and the four points plus a bonus point were a good start to the New Year. Next week sees the return fixture away at Burton, who were winners at Dore Moor in early October after a strong second half fight back in the final minutes.
Team - Cone, Thomson, Lockwood (Ross), Hayter, Joel, Barnes(C), Cook (Wragg), Pearson, West (Drage), Wright, Turner, Buchanan, Outram, Clark, Feeley
Replacements all used –
Referee – Robin Oliver
Report – Nigel Dakin |
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18/12/10 - Tigers 1st XV National Three Midlands League Match Postponed due to Ice
Bromsgrove ?? - Sheffield Tigers ??
No National Three Midlands League matches took place due to frozen/snow covered pitches.
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11/12/10 - Tigers 1st XV National Three Midlands League Match Postponed due to Snow
Sheffield Tigers ?? - Broadstreet ??
The thaw came too late to save this and Scunthorpe v Old Northamptonians matches in National Three Midlands League. All other matches in the league were played.
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04/12/10 - Tigers 1st XV National Three Midlands League Match Postponed due to Ice & Snow
Sheffield Tigers ?? - Luton ??
No National Three Midlands League matches took place due to frozen/snow covered pitches.
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27/11/10 - Tigers 1st XV National Three Midlands League Match Postponed due to Frozen Pitch
Peterborough ?? - Sheffield Tigers ??
No National Three Midlands League matches took place due to frozen pitches.
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20/11/10 - Tigers 1st XV Jonny W Drop Kicks to Victory in National Three Midlands League
Sheffield Tigers 17 - Newport (Salop) 14
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Jon Buchanan - Break
© Ian Anderson 2010
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Tigers were again in a match which went from end to end in dramatic fashion as was the case at Malvern the previous Saturday. In perfect playing conditions the home side started with a sparkling attack on a grey afternoon when a sweeping first attempt to cross the visitors line ended with wing Jon Buchanan bundled into touch. Buchanan was highly involved in most of Tigers initial attacks being used on the short side making good ground for the team. Both sides in the early part of the game were taking advantage of the lack of policing of the off-side line which ensured that both defences were able to snuff out any attacking efforts. The line-outs were dominated by Andy Barnes at the front for Tigers and Jake Goulson for Newport and it was from a line-out that Tigers were penalised on ten minutes only for Jamie Simpson to miss the kick at goal. The match was being played between the two 22 metre lines with neither side able to create line threatening positions, until the fourteenth minute when Tigers debutant at No. 8 Sam Cook, instigated a good break, continued by speedy wing Francis Denny who was tackled into touch as he crossed the try line. The game continued to be constrained by good defensive work from both sides, epitomised by Tigers second-row Richard Joel who was making tackle after tackle. It was the visitors who broke the deadlock when from a good kick to the corner from a penalty by Simpson, a good line-out take by Goulson set up a rolling maul and prop Craig Ingram got the touchdown on eighteen minutes converted by Simpson to give Newport the lead 7-0. The pace of the game continued at a high level, and unfortunately the Newport fly-half Rob Clymer sustained a head injury and eventually had to be replaced on twentyeight minutes by James Curgenven. Tigers took a quick throw-in by scrum-half Jonny West, continued by Cook and despite good tackling by the visitors, quick ball from the ruck saw Jimmy Pearson spot space on the short side and supported by Callum Mackenzie who fed wing Buchanan who still had work to do but finished with strength to touch down right in the corner on thirtyfour minutes. West was unable to add the extra points from a difficult position leaving the score at 7-5. As the half-time break came closer Tigers let their discipline drop and Newport were awarded two penalties in quick succession. Fortunately for Tigers, neither kick was straightforward and Simpson was unable to convert either attempt leaving the visitors leading by 7-5 at half-time.
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Craig West - Hand-off
© Ian Anderson 2010
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The second half started with Tigers making a back-line re-adjustment by moving Buchanan into the centre, Pearson to full-back and Jon Feeley to the wing position. It was Buchanan again bursting through the Newport defence which forced a penalty for not rolling away on fortyfive minutes which gave West the chance to give Tigers the lead, which he duly did with a fine kick from 30 metres, 8-7 to the home side. Tigers pack then started to create some possession and field position and from a line-out West was able to convert a well struck drop goal from 22 metres out to extend the lead to 11-7 on fifytwo minutes. The match was now being played more and more in the Newport half with Buchanan having a fine afternoon and continuing to cause the visitors problems with his strong direct running. Tigers made their first change on sixty minutes when Alex Drage came on at scrum-half, Joe Wright leaving the field and West moving to fly-half. Tigers continued to put the visitors under pressure and on sixtyfive minutes their centre Adam Gillespies was yellow carded for not rolling away in the tackle and West added a further three points to his
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Jimmy Pearson & Jonny West
© Ian Anderson 2010
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afternoon tally, giving Tigers a lead of 14-7. Tigers looked comfortable at this stage but with ten minutes remaining, the visitors full-back Toby Mann, collected a loose kick just inside his own half, made a searing break through the Tigers defence and fed the supporting Curgenven who scored under the posts. The simple conversion levelled the scores at 14 points all. The match was finely balanced and Tigers wing Feeley made one of his trademark runs only to slip with the line beckoning. Tigers continued to press and gained a 5 metre scrum on seventyfive minutes which was well defended by Newport and Simpson was able to clear his lines with a fine relieving kick to touch. Tigers then replaced Sam Cook with the vastly experienced Craig West in a final effort to win the game, however it was to be the younger West who was to snatch victory for Tigers. From a great line-out catch and drive by the forwards, as always led superbly by Gregor Hayter and Barnes, Jonny West was coolness personified as he dropped a goal from wide on the 22m to give Tigers back the lead 17-14 with a minute to go. Tigers regained possession from the re-start and held the ball for the last minute, until match winner Jonny West sent the ball into touch with a final flourish.
Team - Ross, Thomson, Cone, Hayter, Joel, Barnes(C), Cook (West C), MacKenzie, West J, Wright (Drage), Buchanan, Pearson, Outram, Denny, Feeley
Replacements not used – Wragg
Referee – Craig Maxwell-Keys
Report – Stuart Headford |
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13/11/10 - Tigers 1st XV Last Gasp Victory at Malvern in National Three Midlands League
Malvern 20 - Sheffield Tigers 22
Tigers first visit to this attractive rural town on a perfect day for rugby was to end in dramatic fashion. In perfect playing conditions the home sides scrum-half White, who was to prove a thorn in the side of the visitors all afternoon, started a move with an incisive break only for it to end with a handling error near Tigers line. This gave Tigers winger Jamie Clark an early touch and his break brought Tigers back from their own goal line to almost half-way and the first attack had been repelled successfully. The home side then gave away field position with a number of penalties in quick succession. Although the last was within kicking range, Tigers opted for the kick to the corner and their trademark catch and drive which ended when they were penalised for holding on in the tackle. The referee was penalising both sides for infringements at the breakdown which culminated in the Malvern second-row Williams receiving a yellow card on twelve minutes. This seemed to galvanise the home side and they continued to pressure the Tigers line but outstanding defence by the visitors kept them out. Jimmy Pearson cleared the lines with an excellent long range kick and Tigers then took advantage of their numerical numbers and a strong rolling maul saw tight head Sam Lockwood touchdown to add to his two tries of last week on fifteen minutes. Tom Outram just missing with the conversion. Tigers then dominated both possession and territory and camped in the Malvern 22 for long periods but outstanding defensive work by the home side kept the visitors out. Williams returned after his ten minutes and almost immediately Malvern scored from quick ruck ball when the ever alert White saw right wing Miller in space and his clever kick saw the winger touch down unopposed with Longley adding the conversion, Malvern took the lead on twentysix minutes 7 - 5. The match continued at a furious pace with both side unable to break down defences and providing the good crowd with many entertaining passages of play. On thirtyfive minutes Tigers wing Clark suffered a nasty head injury and had to leave the field with concussion. This necessitated a number of changes to the back line, Alex Drage came on at scrum-half, Jonny West moved to fly-half, Joe Wright went to full-back and Jon Feeley moved to wing. The half ended in this fluctuating contest with Tigers exerting pressure on the Malvern line but again unable to score, leaving the home side leading 7-5 at the break.
Malvern started the second half with a poor return kick which went straight to Gregor Hayter who made an incisive break of fifteen metres to feed wing Francis Denny who used his searing pace to outstrip the Malvern defence and score from forty metres out and finish under the posts to give West the easiest of conversions to give Tigers the lead 12-7 on fortytwo minutes. The match continued at a high tempo with both sides having opportunities, until finally on fifty minutes, man of the match White, scored an excellent try to bring Malvern level and they regained the lead 14-12 with the conversion from Jones. Tigers made two changes in the pack at this stage Steve Cutts replacing Lockwood in the front-row and Sam Cook replacing Oliver Rodgers in the back-row. Tigers took advantage of a penalty from West to gain good field position after a break by Feeley, and from the resulting line-out West dropped a goal from the 22m to give Tigers back the lead on sixtytwo minutes 15-14. Malvern again returned to Tigers 22 and only a fantastic athletic leap from Denny saved a certain try, his insertion when faced by three attackers was brilliant. Malvern continued to attack and good defence from Tigers kept them out. Eventually Tigers gave away a penalty for holding on in the tackle in front of their own posts, which Jones converted to give the home side the lead again at 17-15 on seventyone minutes. Tigers prop Ross then sustained a shoulder injury and Lockwood had to return to the front-row. Malvern maintained their hold on possession and from a scrum against the head, Tigers infringed and Malvern extended their lead on seventyseven minutes to 20-15 with a further well struck penalty from Jones. Tigers looked to have given away the game and when a poor re-start gave Malvern the scrum back on halfway and the put in, all looked lost. But Tigers are made of sterner stuff these days and from a long kick into the visitors 22, Wright made an incisive break up the blind-side which was carried on by Feeley before Malvern managed to scramble the ball into touch. From the line-out, Tigers threw to the front with the ever reliable Andy Barnes taking a clean catch, quick ball went wide for Jimmy Pearson to produce his magic and fool the defence with pace and guile to score under the posts and bring the scores level with a minute to go. West added the extras to give Tigers a last gasp victory 22-20.
This was an excellent game played to the limit by both sides. While Peter White and Anthony Ross were the well deserved men of the match, in reality all the players deserved a mention for an entertaining and thrilling game of rugby. Thankfully, after a visit to the local hospital Tigers wing Clark, was allowed to return home with the team to Sheffield.
We would like to thank the Malvern club and committee for their excellent hospitality which we hope to reciprocate when we welcome them to Dore Moor early next year.
Team - Ross, Thomson, Lockwood (Cutts), Hayter, Wilkinson, Barnes(C), Hannam, Rodgers (Cook), West, Wright, Clark (Drage), Pearson, Outram, Denny, Feeley
Replacements all used –
Referee – Steve Penfold
Report – Stuart Headford
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06/11/10 - Tigers 1st XV Go Out of Centurion Yorkshire Cup in the First Round
Wheatley Hills 22 - Sheffield Tigers 20
Tigers fielded a much changed fifteen from their last league win over Scunthorpe giving players a chance to recover from injury and an opportunity for some of the Development team to taste first team action. The home side started very strongly but it was Tigers who threatened the try line first. With quick ball of the top of a line-out, the ball was moved rapidly to winger Elliot Turner, who found number eight Gregor Hayter in support. He put in a good grubber kick to keep the home side under pressure. Tigers then recovered the ball and a concerted effort on nine minutes saw prop Sam Lockwood muscle his way over the line to open the scoring with Joe Wright adding a good conversion to give Tigers the lead at 7-0. Wheatley Hills then came quickly back when a good move by their back line was thwarted by an excellent cover tackle from second row Bevan Wilkinson. Tigers ran the ball out of their own 22m and relieved the position with a good clearing kick from centre Jimmy Pearson. The home side continued to give away penalties and when one of their players was penalised for careless use of the elbow, Wright struck an excellent penalty from the ten metre line to extend Tigers lead to 10-0 on twentyone minutes. This seemed to encourage the home side and they enjoyed a lot of possession and were dominating the scrum and putting Tigers under a lot of pressure. It was no surprise when the home side flanker Taplin scored a good try duly converted to bring Wheatley to 10-7 on thirty minutes. Wheatley continued to dominate the match and again scored an excellent team try with the full-back scoring in the corner on thirtyseven minutes to take the lead at 12-10 with only minutes to the half-time break. The home side gave away another penalty and Wright kicked deep into the corner. The line-out throw was secured and Tigers forwards, who were struggling in the set piece but dominant in the rolling maul, drove Lockwood over to score his second try and Wright converted to give Tigers back the lead at 17-12 at the break.
Tigers continued in the ascendancy as the penalty count against the home side continued but no sign of a yellow card and on fortysix minutes Wright slotted home a second penalty to extend the lead to 20-12. Tigers brought on Hannam for the injured Mackenzie, and shortly after, Wheatley scored an excellent try. After winning the ball against the head they moved it swiftly right for the winger to score in the corner on fiftyfive minutes, the conversion went wide with the score now 20-17. Then followed the defining moments of the game. On fiftynine minutes Tigers prop Anthony Ross received a yellow card, Joe Wright was replaced by Jonny West and prop Steve Cutts had to come on for Ross, so Tigers had to remove Hannam. With Tigers in disarray the Wheatley winger scored again wide out in the corner to regain the lead at 22-20 on sixtyfive minutes. A further sin-binning for Tigers Richard Joel and the Wheatley no. 6 reduced both sides to 14 players. Tigers threw everything at the opposition but were unable to break down their defence. Sam Cook came on for Wilkinson with two minutes to go and shortly after, Wheatley conceded another penalty at the death. With the last kick of the game from the half-way line, Jonny Wests effort fell just short and the home side held out for a deserved win.
Team - Ross (Cutts), Whitworth, Lockwood, Joel, Wilkinson (Cook), Barnes(C), Hayter, MacKenzie (Hannam), Drage, Wright (West), Turner, Pearson J, Cummings, Denny, Feeley
Replacements all used –
Referee –
Report – Stuart Headford
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30/10/10 - Tigers 1st XV Another Try Bonus Point in Home League Win over Scunthorpe
Sheffield Tigers 33 - Scunthorpe 16
Tigers opening fixture in their inaugural season in 1932 was a 3-13 defeat away at todays opponents, Scunthorpe. Over the years there have been many fixtures between the clubs but this would be the first ever league match. Tigers fielded an unchanged starting fifteen for the first time this season and with one change on the bench, Jimmy Pearson replacing Andrew Cummings.
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Elliot Turner - Try
© Ian Anderson 2010
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On a dry, bright afternoon, Scunthope kicked off with a stiff breeze at their backs and were soon under pressure from Tigers forwards. Good ball from a driving maul released full-back Jon Feeley who beat the defence to score out right on three minutes. Tom Outram's conversion added the extras to extend the lead to 7-0. Five minutes later, a Scunthorpe prop was sin-binned for stamping and Tigers kicked the penalty into the left hand corner. A clean line-out catch and drive was successfully repelled by the Scunthorpe forwards, but Tigers kept control of the ball and spun it out right where Francis Denny beat his opposite number on the outside but was tackled just short of the line by the cover defence. Tigers kept up the pressure but weren't making much headway as their lateral play was not committing many defenders to the breakdown and the midfield was very congested. Tigers changed to pickup and drive and from a breakdown on the Scunthorpe right, the ball was moved quickly left through five pairs of hands to Biffo Pearson whose well timed pass made space for winger Elliot Turner to squeeze over in the corner. Outram's conversion was just wide leaving Tigers with a 12-0 lead after fifteen minutes. With Scunthorpe restored to a full side, play went from end to end with neither side getting a real scoring chance although the visitors forwards were beginning to get the upperhand. A weak defensive clearance from Tigers was caught and driven back at them and over the line but Tigers managed to get under the ball to prevent the try. Tigers cleared their lines but then conceded a penalty for holding on. Woollard, the Scunthorpe fly-half, kicked the penalty from 45m out to get the visitors on the board at 12-3 after nineteen minutes.
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Gregor Hayter - Hand-off
© Ian Anderson 2010
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Scunthorpe continued to pressurise and on twentyfour minutes Tigers conceded a penalty for handling in the ruck. Woollard, with another good kick reduced the deficit to 12-6. Good attacking from the visitors was well defended by Tigers but eventually another penalty was conceded, this time for a scrum infringement. Woollard struck another good penalty and the lead was reduced to 12-9 after thirtytwo minutes. Scunthorpe kept on attacking and were rewarded with a well worked try for their centre, Foster, in the left hand corner. An excellent conversion kick from Woollard added the extras to give the visitors the lead 16-12 on thirtyeight minutes and this remained the score at the break.
Tigers kicked off the second half with the wind behind them but Scunthorpe retained the ball and with good mauling and driving forced Tigers backwards. A long clearance kick by Joe Wright found touch deep in the Scunthorpe half. Tigers took the visitors line-out throw and mauled 20m upfield before a dropped pass halted the attack. On fifytwo minutes, Tigers replaced back-rower, Brandon Hannam, with Callum Mackenzie and, Nick Pearson moved to number eight. Tigers were getting more of the ball and centre Jon Buchanan was causing problems in the visitors midfield defence. Another strong run from him was followed up by the forwards mauling into the Scunthorpe 22m. The ball was lost but the clearance kick to touch didn't make any ground. Tigers won the line-out and drove over the try line for Gregor Hayter to
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Jon Feeley - Burst
© Ian Anderson 2010
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claim the score and with a successful conversion by Outram, Tigers regained the lead 19-16 after fiftysix minutes. Four minutes later, Tigers brought on Craig West for prop Anthony Ross and continued to pressure the visitors in their twentytwo. On sixtyeight minutes, a poor clearance kick went straight to Feeley who shot through a gap in the defence from 10m out to score near the posts. Outram's routine conversion extended the lead to 26-16. Scunthorpe came back into the game, driving well out of defence and finally forced Tigers to concede a penalty. They kicked to the corner, secured the line-out ball and went for the drive over, but Tigers defended it well and an error enabled Tigers to secure the ball and find touch in their opponents half. Tigers final replacement, Jimmy Pearson came on for fly-half Wright in the seventyfifth minute and shortly after, launched an attack deep into the Scunthorpe half. The forwards setup quick ball for the backs to feed Feeley on an oblique run accross the posts enabling him to touch down on the right hand side for his hat-trick on seventyeight minutes. Outram completed his fourth conversion to take the score to 33-16. The visitors regained possession from the kick-off, drove into Tigers half and were awarded a penalty as Andy Barnes was yellow-carded for a high tackle. Scunthorpe attacked from the penalty but Tigers defence held firm as they played out the remaining minutes to record their third consecutive win and earn a bonus point for scoring 4 or more tries.
Next week sees a break from league rugby as Tigers travel to Wheatley Hills for a 2pm kick-off in the 1st round of the Centurion Yorkshire Cup. Wheatley Hills play in North One East (the league level below Tigers) after promotion last season and currently are in 3rd place having only lost one game.
Team - Ross (West), Thomson, Lockwood, Hayter, Wilkinson, Barnes(C), Pearson Nick, Hannam (MacKenzie), Pearson Neil, Wright (Pearson J), Turner, Buchanan, Outram, Denny, Feeley
Replacements all used –
Referee – Gareth Holsgrove
Report – ‘Joint Effort’ |
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23/10/10 - Tigers 1st XV Better Discipline and Good Defence in Another Away League Win
Longton 21 - Sheffield Tigers 22
Tigers travelled to new opponents Longton, one of the closer venues, with one change from the side that had started the week before with Joe Wright at fly-half, returning after injury. A close match was anticipated with Longton wanting to regain top spot in the table after suffering their first defeat and Tigers buoyed by their convincing win over Old Northamptonians last week. True to form, the first period was even with both defences on top. On thirteen minutes, Longton were penalised at the line-out and Tigers kicked into the corner. From the resulting line-out, a clean catch and drive took Tigers over the line and the try was awarded to prop Sam Lockwood. Tom Outram converted to give Tigers an early lead of 7-0. On eighteen minutes Longton were penalised for hands in the ruck and Outram extended the lead to 10-0 with a well struck penalty. Longton were now seeing more of the ball and were increasing the pressure on the Tigers defence and good work down the right flank led to the home side driving their hooker over the line for a try in the corner to cut the deficit to 10-5. The home side continued to have more of the play and on thiryone minutes, Tigers were penalised for a high tackle and their fly-half's successful kick reduced the arrears to 10-8. Just before half-time, Tigers lost the lead following a penalty at a ruck in their own half. Longton kicked deep into the corner, secured their line-out ball and drove over the line for their hooker to score his second try. This was not converted but took the home side into the interval with a 13-10 lead.
The game was still evenly balanced as the second half started. But on fortythree minutes, Jon Buchanan was sent to the sin-bin for stamping and shortly afterwards, the home sides forwards again crossed Tigers line for their prop to touchdown. The conversion was missed but their lead was now 18-10. Good defence kept out Longton and once Tigers were restored to a full complement the forwards picked up the pace and began to impose themselves with pickup and drive and rolling mauls. Following a period of pressure with good drives from both Gregor Hayter and Bevan Wilkinson into the home sides twentytwo, space was made to launch Jon Feeley who weaved his way through the Longton defence to score out wide on fiftysix minutes. Outram's conversion was just wide leaving the score at 18-15 to Longton. The home side came back at Tigers but consistently good tackling repelled their efforts until Tigers conceded a penalty for a deliberate knock-on. The Longton fly-half kicked the long penalty which went over off the crossbar to restore their lead at 21-15 on sixtyone minutes. Tigers brought on fresh legs in the forwards as Anthony Ross and Brandon Hannam were replaced by Craig West and Callum MacKenzie respectively. Tigers gradually began to regain the upperhand and playing in the Longton half. On seventytwo minutes, following a period of sustained pressure on the Longton line, a clearance kick from the in goal area was charged down by MacKenzie who then touched down the loose ball. Outram added the conversion to give Tigers the lead back at 22-21. Disciplined play and good defence kept out Longton in the remaining time leaving Tigers with a well deserved win.
Team - Ross (West), Thomson, Lockwood, Hayter, Wilkinson, Barnes(C), Pearson Nick, Hannam (MacKenzie), Pearson Neil, Wright, Turner, Buchanan, Outram, Denny, Feeley
Replacements not used – Cummings
Referee – Mike Patz
Report – ‘Joint Effort’
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16/10/10 - Tigers 1st XV Score 6 Tries in Home League Win over Old Northamptonians
Sheffield Tigers 34 - Old Northamptonians 20
Tigers started the game with a difference, instead of conceded an early try, they scored in the first minute with another Jon Feeley special. Tigers won quick ball on their ten metre line and the ball was fed quickly to Feeley who sliced through the visitors defence from his own half to score wide out on the left to give Tigers a 5-0 lead with Tom Outram just failing with a difficult conversion. Old Northamptonians got on the scoreboard through fly-half Rose with a penalty after Tigers indiscipline although he had missed a similar chance a few minutes earlier. This period was littered with penalties by both sides and indeed it was quite surprising that yellow cards were not shown to either side. From one such penalty, Tigers second-row Gregor Hayter took a quick tap to give them good field position. But again the advantage was given away by offside at a ruck and the visitors were able to clear their line. As the penalty count increased, Outram was unsuccessful on thirteen minutes followed by Rose who missed on nineteen minutes for the visitors. The scrappy play continued and from a difficult position Outram missed a drop goal attempt. However, the clearing kick was recycled to Feeley who showed his skills in open play when again he beat several opponents this time to score in the left hand corner on twentyfive minutes. Again Outram was unlucky with his conversion attempt from the touchline, leaving Tigers with a lead of 10-3. The Tigers pack eventually began to play with some cohesion and great interplay down the left side of the pitch between Brandon Hannam, Nick Pearson and Anthony Ross released Hayter to smash his way over the line from ten metres out on thirty minutes to give Tigers a 17-3 lead after Outrams successful conversion. Tigers were dominating this period of the game with Bevan Wilkinson imperious at the front of the line-out winning good possession. From once such clean catch, an incisive break by scrum-half Neil Pearson resulted in the visitors being penalised. A good kick to the corner in the last play of the half by Outram was followed by Andy Barnes securing the line-out ball and the pack drove him over the line as the ball was transferred to debut prop Sam Lockwood who was credited with the touch down in the corner. The conversion was missed to leave Tigers with a 22-3 lead at half-time having secured a bonus point for scoring four tries.
The second half saw Tigers have the advantage of a slight breeze and both sides were using their possession well but good defence by both sides limited scoring opportunities. Tigers then again gave away a soft penalty, and the visitors took advantage when the ball was transferred wide to allow wing O'Connor to score an unconverted try in the corner on fortyfive minutes to cut the deficit to 22-8. There followed another brilliant run from Feeley again out of nothing, he weaved his way from inside his own half and was only stopped from scoring by an excellent tackle from full-back Kingston. From the ensuing line-out Barnes again won good possession and a brilliant pick up of his toes by Jimmy Pearson on the twentytwo metre line saw him slice through the visitors defence to score under the posts on fifytwo minutes giving Outram his first easy chance to convert which he duly obliged to extend the lead to 27-8. Tigers then made a change at scrum-half with Alex Drage replacing Neil Pearson, Drage returning after six months out following ankle surgery. Within two minutes the visitors had reduced the lead after a nice break by their centre Harris, supported by full-back Kingston, who scored in the corner on fiftyfive minutes. The succesful conversion cut Tigers lead to 27-15. Further team changes by Tigers saw Callum MacKenzie and Craig West replacing Nick Pearson and Ross respectively on fiftyseven minutes. West almost had an immediate impact when centre Buchanan cut through the visitors defensive line on a great angle before passing to West who was just caught short of the line. Tigers at this stage had gained the upper hand and another brilliant try was to follow. Quick ball from a breakdown on the Tigers own ten metre line was quickly moved to Francis Denny on the left wing and his searing pace saw him blow the defence away to score an outstanding try in the corner to extend the lead to 34-15. Outram was unable to convert from the touchline. On another day all his efforts would have counted but luck was not on his side as he struck the ball with conviction all afternoon. The visitors to their credit played well after this score and maybe the combination of a 19 point lead and 18 minutes to play, was a factor for Tigers loss of concentration and it was no surprise when their scrum-half Barker scored on seventysix minutes to cap a good alround display from him. The final play of match involved Feeley and Denny again but sound defence from the visitors snuffed out the attack. Tigers deserved their win but Old Northamptonians also contributed to an excellent game, typical of this league where open rugby is the order of the day.
Team - Ross (West), Thomson, Lockwood, Hayter, Wilkinson, Barnes(C), Pearson Nick (MacKenzie), Hannam, Pearson Neil (Drage), Pearson J, Turner, Buchanan, Outram, Denny, Feeley
Replacements all used –
Referee – Andrew Attwell
Report – Stuart Headford
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09/10/10 - Tigers 1st XV Concede Too Many Penalties in Another League Away Defeat
Kenilworth 30 - Sheffield Tigers 17
Another away trip, this time to new opponents Kenilworth, saw another defeat and no points to show for a lot of effort. Once again Tigers scored more tries than the opposition but conceded too many penalties, two yellow cards and could not finish further try scoring opportunities. In fact it was hard to keep count of the number of offences committed by Tigers at the ruck, but from five of them the Kenilworth stand-off helped himself to fifteen points and the losing margin was just thirteen points! The team are finding it difficult to adjust to the style of play in the Midlands which puts an emphasis on pace all over the pitch and shifting ball quickly from the ruck area to incisive backs. Several changes to the Tigers team did not help continuity but team changes will always be needed for a variety of reasons. These changes saw the return of brothers Neil and Jimmy Pearson at half-back and Bevan Wilkinson standing in for Richard Joel in the second row. Gareth Morley regained his place on the wing, Frank Lidster started at prop for injured Anthony Ross and coach Gregor Hayter returned to the action.
Kenilworth started strongly when after early pressure and missed Tigers tackles around the ruck the ball was passed wide for their winger to cross unopposed for 5-0 after just two minutes. Tigers responded with a good run down the middle by winger Gareth Morley before Kenilworth had a back-row forward yellow carded for a late tackle on stand-off Jimmy Pearson. Tigers made this count with a passing move down the left which ended in full-back Jon Feeley adjudged held up over the line. Strong pressure at the resultant five metre scrum saw the referee award a penalty try after several resets at the scrum. Tom Outram converted for 7-5 after twelve minutes. Immediately poor technique and ill discipline cost Tigers six points when Kenilworth kicked two penalties awarded at rucks to lead 11-7 after fifteen minutes. Tigers again took the game to the home side but a forwards led assault on the Kenilworth line could not be finished with a score before a lovely passing move down the left involving Feeley, Morley and right winger Francis Denny saw the latter score in the corner to again give Tigers the lead at 12-11 with six minutes till half-time. A poor attempted catch from the restart gave Kenilworth immediate pressure from which their stand off dropped a goal for 14-12 to the home side. Outram’s long attempt at a penalty goal fell short before an overthrown line-out ball enabled Kenilworth to kick for position deep in the Tigers half. Although the initial situation was defended by Tigers, number eight Biffo Pearson was then yellow carded for slowing up Kenilworth ball at the ruck. The penalty was kicked as the half ended with the home side five points clear at 17-12.
The second half started with Tigers missing another penalty kick before yet another penalty was awarded, but the decision this time was to kick to the corner. The catch and drive saw Hayter score to level the scores on fortyseven minutes. Again the conversion was wide. An attempted repeat of this move was spoiled when the ball went loose and Kenilworth immediately stepped up the pace of the match with a succession of quick pick up and drives. This set up positions, firstly, for a penalty attempt after another offence at the ruck area by Tigers, and then for a drop goal attempt, which also missed the target. Tigers replaced Lidster with Stephen Cutts at prop but were now under strong pressure in their twentytwo and this led to hooker Ali Thomson receiving a yellow card for entering a ruck at the side. The resulting penalty was kicked for 20-17 after sixtyseven minutes. Back play went to the Kenilworth end. Another attempted catch and drive by Tigers forwards was well defended before a penalty enabled Kenilworth to advance upfield. A clever grubber kick through the Tigers midfield bounced kindly into the hands of a home player who scored a converted try with four minutes left. There was still time for Tigers to be yet again penalised at the ruck, this time for diving in, the three points to Kenilworth on the full time whistle making the final score 30-17.
Tigers man of the match – Francis Denny
Team - Bunting, Thomson, Lidster (Cutts), Hayter, Wilkinson, Barnes(C), MacKenzie, Pearson Nick, Pearson Neil, Pearson J, Morley, Buchanan, Outram, Denny, Feeley
Replacements not used – Rodgers, Cummings
Referee – Robin Oliver
Report – Nigel Dakin
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02/10/10 - Tigers 1st XV Defeated by Last Minute Drop Goal in National Three Midlands League
Sheffield Tigers 13 - Burton 16
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Joe Wright - Charge
© Ian Anderson 2010
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The match opened with a very disjointed period which was to mirror the whole afternoon, there was very little difference between the two teams and the match was testimony to that prediction. The first score was a Joe Wright penalty to give Tigers an early lead which was cancelled out by Burton's Darryl Banton on nineteen minutes. There then followed a very scrappy period of play when Tigers wasted a few opportunities to take the lead where either a simple pass or straight drive would have created the scoring position. Burton then took the lead with another Banton penalty for hands in the ruck. The continuing disregard by the visitors for the off-side line was eventually punished when their flanker, Ben Grocott was sin-binned on thirtyfive minutes quickly followed by their prop, Charles Neethling for an ugly high tackle. Tigers were unable to take advantage of their extra men and this was to be the turning point of the encounter. Tigers wasted a golden opportunity when Jon Feeley
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Jon Feeley - Pass
© Ian Anderson 2010
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made a telling break but was unable to connect with his supporting player and the chance was lost.
The half-time whistle saw Tigers with a numerical advantage but losing by 6 - 3.
The second half was a mirror image of the first, with lots of mistakes and little flow to the match. However the Burton pack with captain Joel Booth to the fore, were creating plenty of problems for the Tigers pack. Tigers brought on fresh legs with Stephen Cutts being replaced by Frank Lidster in the front-row and Oli Rogers by Derek Hall in the back-row. The match then changed in the fiftyfifth minute when a moment of stupidity by the Burton scrum-half Darryl Banton, saw a deserved red card. Tigers grabbed the momentum with a superb driving maul from 15 metres out, resulting in captain Andy Barnes getting the touchdown. Wright duly converted to give Tigers a 10 - 6 lead and with an extra man. Tigers final replacement Matt Hargreaves came on to replace Andy Cummings on the wing. Despite long periods of Tigers pressure and two missed penalty attempts by Wright, the next score came on sixtytwo minutes from a Tom Outram penalty to extend the lead to 13 - 6. The visitors were giving away a lot of penalties but not in scoring positions which added to
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Simon Bunting, Ali Thomson &
Frank Lidster
© Ian Anderson 2010
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the frustration of the home side. The Burton pack increased the pressure, lead again by their captain, to engineer good field positions in Tigers twentytwo. Eventually, the inevitable occurred when Simon Bunting was sin-binned with five minutes to go and prop, Cutts had to returned to the field at the expense of Hargreaves. Tigers pack now came under severe pressure and the Burton pack gained a deserved penalty try duly converted by Harry Titley to tie the score at 13 - 13 with two minutes remaining. The visitors controlled possession from the kick-off and worked their way up centre field towards the Tigers twentytwo. This created a position for centre Titley to drop a goal with the last kick of the game to win the match for the visitors.
Tigers will again question why they did not come away with the points, they had a two man advantage for ten minutes before half-time and a one man advantage for most of the last quarter of the match. Credit is due to the Burton pack who despite suffering yellow cards, dominated the match as a unit and made the right choices as they took control in the final quarter of the game.
Team - Bunting, Thomson, Cutts (Lidster), Joel, Hannam, Barnes(C), Rodgers (Hall), Pearson, Scheinkonig, Wright, Cummings (Hargreaves), Buchanan, Outram, Denny, Feeley
Replacements – All used
Referee – Matthew O’Grady
Report – Stuart Headford |
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25/09/10 - Tigers 1st XV Determined Defence Aids First Away League Match Win
Hereford 3 - Sheffield Tigers 20
The longest trip of the season saw Tigers bring back four points after a very solid performance. Hereford let Tigers settle into the match after a long coach trip when their kick-off failed to go ten metres. They then conceded penalties to give Tigers an early chance of a score but the driving maul was well defended by the Hereford pack. The Tigers backs were being a little too adventurous early on and mistakes and silly penalties by both sides were preventing the match from flowing. Biffo Pearson received a yellow card for lifting a player in the tackle, but unlike previous matches this did not cost Tigers points, although the Hereford kicker did put two penalty kicks wide. Tigers main attack plan at this stage was to take on the home pack, but Hereford were up to the task and were having slightly the better of the territorial battle. The home stand-off was attempting to peg Tigers in their own half with long diagonal kicks. However, as Captain Andy Barnes and Richard Joel were far stronger in the lineout, Tigers were able to keep possession. The game see-sawed with first Hereford and then Tigers having the upper hand. The props of both sides were penalised for boring in at the scrum in a good front row battle which kept the scrum an evenly contested area all match. A Tigers forward rumble was checked when Hereford stripped the ball and a good tackle was needed by centre Andy Cummings to check a Hereford break. With half-time approaching and the prospect of a scoreless first half the Hereford backs made a mistake that cost them five points. When they dropped the ball, wing-forward Callum MacKenzie was there to pick up on the home sides ten metre line. He set off for the line, threw a dummy to the Hereford winger and backed his pace to race in near the corner after thirtynine minutes. That was the half time score and gave Tigers a deserved lead after a very stop start half.
The second half saw Tigers start strongly when the backs passed the ball down the line after a lineout steal by Barnes. Hereford were penalised and the ball kicked to the corner. The resulting lineout saw the ball released to the backs and centre Jon Buchanan straightened the move. Stand-off Joe Wright stepped inside his marker and sprinted to the line for a try he himself converted for 12-0 after just five minutes of the half. Hereford responded with a series of pick up and drives from the forwards and deep kicks from their number ten. This time their spell of pressure told when Tigers were penalised for not rolling away at a ruck and the home side opened their account with a penalty on fiftysix minutes. Tigers were now starting to control the match in terms of both possession and territory. MacKenzie was replaced by Oli Rogers and Gareth Morley by debutant Jon Brooksby. Again Tigers continued to drive for the Hereford line. Hereford conceded a penalty and Wright kicked the three points with eleven minutes left. Hereford responded with one of their few visits to the Tigers twentytwo only to be met with further firm Tigers defence. Now Tigers backs were starting to gain confidence. Full-back Jon Feeley made a break and then Joel freed winger Jamie Clark for a run down the line. Debutant Stephen Cutts replaced prop Simon Bunting and there was just time for one final try, and what a try! Feeley took a poor pass on his toes on Tigers own ten metre line with all the Hereford team in front of him. He ran across field from right to left beating off would be tackles before setting sail down the left wing. Beating yet another defender with his pace he scored a marvellous individual try in the corner to make the final score 20-3.
This was a good win, as is any win away from home. Tigers converted more of their chances into points this week, but it was the defensive effort which was outstanding. Although Hereford had lost all three prior matches they had scored twenty points or more in each match. Today they were rendered toothless by Tigers defence. Thanks to the Hereford committee for their hospitality and to end on an unusual first for Tigers, the match was sponsored by a local funeral service. This Saturday sees Tigers at home to Burton, 3pm kick off.
Man of the match – Joe Wright
Team - Bunting (Cutts), Thomson, Ross, Joel, Hannam, Barnes(C), MacKenzie (Rodgers), Pearson, Scheinkonig, Wright, Clark, Cummings, Buchanan, Morley (Brooksby), Feeley
Replacements – All used
Referee – Craig Maxwell-Keys
Report – Nigel Dakin
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18/09/10 - Tigers 1st XV Hard Earned Victory in First Home League Match
Sheffield Tigers 31 - Bromsgrove 24
After two away defeats a home win was vital to the season ahead. However, for the third week running the team got off to a bad start. The kick-off by Tigers rolled over the dead ball line to give Bromsgrove an
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Jon Buchanan - Charge
© Ian Anderson 2010
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immediate advantage, taken readily by their centre who broke the home side defence before passing to the left winger who scored an unconverted try after only one minute. Tigers now showed that they intended to establish forward dominance with two driving mauls. The home pack were also exerting pressure at the scrum and were awarded a free kick. They opted to re-scrummage and a scissor move in the midfield saw centre Jon Buchanan power over through several defenders. Joe Wright converted to give Tigers the lead in a match for the first time in 169 minutes of play. Tigers continued to press but mistakes crept into their play. Ball was lost in the opposition twentytwo and then the ball was aimlessly kicked dead. Bromsgrove now got into the match again and it needed good tackles by Callum Mackenzie and Ali Thomson to stop attacks. On sixteen minutes Tigers again lost the ball and Bromsgrove passed wide for their stand-off to give them the lead again with an unconverted try. Tigers bounced back with a break by Jon Feeley carried on by the back-row. The ball went down the backs for Gareth Morley to score wide out on the left having come over from his right wing position to take Tigers into the lead at 12-10 after twentyfour minutes. Tigers now laid siege to the Bromsgrove line and five minutes later made the pressure tell when Feeley beat a defender to race over and score a try converted by Tom Outram. Tigers pack were now dominating possession with the back-row of Mackenzie, Biffo Pearson and captain Andy Barnes quicker to the break down. On thirtysix minutes Tigers scrum ball was moved right and Feeley again joined the line to beat a defender and score. Outram was successful with the kick and extended the lead to 26-10. The joy was short lived when the referee played an advantage to Bromsgrove on the Tigers twentytwo and the visitors shifted the ball wide for the strong running left winger to break three tackles to score. The successful conversion narrowed the lead to 26-17. Still Tigers were not finished with the half and Morley was only denied a try by the linesman's flag as the half-time whistle sounded.
The home supporters and good number of Bromsgrove fans were now going to have the answer to the question of whether a 9 point lead would be enough with the visitors having advantage of the breeze. First evidence came after only three minutes of the second half when Tigers conceded a penalty at a ruck and
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Brandon Hannam - Try
© Ian Anderson 2010
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found themselves deep in their own half. A missed tackle wide out saw the right wing score a converted try to narrow the lead to just two points. Tigers responded in style with another driving maul and pressure on the Bromsgrove line but the visitors defended solidly and turned over the ball to relieve the threat. Now the game see-sawed yet again as the visitors enjoyed a dominant spell. A good break by their centre after Tigers missed tackles saw a scoring opportunity for Bromsgrove missed when the ball went to ground with the try line open. As the game entered its final quarter all was still to play for. Bromsgrove were coming more and more into the game as they fought to maintain their unbeaten record. Good tackles by Morley and Pearson stopped attacks before Tigers pack marched the opposition forty metres towards their own line with one driving maul. Several more drives followed before Brandon Hannam powered over to score as a result of this excellent forward effort. 31-24 and a slight breathing space. Still Bromsgrove bounced back and spent much of the remaining fifteen minutes attacking. Dominant line-out work by Richard Joel and brave dropping onto loose balls by Wright and scrum-half Nick Scheinkonig helped to
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Richard Joel - Lineout
© Ian Anderson 2010
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break up Bromsgrove attacks. Tigers now made changes with Charlie Cone replacing prop Simon Bunting (who was again dominant in the scum), debutant Andy Cummings replaced Jamie Clark, and another debutant Derek Hall replaced Mackenzie. Still Bromsgrove pressed but Tigers to a man tackled strongly and kept their try line in tact to achieve a hard earned victory against a good Bromsgrove side.
This was a hard earned victory well refereed by Michael Dickens. Tigers performance improved as the match went on. This week there were less errors, a lower penalty count and no yellow cards. The finishing was better and the defence better organised. The result was five points, four for the win and one for scoring four tries. However, even with all those improvements on the previous week the narrow win shows just how small the margins of error are at this level. The improvement needs to continue next week on the long away trip to Hereford.
Team - Bunting (Cone), Thomson, Ross, Joel, Hannam, Barnes(C), MacKenzie (Hall), Pearson, Scheinkonig, Wright, Clark (Cummings), Buchanan, Outram, Morley, Feeley
Replacements – All used
Referee – Michael Dickins
Report – Nigel Dakin |
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11/09/10 - Tigers 1st XV Too Much Indiscipline in Second Consecutive Away League Defeat
Broadstreet 21 - Sheffield Tigers 19
For the second week running Tigers made a poor start away from home when they failed to clear the ball from their half. The ball was run back and Tigers conceded a penalty at a ruck. A quick tap and long pass to the right winger saw the home side score a converted try after just three minutes. The home side were looking to play quick rugby and were making good ground around the fringes of rucks, but this week Tigers early defence was sounder. Tigers then had several chances to score. A two man overlap was wasted by a poor pass in the centre and then two spells of forward pressure on the Broadstreet line went unrewarded when penalties were conceded. A penalty kick at goal was missed and it began to look as if Tigers would never score despite the scrum being solid and Tigers having by far the better of the lineout. Broadstreet were still proving dangerous on the break as the game moved from end to end of the pitch. Tigers defended well again when the home side opted for a scrum near the visitors line after yet another penalty. Winger Gareth Morley had a good run for the line only to be stopped short with no support to finish the break. Then on thirtysix minutes the travelling TIgers fans at last had something to cheer about. The ball went left and Biffo Pearson cut inside to pass to prop Anthony Ross who scored. Joe Wright converted for 7-7 at the break.
At that score the game was there for the winning as the second half kicked off. Unfortunately, for the second week running a yellow card was to prove decisive. After two skirmishes among the forwards prop Simon Bunting was sent to the sin-bin on fortyseven minutes. From the resulting penalty Broadstreet took a three point lead. Tigers then attacked but again a poor pass could not be taken and a try went begging. Things were not going Tigers way, no more so when they lost a lineout after a penalty kick to touch. The backs now seemed to be losing confidence and as a result of bad ball being thrown backwards the Broadstreet left winger scored a try near the posts after fiftytwo minutes. The only good news was that the conversion was missed. Worse followed on sixty minutes when from yet another penalty for an offence at the ruck the home side increased their lead with a successful kick. Further penalty kicks were missed by Broadstreet before another accurate one, as they took a 21-7 lead with only nine minutes left. At last Tigers sprung to life and the pack drove captain Andy Barnes over the line for five points with just six minutes left. 21-12. Four minutes later fullback Jon Feeley got the ball on his own ten metre line with seemingly nowhere to go. He set off for the posts at speed and his mazy run saw him beat several defenders to score a brilliant individual try. Wright converted for 21-19 but time ran out on Tigers.
So Tigers earned their first league point of the season through losing by seven points or less. However, this was a game they could and perhaps should have won as they outscored the home side by three tries to two. Again, poor finishing for most of the match, too many penalties conceded through poor discipline at the ruck and a yellow card all combined to cost Tigers dear. More use needs to be made of their match winning players by providing them with better, earlier ball. Unless these faults are rectified soon it could become a long hard season, especially on the road.
Team - Bunting, Thomson, Ross (Cone), Joel, Wilkinson, Barnes(C), MacKenzie, Pearson (Hannam), Scheinkonig, Wright, Clark, Buchanan, Outram, Morley (Cambridge), Feeley
Replacements – All used
Referee – C Maxwell-Keyes
Report – Nigel Dakin
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04/09/10 - Tigers 1st XV Nightmare Start in Defeat by South Leicester in First League Match
South Leicester 36 - Sheffield Tigers 17
Tigers travelled south for their first fixture in National Three Midlands and came away beaten by a very good South Leicester side. The first twenty minutes were a nightmare start for Tigers as they conceded more than a point a minute. A poor lineout saw a penalty to the home side and the ball eventually driven over by their pack for a converted try on six minutes. Despite an excellent try saving tackle by Biffo Pearson, South Leicester scored a penalty and Tigers captain Andy Barnes yellow carded four minutes later. Straight from the restart a high kick deep into the Tigers half from the home side was not fielded. A fortunate hack at the ball saw it land in the South Leicester stand-off’s hands and he ran in unopposed for seven more points. 17-0 after just twelve minutes. At last Tigers were awarded a penalty but the kick to the corner and resultant catch and drive for the line came to nothing when the ball was lost in the maul. Worse was to follow when a fifty metre break, another penalty, good handling and run through a gap produced a third converted try for the home side on nineteen minutes. Tigers replaced Nav Sandhu with Callum MacKenzie in an attempt to bolster their creaky defence. They now began to get more ball and have more of the game territorially, but a combination of poor execution and good home defence kept the visitors scoreless. However, the fight back continued and on thirtyone minutes forward pressure was rewarded when first, a South Leicester prop was yellow carded and then the Tigers forwards drove over with number eight Brandon Hannam scoring an unconverted try. Further Tigers pressure saw yet more ball spilled but a second home player yellow carded on half-time for again slowing down Tigers ball. Half-time score 24-5.
Tigers now had the advantage of a slight slope and breeze. After just four minutes the ball was passed down the backs and full-back Jon Feeley made a break before passing for Gareth Morley to score and Joe Wright to convert. South Leicester then stormed the Tigers line but now Tigers were defending better and getting more ball with which to attack. Charlie Cone replaced Antony Ross at prop and Bev Wilkinson came on for Hannam. Expansive play created an overlap on the right for Tigers but the ball was not passed to the wing and the carrier did not reach the try line. Off play went to the other end, and this time pressure by the home pack saw good ball down the three-quarter line for the full-back to score a seven pointer for 31-12 after sixtythree minutes. Another overlap for Tigers was wasted as South Leicester were forced to defend, but when the ball was lost yet again the home side took full advantage to score a try near the posts with just nine minutes left. Strangely the conversion attempt went wide. That made it 36-12 but still Tigers did not give up. Another overlap situation saw the ball passed behind players with a try probable. With full time up the forwards pressed the home try line and MacKenzie scored to make the final score 36-17.
This was a disappointing defeat but the strong finish showed that the player’s fitness is at the right level as is the desire to win. South Leicester are a very good side, better than any played last season. With six county players, power, pace and clinical finishing they will take some beating, especially at home. Tigers need to learn from this defeat, keep the game tight in the first quarter away from home and not waste scoring chances. Next week sees a second consecutive away trip, this time to play Broadstreet in Coventry.
Team - Bunting, Thomson, Ross (Cone), Joel, Barnes(C), Sandhu (MacKenzie), Hannam (Wilkinson), Pearson, Hargreaves, Wright, Cambridge, Morley, Outram, Clark, Feeley
Replacements – All used
Referee – Richard Campbell
Report – Nigel Dakin
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28/08/10 - Tigers 1st XV Powerful Display in Final Pre-season Match
Sheffield Tigers 46 - Scunthorpe 14
Scunthorpe started strongly recycling the ball well. The visitors were helped by the home sides desire to open out at every opportunity, unfortunately at the expense of spilling the ball. Play settled down after a quarter of an hour when Scunthorpe conceded a penalty near halfway and new young stand-off Joe Wright kicked the ball to touch in the Scunthorpe twentytwo. The resultant catch and drive was well defended but at the expense of another penalty. Tigers opted for a scrum and the pack powered over for number eight Brandon Hannam to score an unconverted try. Four minutes later Tigers scored again after an excellent passing move, not by the backs but by the forwards. Andy Barnes made a strong run from halfway before passing to supporting Hannam who again made yardage before offloading to player coach Gregor Hayter. When he was stopped just short of the try line the ball was quickly recycled and full-back Jon Feeley scored. Wright converted for 12-0. Tigers were now controlling the game with strong drives and good recycling. When play broke down outside the Scunthorpe twentytwo Feeley saw a gap blindside and raced through for his second try to increase the lead to 17-0. Tigers were now starting to overwhelm Scunthorpe. An attack by the forwards on the right on thirtytwo minutes saw good ball spun left for winger Marcus Cambridge to score in the corner. Four minutes later another ruck enabled Hayter to stroll in unopposed on the blind side and Wright converted for 29-0. Only two minutes later centre Jon Buchanan made a strong run in centre field. When the ball went loose Feeley was on hand to pick up, superbly side step a defender and race in for his hat trick try. Half time score 34-0.
Scunthorpe now had use of the strengthening wind and made it count soon after kick-off when poor Tigers defence at a ruck let a visiting player run in from twenty metres unopposed. The conversion made it 34-7. Tigers struck back straight away. New scrum-half Matt Hargreaves made a break from halfway. Buchanan continued the move and Feeley finished for 39-7 after just five minutes of the second half. Tigers then seemed to relax and this enabled Scunthorpe to fight back. Mistakes such as forward passes and spilt ball gave Scunthorpe the chance to enjoy some possession and their best twenty minutes of the match. However, this was brought to an abrupt end on sixtyfive minutes when Feeley entered a passing move at pace. He raced clear before delivering a perfect inside pass to centre Owen Evans. He cleverly wrong footed the full-back to score. Wright again converted for 46-7. Two players on each side were then shown yellow cards, at two separate “disagreements”, and several substitutes used, both which served to disrupt any remaining pattern to the play. Credit to the visitors for never giving up and with two minutes left they created an overlap for their stand-off to make an outside break past a front five forward, to score a converted try for a final score of 46-14.
This was a much better performance than the one last week against Pontefract and not just because the team won! The two lapses apart, defence was stronger, especially the midfield with both centres and stand-off Wright tackling well. The front row was dominant, with new prop Anthony Ross looking a good player, and the line-out secure, with Richard Joel as reliable as ever but also Barnes and Hayter adding options. Overall the pack looked very powerful in both the tight and open play with hooker Ali Thomson and back row Nav Sandhu and Hannam adding mobility. The young half-backs worked well to distribute the ball and control the pattern of play and the backs showed a desire to play open rugby. Alignment of the three quarters was better than in any game last season and in Feeley at full-back the team now possess a pacy and sharp cutting edge. The side have a good blend of youth and experience and with several players still to return things look positive. Indeed, it looks like there will be a lot of competition for places. Finally, the most impressive thing about the match was that the side seem to have learnt the lesson from last week that if you give away penalties for offences (at the ruck especially) you do not win matches. This was evident in the side only conceding three penalties in the first half hour today and it went a long way to helping the forwards dominate the match and the backs score tries from that pressure.
Team - Bunting, Thomson, Ross, Hayter, Joel, Barnes(C), Sandhu, Hannam, Hargreaves (Scheinkonig), Wright, Cambridge, Buchanan, Evans, Morley (McKenzie), Feeley
Replacements – All used
Referee – Dean Walker
Report – Nigel Dakin
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21/08/10 - Tigers 1st XV Lose Out to Pontefract in First Pre-season Match
Sheffield Tigers 17 - Pontefract 21
Tigers scored 3 tries to 1 in the first half to go to the break 17 - 7 up. Pontefract backs scored 2 converted tries in the second half to win the match 21 - 17.
Team – Team: Bunting (Lidster), Thomson (Whitworth), Ross, Hayter, Joel, Hannam, Rodgers, Wragg, Hargreaves, Wright, Morley, Evans, Cambridge, Clark, Feeley (Bastock)
Replacements – All used
Referee – Andy Baker
Report –
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