ALL STARS AND HOYLAND

HOYLAND VIKINGS (formed 1984) v SHEFFIELD EAGLES ALL STARS 1984 - 2004

JANUARY 16th 2005

ELSECAR CRICKET CLUB

Hoyland Vikings 24 Sheffield Eagles All-Stars 62

SHEFFIELD Eagles former players turned on the style to provide the entertainment and tries as they helped amateurs Hoyland Vikings mark their 20th anniversary in rugby league.An All-Stars side led by Eagles' coach Mark Aston ran in 12 tries as they beat the Pennine League side 62-24, in a celebration game. “It’s a big achievement 20 years for a club in South Yorkshire,” said Hoyland chairman Steve Creek. Hoyland first ran an under-18s side in 1984 and now has two open age teams and two junior sides. Steve added: “It’s getting hard to get people to play because we live in a different world from 1984. But we’ll keep going. It’s been a big day and there was a good crowd. We had two kids’ games in the morning and Mark Aston brought along a strong side. It’s been a good celebration and a good way to mark 20 years.”
The All-Stars included Matt Crowther, Dale Laughton, Waisale Sovatabua who helped the Eagles to the Challenge Cup win over Wigan Warriors, in 1998. Taking advantage of playing down the slope at the Vikings’ Elsecar ground the All-Stars made the early pace with tries from centre Richard Picksley and hooker Lee Bettinson before Hoyland hit back with a try from Karl Pearce, converted by Dave Parkin, who also added a penalty. Roy Rafferty and Bright Sodje both showed some of their old form with terrific bursts of speed down the wing and Sovabatua was always busy in the centre. Poynter was playing at full back and was making some excellent defensive plays to which the Eagles have become used to recently. Hoyland were not overawed by the occassion and showed enthusiasm in their play and did not allow the All Stars any freedom. The tackling was hard and committed and anyone who says there are friendly matches in Rugby League is sadly mistaken. Lee Bettinson was busy as hooker and with some quick burst managed to put Kellett into one of his favourite positions, with a power burst over the line, that was his trade mark as a prop for the Eagles, where he had a yard to go to score under the posts. Andy Tyers showed that he was fitter than he was 12 months ago and put in some strong runs along with Picksley sprinting down the left wing like the old days. Hoyland did well playing up the slope and there were several occasions when they came close to scoring only to be denied close to the line.
Winger Roy Rafferty kicked three goals and scored a try on 22 minutes to give the All-Stars a 22-6 lead, but Parkin scored a penalty with about 30 seconds to the break for Eagles had been guilty of holding down in the tackle. (I think it had more to do with old age than intent!)
In the second half Picksley, Bettinson, Rafferty each scored a second try. And two tries from Sovatabua plus one each from Bright Sodje and Ryan Rafferty, son of Roy, kept the Eagles ahead. Dale Laughton (1st local player who signed for Eagles - from Hoyland rivals Dodworth) was showing that he still could make many yards and looked fit and full of the old power running he used to do.He managed all 80 minutes without being substituted! The try by Sovabatua which put the score at 46 - 8 was made by Sodje who ran a full 100 yards diagonally across the pitch, uphill, and was eventually brought down inches from the Hoyland line. The ball
was played out from left to right for Sovabatua to just place the ball over the try line on the right hand side. Roy Rafferty kicked two more goals and Phil Cartwright and Ryan Rafferty one. Hoyland enjoyed a later flurry with tries from Nick White, Gareth Berry and Phil Hough with Parkin kicking two more goals.

Man of The Match for the All Stars was awarded to Andy Poynter

ALL STARS TEAM: Mark Aston (1986- present), Richard Picksley (1989-1992 & 1993-1996), Lee Bettinson (1999-2003), Roy Rafferty (1984-1986), Chris Robinson (1999-2001), Was Sovatabua (1995-1999), Bright Sodje (1994-1999 & 2000-2001 & 2004), Neil Kellett (1986-1991), Andy Poynter (2000-2004), Phil Cartwright (1988-1990), Mark Green(Alliance 1990s -over 100 appearances), Dale Laughton(1991-1999 & 2003) , Andy Young (1987-1993 & 1994-1996), Matt Crowther(1992-1999), Andy Tyers(1984-1985), Ryan Rafferty (Academy 2002)

Scoring Sequence:
Try:Picksley, Conv Missed by Roy Rafferty;Try:Bettinson,Conv Roy Rafferty; Try Hoyland(Pearce) Conv(Parkin); Try Roy Rafferty, Conv Roy Rafferty; Try Kellett, Conv Roy Rafferty;Penalty Hoyland(Parkin)
Half Time: All Stars 22 Hoyland 8
Try Poynter Conv Roy Rafferty; Try Picksley Conv Roy Rafferty; Try Sovabatua Conv missed Roy Rafferty; Try Roy Rafferty Conv missed Ryan Rafferty; Try Sovabatua Conversion missed Robinson; Try Bettinson Conversion Ryan Rafferty; Try Hoyland(White) Conv missed Parkin; Try Ryan Rafferty Conv missed Sovabatua; Try Hoyland( Berry -Eagles academy 2002-2003)Conv Parkin; Try Sodje Conv Cartwright, Try Hoyland (Hough) Conv Parkin.