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RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE 2005 MATCH REPORTS
Sheffield Hillsborough 16 Mansfield 10
Hawks fall short in heatwave:
Hillsborough Hawks lost 30 -
16 to Mansfield last Sunday and put their chances of progressing further
in the Conference competition in jeopardy. Due to a culmination of
holidays, injuries and unavailability, six players had to “back up” and
play two games in two days and this proved to be decisive.
The Hawks who could only field 16 players, led 16 – 14 with ten minutes
remaining. However, the home team’s rotation of 23 players took its toll
in sweltering conditions as they scored three late tries to take the
spoils. Ben Fairfax was outstanding on attack for the Hawks and bagged
two tries, whilst Bryn Evans scored a third and kicked two conversions.
Player-coach Gamel Kassim commented “ I can’t fault my guys for their
efforts today and my thanks go to the ones who played two games in two
days”. “It’s going to be tough to make the playoffs now, but certainly
not impossible”.
Derby City 45 Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks 24.........25th June 2005
Hawks push table toppers all the way
Hillsborough Hawks made Derby City work hard for the winning points
before going down 45 – 24 in the Rugby League Conference.
Derby, who are top of the North
Midlands league, were strong in attack and support play throughout the
game, scoring 8 tries in total. However, the Hawks kept themselves in
contention for three-quarters of the game and continued to compete to
the final whistle. Player-coach Gamel Kassim scored off the back of some
great work by Nathan Worton and Simon Anniss and the latter grabbed a
try of his own from short range just before the break. Mick Haigh added
to the Hawks tally after his power took him over the line with three
defenders in tow and they finished the scoring off when a half break by
Kassim found the unstoppable Worton for a well deserved try. Joe Barber
kicked 3 conversions and Vince Caldwell one.
Man of the Match award went to Player-Coach Gamel
Kassim in what was his last game before serving a 4-match suspension for
being sent off at Lincoln. Nathan Worton and Mick Haigh were by far the
best two forwards on the pitch, whilst Nathan Hall and Simon Anniss also
had impressive games.
The Hawks
Conference team are without a game this weekend,
but are back in action the following week when they travel to bottom
placed Mansfield.
Team: 1. Joe Barber
2. Mark Bray 3. Nathan Hall 4. Vince Caldwell 5. Liam Dryhurst 6. Gamel
Kassim 7. Roger Wood 8. Mick Haigh 9. Simon Anniss 10. Tom Denton 11.
Nathan Worton 12. Steve Burns 13. Lewis West 14. Chris Thompson 15. Nick
Wood
16. Simon Travis 17. Dave Edwards 18. Ivan Suarez 19. Bernie Landsbury
Tries:
Gamel Kassim, Mick Haigh, Simon Anniss, Nathan Worton: Goals Joe
Barber (3), Vince Caldwell (1)
Man of the match
Gamel Kassim
Worksop Sharks (14) 24 Hillsborough Hawks (10) 16 ......... 18th June 2005
Hillsborough Hawks
failed to cope with the extreme heat during Saturday’s Rugby League
Conference clash with Worksop Sharks and were eventually beaten 24 – 16.
Things started brightly for the Hawks and after a good
break by Dave Graham, player-coach Gamel Kassim crossed the line from
short range. Dan Gray converted the try to make the score 0 – 6 to the
away team who threatened to score again almost immediately through Mick
Haigh’s powerful effort. However, it was Worksop who scored the next try
after throwing the ball wide and outstripping the Hawks cover defence to
eventually score a converted try under the post. With the game around
half an hour old, the heat began to take its toll and the Hawks started
to struggle with the home team’s size advantage, which finally told just
before half time with Worksop scoring a try in the corner. The
conversion attempt was missed, giving a half-time score of 14 – 10.
Half time gave the Hawks a much needed break from
the scorching heat and this showed early in the second half when after
good work from Lewis West and Dave Graham, Mark Bray rounded three
defenders to score a try in the corner. Once again though the Hawks
started to struggle with the temperature and after losing Dave Graham
and Mark Bray through injury, Worksop capitalised with two quick-fire
tries taking the score to 20 – 10. A piece of individual brilliance by
young Scrum Half Roger Wood took the Hawks back to within a score as he
side-stepped his way through the defence and past the Fullback to score
a try, which was converted by Dan Gray. That was however, the last score
by the Hawks as they continued to struggle with the heat and the home
team scored a late try to give a final score of 24 – 16.
Player-Coach Gamel Kassim said “I was a little
disappointed with the final score but I just keep reminding myself that
this young side has a great future and shows improvement every time it
plays”. Man of the match went to winger Nick Wood for another solid
performance, whilst Lewis West and Dave Graham also impressed.
The Hawks face
another tough challenge this Saturday when they travel to league leaders
Derby City in search of much needed league points.
Team:
1. Bernie Landsbury
2. Mark Bray
3. Dave Graham
4. Vince Caldwell
5. Nick Wood
6. Dan Gray
7. Roger Wood
8. Tom Denton
9. Ben Gent
10. Mick Haigh
11. Lewis West
12. Adam Dukes
13. Gamel Kassim
14. Liam Dryhurst
15. Chris Thompson
16. Simon Travis
17. Mick Chadwick
Tries: Gamel Kassim, Mark Bray, Roger Wood:
Goals: Dan
Gray (2)
Man of Match: Nick Wood
Lincoln City Knights 42 Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks 22 ........ 11th June @ Lincoln
Jekyll & Hyde Hawks fail to make it 3 in a row
Hillsborough Hawks failed to display the same enthusiasm in defence that has been evident in the last two matches, going down 42 – 22 at Lincoln City Knights in the Rugby League Conference on Saturday. Tries from Mark Bray (2), Mick Haigh and Billy Glossop kept the Hawks in contention during the first half, but several missed tackles cost dearly and they went in at the break 20 – 18 down. Lincoln were first on the scoreboard in the 2nd half with a Penalty, but the Hawks replied almost immediately with a Matt Thomas try to tie the game up at 22 – 22 and it looked as if the score-athon would continue. However, ill discipline from Player-coach Gamel Kassim saw him dismissed after retaliating to an off the ball incident and with him went a lot of the teams attacking direction. The Hawks never regained their composure and Lincoln rattled up a further 20 points without reply to give a final score of 42 – 22 to Lincoln. Man of the match went to young Scrum Half Roger Wood, who is maturing into a confident and dynamic Halfback and once again Mark Bray showed fantastic speed and agility to grab his brace of tries.
Hawks are away again this Saturday when they travel to Worksop Sharks.
Team:
1. Matt Thomas
2. Mark Bray
3. Nathan Hall
4. Vince Caldwell
5. Nick Wood
6. Dan Gray
7. Roger Wood
8. Benjimin Araud
9. Billy Glossop
10. Mick Haigh
11. Lewis West
12. Adam Dukes
13. Gamel Kassim
14. Bernie Landsbury
15. Liam Dryhurst
16. Tom Denton
17. Dave Graham
18. Ivan Suarez
Tries – Mark Bray 2, Billy Glossop, Mick Haigh, Matt Thomas :
Goals –
Dan Gray 1
Man of the Match –
Roger Wood
Impressive Hawks make it two in a row - 4th June 2005 @ Hillsborough Arena
Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks 33 Thorne Moor Marauders 22
16 Year old Adam Dukes took the man of the
match award as Hillsborough Hawks beat much fancied Thorne Moor
Marauders 33 - 22, in a thrilling match at Hillsborough Arena on
Saturday in the Rugby League Conference.
The Hawks started the game as clear underdogs, but took full advantage
of Thorne’s over-confidence and rattled up 20 points without reply. Dan
Gray penalised the away team’s indiscretion in the first five minutes
through a penalty goal, which was followed up with a Vince Caldwell try
after some great approach work by Adam Dukes and Ben Gent. Dan Gray
converted to make the score 8 – 0. Enthusiastic defence by the home
team, coupled with some explosive running by props Dan Lynch and Mick
Haigh, started to take its toll on Thorne and once again the Hawk’s
broke down the right hand side, after Dan Gray evaded two tacklers to
set up Dukes for a second Hawks try. Gray converted once more, taking
the score to 14 – 0 and it wasn’t long before the Hawks were at it again
down the right-hand side with Lynch and Haigh making the initial inroads
and Dukes sliding through the defence to feed Caldwell for his second
try of the afternoon. Gray converted to take the score to 20 – 0 after
38 minutes, but Thorne had the last word of the half, scoring a
converted try after an uncharacteristic error by the home team gifted
them possession. Half time score 20 – 6.
The second half started in much the same fashion as the first, with Gray
kicking two more penalty goals for the Hawks before Thorne replied with
their second converted try of the afternoon to make the score 24 – 12.
However, disciplined defence kept the home team in command and although
Thorne managed to score two further tries, the Hawks kept the scoreboard
ticking over with two more penalties from Gray, a fourth try through Ben
Gent and a drop goal by Bryn Evans to give a final score of 33 – 22.
Commenting after the match, assistant coach Herb Gray said “The
inclusion of two experienced props like Dan Lynch and Mick Haigh gave us
the solidity we needed in the middle of the pitch and allowed the
younger guys to express themselves with the ball.” “It was an
outstanding team performance and the large home crowd acted almost like
a 14th man for us when things got a little tough”......
match photos
The Hawks try to make it 3 wins in a row when they travel to Lincoln
City Knights this Saturday.
Team: 1. Fullback – Joe Barber 2. Left Wing – Nick Wood 3. Left Centre – Steve Hunter 4. Right Centre – Vince Caldwell 5. Right Wing – Bernie Landsbury 6. Stand Off – Dan Gray 7. Scrum Half – Roger Wood 8. Prop forward – Dan Lynch 9. Hooker – Ben Gent 10. Prop forward – Mick Haigh 11. Second Row – Richard Allen 12. Second Row – Adam Dukes 13. Loose Forward – Tom Gray 14. Chris Thompson 15. Mick Heys 16. Billy Glossop 17. Simon Travis 18. Bryn Evans
Tries: – Vince Caldwell
(2), Ben Gent, Adam Dukes, Goals – Dan
Gray (8), Drop Goals - Bryn Evans (1)
Man of Match - Adam Dukes
Lucky 13 as Hawks run riot - 21st May 2005 @ Hillsborough Arena
Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks 66 Mansfield 22
Hillsborough Hawks Rugby League Conference
team produced an exciting 13-try display to beat a depleted, but
determined Mansfield team 66 – 22 on Saturday at Hillsborough Arena.
Elusive winger Mark Bray crossed the line 3 times and was electric
throughout the game, whilst Vince Caldwell, Nathan Hall and Benjimin
Araud bagged a brace each. Player-coach Gamel Kassim scored his second
try in as many games and Joe Barber, Matt Thomas, and Dan Gray all
crossed for a try apiece. Barber converted 6 of the tries and Dan Gray
one. Man of the match award went to Vince Caldwell for his direct
running, but the whole team gave an exciting performance and were
deserved winners.
Commenting on the team performance, Player-coach Gamel Kassim said “This
win has been on the cards for the last couple of weeks and at times we
showed some fantastic attacking ability”. “I was really impressed with
some of the younger guys like Mark Bray, Roger Wood and Tom Denton, but
it was also pleasing to see the maturity from some of the senior players
like Benjimin Araud and Simon Anniss, who both gave the team a guiding
influence”.
Team: 1. Joe Barber 2. Mark Bray 3. Nathan Hall (Capt) 4. Vince Caldwell 5. Nick Wood 6. Dan Gray 7. Gamel Kassim 8. Benjimin Araud 9. Ben Gent 10. Tom Denton 11. Richard Allen 12. Simon Travis 13. Billy Glossop 14. Roger Wood 15. Simon Anniss 16. Matt Thomas 17. Tom Archer
Player coach off as Hawks
lose - 7th May 2005
Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks 28 Derby City 50
It was a bitter-sweet return to
playing duties for player-coach Gamel Kassim who scored a try, but was
later sent off as the Hawks suffered their second consecutive Rugby
League Conference defeat at the hands of Derby, going down 50 – 28 at
Hillsborough.
The Hawks started strongly and were rewarded after only 4 minutes when
after some neat footwork, Kassim stretched out to score under the posts.
The try was converted into a six-point lead by Fullback Joe Barber,
who’s kicking throughout the afternoon was excellent. Derby then brought
the scores level after an attacking kick by the Hawks took an unlucky
rebound into an opposition player’s hands, who then went the length of
the field to score a try which was once again converted. The game, which
was being played at break-neck speed, then started to seesaw, with each
side scoring freely as the result of some impressive attacking work. Tom
Gray scored off a Kassim pass and Liam Dryhurst dived over in the
corner, only to be adjudged as dropping the ball in the act of touching
down. Derby replied with two tries in quick succession as the young
Hawks side once again struggled to match a more physical opposition
defensively and went in at half time 18 – 10 down.
A nightmare start to the second half by the Hawks resulted in Derby
scoring from the kick-off to stretch their lead to 14 points. However,
the pendulum swung once more as Dave Beever scorched through the defence
to score a try and signal his intent to regain a place in the club’s
National League 3 team. A touch-line conversion from Barber brought the
Hawks back to within two scores and when Captain Nathan Hall combined
with Beever and Kassim to score a try from a set-piece move, the large
home crowd could sense an upset on the cards. Another towering
conversion from the touch-line by Barber took the score-line to 24 – 22
in favour of Derby, but that was as close as the home team got to the
visitors, with the tide again changing in favour of the away team, who
scored four more converted tries to end this game as a contest. Centre
Vince Caldwell did manage a solo effort, which was converted by Barber
to give a final score of 48 – 28 to the visitors, but Player-coach
Kassim was given his marching orders for a high tackle with only 6
minutes of the game remaining.
Team manager Herb Gray said after the match “Once again we’re really
proud of our guys, who have shown some thrilling attacking play and
ordinarily we’d expect to win any game in which we scored 5 tries, so
our concentration this week will be on defensive responsibilities”. “The
sending off was a harsh one because the game was played in great spirits
and although the tackle was high, it was the first one of the game and
it wasn’t malicious”.
Team:1. Fullback – Joe Barber;
2. Left Wing – Liam Dryhurst;
3. Left Centre – Nathan Hall (Capt);
4. Right Centre – Vince Caldwell;
5. Right Wing – Nick Wood;
6. Stand Off – Dan Gray;
7. Scrum Half – Gamel Kassim;
8. Prop forward – Dan Finn;
9. Hooker – Ben Gent;
10. Prop forward – Ivan Suarez;
11. Second Row – Dave Beever;
12. Second Row – Adam Dukes;
13. Loose Forward – Tom Gray;
14. Substitute – Billy Glossop;
15. Substitute – Mark Bray;
16. Substitute – Simon Travis;
17. Substitute – Roger Wood;
Substitute – Mick Heyes
Youthful Hawks impressive in defeat - 30th April 2005
Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks 10 Worksop Sharks 24
Hillsborough Hawk’s Rugby League Conference team made an impressive start to their summer campaign, despite losing 24 – 10 at home to Worksop Sharks. Player-Coach Gamel Kassim commented “The score-line doesn’t reflect the way in which this game was played and I’m sure I will be the happier coach after today’s game”. The Hawks fielded a team consisting of 9 players under the age of 18, for most of whom it was their first taste of Rugby League. “It was an absolute treat to see the game played with such enthusiasm and the energy of these young guys rubbed off on some of the senior players as well”, said Coach Kassim. Worksop started the stronger of the two sides after disruption to the home team’s preparation and went in at the break 16 – 0 up. However, the second half saw this young Hawk’s team gradually get to grips with their much larger opponents and they started to play some expansive rugby. 16 year-old winger Mark Bray showed electric pace to break the opposition line, before Fullback Chris Thompson finished off with some fine footwork to score the Hawk’s first try. That took the score to 16 – 4 and it wasn’t long before the home team was at it again with impressive brothers Dan and Tom Gray combining to send super sub Matt Thomas in for a try, which was converted from the touchline by Dan Gray. With the score at 16 – 10 this was anybody’s game, but unfortunately the wet conditions struck and the Hawks twice surrendered possession early on in the tackle count and were punished by two late Worksop tries. Captain Nathan Hall led by example, whilst Hooker Ben Gent worked tirelessly, but the Man of the Match award was given to 18yr old Tom Gray for an outstanding performance in defence and attack.