Match Report: Wharfedale 22 Sheffield Tigers 8

Ed Williams has been reporting for the Yorkshire Times, part of the p.ublished group of online newspapers, on his local club, Wharfedale RUFC.

A new season full of promise and hope for the players and the faithful. Ist up at the Avenue was our rivals from South Yorkshire, Sheffield Tigers. They have proved a tough side to beat; Dale having only won one out of the last 6 encounters. Wharfedale grabbed a bonus point win to start their campaign whilst a plucky Tigers side went back down the M1 without a point. Dale dominated possession and territory in the 1st half but too many mistakes stopped them scoring more than two tries. Dale opened the second half with some more fluent play and established a 22-3 lead. Sheffield started playing stronger, more positive rugby with 15 minutes to go and threatened to close the gap on the home side, but mistakes close to the line cost them.

Wharfedale started brightly and quickly forced a turn-over. They had Tigers defending desperately and giving away penalties. With an easy kick under the posts on offer Dale opted for a scrum. A solid set-piece was followed by three phases (and another penalty advantage) before Sam Dickinson opened the scoring for Wharfedale. Sam Gaudie added the conversion. Tigers got on the scoreboard with a 40-metre penalty by Will Baker. The visitors did manage a short period of possession and territory but they could not execute any meaningful moves and were held up over the line for a Wharfedale drop-out. Bradley Viner finished off some excellent handling by Wharfedale with an unconverted try on the stroke of half-time.

Dale’s strong start to the second half was soon rewarded. A superb break by Joe Fawcett was stopped as two players had clashed heads and the ref quite rightly stopped the game immediately. The game restarted with a Dale scrum which the Green Machine won. Dale’s strong start to the second half was rewarded with an unconverted try by Harry Bullough after a good break by Viner.

Dale took the restart and Robbie Davidson sent a searing kick deep into Sheffield’s 22. The clearance kick did not find touch and was run back by the Wharfedale backs. Eight phases later Joe Fawcett charged through the defence and set up George Hedgley for another unconverted try.

The next passage of play seemed to sum up the visitor’s plight. Sheffield went through 15 tough phases but only made about 15 metres before losing the ball. Dale then countered quickly and were soon deep in Tigers’ 22 with an attacking 5-metre line-out.

The visitor’s performance improved on 60 minutes with a change of personnel. Their attitude became more positive and there was more direction in their play. Dale seemed to have survived some good pressure and seemed to have a penalty award on half-way. This was changed and a yellow card issued to a Wharfedale player. A successful line-out was moved along the backs and then James Norman followed up a grubber kick to touch down for an unconverted try for Sheffield Tigers. Sheffield tried hard to add to their score but it was too little too late. The Green wall did not break even though it was put under pressure.

Wharfedale travel to newly promoted Harrogate next Saturday. Gate lost their opening fixture away to Billingham so will be eager to get a win at home.

Wharfedale Bullough; Hamilton, Hodgson, Cicognini, Viner (Gaudie 69); Davidson, Gaudie (Riddiough 56); Dickinson (Patchett 6), Collinson, Armstrong (Meehan 60), Borrill, Hedgley (c), Pinder (Weston 60), Fawcett (Beecroft 69), Markey