Stats

Day

Date

H/A

Opposition

Res

Score

Sat

14th April

H

Widnes Vikings

(View Report)

L

22-42

Sat

21st April

H

Workington Town (View Report)

W

96-18

Sun

29th April

A

Leigh Centurions

L

44-6

Wed

2nd May

A

Halifax

L

62-18

Sat

12th May

H

Keighley Cougars

D

8-8

Sat

19th May

H

Dewsbury Rams

L

22-28

Thur

31st May

A

Featherstone Rovers

W

20-24

Sat

9th June

H

Rochdale Hornets (View report)

W 

49-42

Sat

16th June

H

Castleford Tigers (Floods)

Sat

22nd June

A

Doncaster Lakers

(Withdrawn from the league)

Wed

27th June

A

Hunslet Hawks

 L

 34-6

Sat

30th June

H

York City Knights

 W

 38-0

Sun

8th July

A

Whitehaven

 L

 54-36

Sat

14th July

A

Barrow Raiders

 L

 32-10

Sat

21st July

H

Leigh Centurions

 L

 14-50

Sat

28th July

H

Batley Bulldogs

 L

 10-32

Sun

5th August

A

Castleford Tigers

 W

 34-42

Sat

11th August

A

Swinton Lions

 W

 24-40

Wed

15th August

H

Castleford Tigers

W

50-16

SHEFFIELD EAGLES (10) 22 WIDNES VIKINGS (24) 42
Ref M Kidd TJ S Johnson TJ J Schofield

Report:

SHEFFIELD Eagles Senior Academy side put in a strong performance before going down 42-22 Widnes Vikings in their first game in the competition. The Eagles have re-established an academy side this season. It's a mix of young players who come through trials and members of the first team squad with only eight of the side allowed to be over 21.

"It was a fantastic effort," said coach Mark Aston. "There were a lot of  kids - some only 17 - in the team who had never played at this sort of level. The attitude against a strong Widnes team speaks volumes. Coupled with that the boys who came out of the first team squad were fantastic. Ryan Hepworth had a great game, John Crawford showed what he is capable of when he in the right mood and they are going to be challenging for the first team. James Morrow showed a lot of promise and Zac Hill did well. We had a good crowd here supporting and it was a nice start."

The team's opening game - played at Hillsbough Arena - included Hillsborough Hawks' players Steve Craven, Luke Holt, Joe Barber and Tom Gray. After going down to two Widnes tries after 14 minutes the Eagles battled back well with a weaving run by Hill setting up the their first try from loose-forward Tom Gray with Jack Malin adding the goal. Fullback Crawford scored the first of his two tries before half-time and the Eagles went in 24-10 down. The Eagles came back well in the second have with first team prop Ryan Hepworth showing his strength and stamina as he played a full 80 minutes on  a hot sunny day.

James Worsley scored the third try from Malin's pass and Crawford produced a 50-metre break to claim the Eagles final try eight minutes from time. Crawford converted both tries.
 

Eagles: John Crawford, Dug Reid, Wayne Barnes, Joel Barrett, Zac Hill, Jack Malin, James Allen, Steve Craven, Kyle Keswick, Ryan Hepworth, James Morrow, Aaron Phelps, Tom Gray, Joe Barber, Luke Holt, James Worsley, Craig Jones.

Scorers: Tries - Gray (25), Crawford (34, 72), Worseley (48). Goals - Malin 1/2, Crawford 2/2

Widnes: Danny Burns, Paddy Donagh, Adam Bowman, Dale Bloomfield, Michael Bowles, Paul Crook, Martin Keavney, Mike Morrison, Andrew White, Andy Marsh, Adam Sidlow, Robert Draper, Danny Smith, Craig Tunstead, Darren Banks, Andrew Melling, Michael Smith.
Scorers: Tries - Draper (14) Bowles (21) Bowman (30,37,77) Smith (57) Burns (60). Goals- Crook 7/7

Sheffield Interchanges:
16 for 9 @ 8min; 9 for 11 @ 15; 17 for 8 @ 17; 15 for 13 @ 28; 8 for 15 @ Half Time; 14 for 7 @ 47; 13 for 16 @ 51; 7 for 5 @ 58; 15 for 8 @ 60

Penalties: Sheffield (5) 11 Widnes (3) 7

BACK TO THE TOP

Sheffield Eagles (56)96 Workington Town (6)18

Ref - P Wroe TJ - D Oultram TJ - S Jarvis

Report

EAGLES fans were treated to a try avalanche as the Senior Academy destroyed Workington. The young Eagles were 38 points ahead after only 16 minutes and went on to score 17 tries for a 96-18 win in only their second game in the competition.

Academy coach Chris Robinson said: "I'm very happy it was probably a little bit too easy but you can only play what's in front of you. We took our foot off the gas a bit in the second half but overall it was a quality performance. The start took me by surprise but we completed our first 11 sets (of six tackles) which in this game if you complete you have a chance of scoring. We took our chances really well and those early sets set the tone for the game. John Crawford played really well and Ryan Hepworth again was immense and even scored from 70 metres out. Grant Edwards had a great game and young Kyle Kesik is getting better and as we play games he will improve. As a group they will all improve."

Grant Farrow started the rush with a try after only one minute. The centre one of six first team squad players in the side - used his blistering pace to complete a hat-trick of tries in the 13 minutes. The Eagles blasted Workington with prop Ryan Hepworth, hooker Kyle Kesik and loose-forward Grant Edwards outstanding in the pack with John Crawford controlling the plays from stand-off. Tries came almost non-stop in the first half from scrum-half James Malin, centre Zac Hill with a 60-metre break, prop Steve Craven, Edwards, Crawford, Hepworth and Kesik.

Workington scored a try late in the half for a 56-6 scoreline at the break in the game played at Hillsborough Arena. The visitors doubled their points with a try early in the second half then the Eagles resumed their onslaught with a try from winger Gareth Davies.

Hepworth set up the try of the game with a 50-metre break before passing to hooker Kesik who finished the job. The prop got his second try with a 70-metre break and Farrow took his tally to four. Substitute Chris Storey and fullback Joel Barrett scored tries before Workington claimed their third try.

Michael Roby's try on 75 minutes edged the points total close to 100 but Workington battled in the final minutes to prevent a three-figure defeat. Crawford kicked eight goals, Malin five and Hill one for the Eagles.

The Academy travel to Leigh next Sunday with the game played before the Co-operative National League one clash.

Robinson knows that wont be as easy a run out. He said: "It will be tougher next week you don't get games like this every week and we've enjoyed scoring a fair few points but now we need to knuckle down and work hard in training and make sure that we are ready for a tough game at Leigh. The attitude in training is good the people want to learn which is a massive thing for me. If they come along switched on to what we are trying to do it helps me and ultimately the goal is to help them as well and Sheffield Eagles become competitive in the Senior Academy and in the first team as well."

One of the outstanding players in the Workington game Grant Edwards is hoping he will make the first team for the game at Leigh.

He said; "It was good to get 80 minutes (in the Academy side) obviously Im looking to establish myself in the first team. I thought the boys did as well as they could in an easy win. We stayed professional throughout with a few silly mistakes. At this level we just need to be progressing people up into the first team. We need to get local kids through and this is a good stepping to get up into the first team."

He added: "Tubbs (Mark Aston) doesn't give a lot away. I put in a decent performance against Widnes and I need to take my chance every time I play and show that I can play well.

Eagles: Joel Barrett; Gareth Davies; Grant Farrow; Zac Hill; Daniel Williamson; John Crawford; Jack Malin; Steve Craven; Kyle Kesic (has been written as Kesick and Keswick previously and Keski !); Ryan Hepworth; James Worsley; James Morrow; Grant Edwards; Michael Roby; Ryan James; Chris Storey; Luke Holt.

Scorers: Tries - Joel Barrett(64); Gareth Davies(50); Grant Farrow(1,11,13,57); Zac Hill(5);John Crawford(18); Jack Malin(3); Steve Craven(8); Kyle Kesic(26,53); Ryan Hepworth(21,55);Grant Edwards(16); Michael Roby(75);Chris Storey(60). Goals: Crawford 8/9 ; Malin 5/7 ; Hill 1/1


Workington Town: Craig Dolan; Ben Fergusan; Lee Askew; Lee Jardine; Tom Armstrong; Scott Burgess; Miguel Blanco-Charters; Neil Blacklock; Jamie Sharp; Craig Dowling; Sean Flanagan; Ryan McClure; Scott Gorman; Weldon Sayman; Jamie Reay; Scott Wilson; John Harrison.

Scorers: Tries - Ryan McClure (22,70); Scott Burgess(46) Goals: Burgess 3/3

Substitutions: Only Eagles known - James for Craven on 21 mins; Craven for James @Half time; Roby for Williams @ Half time; Storey Malin on 48; Malin for Crawford on 53; Holt for Craven on 58; Crawford for Kesic on 63; James for Hepworth on 66; Hepworth for Morrow on 77. [9 interchanges of the 12]

Completion Rate: 1st half - 19 from 23 = 82.6%; 2nd half - 11 from 19 = 57.9%

Tackles : Note that Eagles did not make one tackle in the first 20 minutes, when the score was 50 nil.
Sheffield 79 Workington 118

Joel Barrett:8; Gareth Davies:0; Grant Farrow:11 ; Zac Hill:6 ; Daniel Williamson:0; John Crawford:9 ; Jack Malin:7 ; Steve Craven: 7 ; Kyle Kesic: 12 ; Ryan Hepworth:12 ; James Worsley:21 ;James Morrow:18 ; Grant Edwards:9 ; Michael Roby8 ; Ryan James:7 ; Chris Storey:5; Luke Holt:4
TOTALS: 144
 

Scrums: Sheffield (1) 5 Workington (9) 12

Eagles got their first scrum on 31 mins. 3 knock ons and 2 for man in touch
Workington scrums awarded for 7 knock-ons; 3 ball in touch; 1 man in touch; 1 forward pass.

Penalties: Sheffield (6) 15 Workington (2) 6

Sheffield Penalties awarded on: 7,10,13,15,25,26,43,43,57,57,61,61,66,66,77 minutes.
6 awarded for off side;2 high tackles; I holding down; 1 grapple tackle; 2 mouthing (extra 10 m awarded)1 ball not going 10m at restart; 1 double movement; 1 penalty taken incorrectly.
Workington: 22, 38, 42, 67, 77, 77 minutes
4 off side; 1 lifting; 1 incorrect play of the ball

Drop out: Workington on 26 minutes
Sin bin: Weldon Sayman on 51 minutes

BACK TO THE TOP

Leigh Centurions(22) 44 Sheffield Eagles (0) 6 (@ Hilton Park)

Match Stats

BACK TO THE TOP

Halifax(36) 62 Sheffield Eagles (0) 18 ( at Ovenden Park RUFC)

Ref J Asquith TJ I Jefferson TJ S Risdon

Eagles: Zak Hill; Neil Wall; Martin Brannan; Joel Barrett; Gareth Davis; John Crawford; Jack Malin; Ryan Hepworth; James Allen; Ryan James; Aaron Phelps; James Morrow; Grant Edwards; Ryan Swires; Craig Jones; James Worsley; Wayne Barnes.
Scorers: Tries: Edwards (57 minutes); Crawford (66); Ryan James on (70).Goals: Jack Malin 3/3

Scoring sequence:
1st half:6-0;12-0;18-0;22-0;28-0;32-0;36-0.
2nd half: 40-0;40-6;44-6;50-6;50-12;50-18;56-18;62-18

Times of tries (Eagles in red): 6;11;15;19;23;29;35;41;57;61;63;66;70;72;75.

Eagles also had try disallowed for foot in touch, Halifax had try awarded when they were tackled, knocked on, no 'Fax player celebrated and walked away for a turn over, touch judge kept with the play, ref from a long way away in the gloom called the TJ back to stand in the corner (sic) awarded a try. Bizarre.
 

Eagles Completion:
1st half 42.9% ( 6 in 14) Only had 10 sets in first 30 mins:  2nd half: 57% (8 in 14)
50% for the match

Tackle Count: (Tackles in blue)

Zak Hill-6; Neil Wall-12; Martin Brannan-15; Joel Barrett-15; Gareth Davis-5; John Crawford-26; Jack Malin-12; Ryan Hepworth-15; James Allan-16; Ryan James-8; Aaron Phelps-9; James Morrow-2; Grant Edwards-22; Ryan Swires-4; Craig Jones-8; James Worsley-17; Wayne Barnes-0.

Top tackles : Crawford 26 Edwards 22

Drop-out: Eagles on 39 mins

Penalty Count : Halifax (5) 6 Eagles (1) 3

Scrums: Halifax (4) 7 Eagles (3) 7

BACK TO THE TOP

Sheffield Eagles (4) 8 Keighley Cougars (6) 8

Ref  C Dean  TJ  J Seymour  TJ  A Sweet    Weather: Showery