Match Reports

Read how the Eagles did in 2005

Eagles hopes of a place in the National Two promotion play-offs suffered a major blow after Swinton Lions beat them 38-14 at Don Valley Stadium, last Friday.

The Eagles must now win tonight's game against champions York City Knights, and Gateshead lose one of their last two games, to keep the vital sixth place in the league. Sheffield made an instant impact with two tries in five minutes but were then overpowered by a strong Swinton side.

Winger Carl DeChenu collected loose-forward Aled James's chip kick to touchdown on three minutes. Stand-off John Crawford put in a massive high kick which was collected by  second row Chris Molyneux whose pass sent in scrum half Jon Presley for the second try with Crawford adding the goal. Ten points ahead, but Swinton aided by a string of penalties took control of  possession with half-backs Lee Marsh and  Mick Coates and loose-forward Phil Joseph leading the fight back.

Swinton controlled the rest of the half with tries from winger Marlon Billy, loose-forward Phil Joseph, and centre Dave Lewellyn. Lee Marsh kicked two goals to send Swinton in 16-10 ahead. Swinton kept on the pressure after the restart and went further ahead with Billy claiming his second try on 47 minutes. Substiture forward Ian Parry was given a free run by the Eagles defence for a try under posts on 56 minutes.

The Eagles, with Presley and Gavin Brown in lively form and Rob Worrincy strong at fullback, hit back with a try for DeChenu on 59 minutes but any hope died when Marsh  followed up his own chip for a try on 68 minutes. Centre Lee Patterson scored Swinton's seventh try six minutes from time. Marsh finished with five goals for the Lions.

Eagles: Worrincy; Mills, Pearson, Turnbull, DeChenu; Crawford, Presley; Buckenham, Brentley, Morton, Molyneux, Craig Brown, James. Subs: Gavin Brown, Rice, Hurst, Tillyer.

Swinton: English; Oldham, Patterson, Lewellyn, Billy; Marsh, Coates; Whittaker, Crabtree, Heaton, Farrimond, Russell, Joseph. Subs: Watson, Muff, Smith, Parry.

Scorers.

Eagles - Tries: DeChenu 2, Presley. Goals: Crawford 1.

Swinton. Tries: Billy 2, Joseph, Lewellyn, Parry, Marsh, Patterson. Goals: Marsh 5.

Referee: Jamie Leahy (Dewsbury).

Attendance: 806.

Star man: Rob Worrincy a strong display at fullback
 

SHEFFIELD Eagles produced a battling display to beat London Skolars and weather some eccentric refereeing decisions along the way. Injuries saw the Eagles go into the game without  the experience of centre Lynton Stott and half-back Gavin Brown.

A combination of determined Sheffield defence and London mistakes helped them make the game safe in the first half with prop Simon Morton and hooker Liam Brentley producing strong performances. Coach Mark Aston said: "The lads who played showed a good attitude in the first 40 minutes and that's when the game was won. In the second half we didn't get chance to do anything because of the number of penalties against us."

"We changed a lot of things. Young Brentley came off and we put Crawford to nine, Crawford played at six, Nick Turnbull was back at centre, so there were a lot of changes but that's because we are down to 18 fit players."

The flow of the game wasn't helped by some over-fussy decisions by the officials, with the touch judges on the field more times than the water carriers in a second half that saw Eagles' players Morton and John Crawford spend spells in the sin bin. A try from fullback Greg Hurst gave the Eagles an early lead with stand-off John Crawford adding the goal. Hurst - who had his problems in defence but was powerful going forward - added a second try with a 25-metre run down the wing from a pass by centre Jimmy Pearson on quarter time.

Brentley raced in from acting half-back to score under the posts on 35 minutes with Crawford adding the goal to give the Eagles a 16-0 lead at half-time. London started the second half well and on 43 minutes second row Matt Pitman took a high ball to score their first try. Scrum-half Kurt Pittman added the goal.

Brentley restored the Eagles control with his second try on 56 minutes with loose-forward Aled James kicking the goal. Scrum-half Jon Presley added to the lead with a try following a break by Brentley on 64 minutes. London scored late tries from Mike Castle and sub Wayne Parillon with Kurt Pittman adding both goals either side of a try for Eagles' wingman Danny  Mills two minutes from time.

FACTFILE

Eagles: Hurst; Mills, Pearson, Turnbull, DeChenu; Crawford, Presley; Buckenham, Brentley, Morton, Molyneux, Craig Brown, James. Subs: Ryan Dickinson, Rice, Worrincy, Tillyer.

London Skolars: Coleman; Aggrey, Price, Aderiye, Simms; Meischke, Kurt Pittman; Smits, Sullivan, Gee, Jonker, Matt Pitman, Lane. Subs: DuToit; Joyce, Parillon, Castle.

Scorers/ Eagles - Tries: Hurst 2, Brentley 2, Presley, Mills. Goals: Crawford 2, James 1.

London - Tries: Matt Pitman, Castle, Parillon. Goals: Kurt Pittman 3.
 

Sheffield Eagles destininy is still in their own hands despite a heavy  defeat in their play off four pointer at Gateshead Thunder yesterday.  The rejuvenated Tynesiders replaced the Eagles in the sixth and final play off spot but have to travel for their last two games to basement club  London Skolars and Hunslet Hawks.

Sheffield by contrast have three games left - at home to London, Swinton  Lions and newly crowned champions York City Knights.  Mark Aston's side will be looking for home comforts after defeat at  Workington was followed by a 41-18 mauling at the Thunderdome.

Apart from the second quarter when the Eagles fought back from an early 12-0 deficit Thunder were in the ascendency. No longer the National League whipping boys Gateshead's expansive game and  hard working pack gave them a convincing first win over fellow phoenix  club Sheffield.

The Eagles saw little of the ball in the opening quarter as Thunder poured  forward with scrum half Chris Birch converting his own 4th minute try.  Australian hooker Scott Collins then scored the first of a double against  his former club before Sheffield finally came to terms with a determined  Gateshead and the searing heat. Simon Tillyer powered over in the tackle and then quick hands put Danny  Mills over in the corner when Gateshead were down to 12 men.  Trailing 12-8 at the break there was all to play for but the Eagles replicated their sluggish start to the first period and paid the price as  a rampant Thunder ran in three converted tries in the first eight minutes.  On loan York playmaker Neil Thorman proved the catalyst as Alex Rowe, Wade Liddell and centre Kevin Neighbour all breached a porous Sheffield defence.

 At 30-8 the contest was over and second half tries from prop Chris Molyneux and sub Greg Hurst proved no more than consolations for an  increasingly indisciplined Eagles.  Tillyer was sin binned for needlessly punching the prostrate Aaron Lewis and then, after Thunder prop Rob Line had completed the try scoring, the  game erupted in the last minute.  Eagles centre Lynton Stott landed blows on Thunder's Australian stand off  Mike Hobbs and a mass brawl by the corner flag ensued.  The unsavoury incident, which spilt on to the athletics track, was put on  report by Huddersfield referee Colin Morris after Stott and Hobbs had both received the red card.

Sheffield Eagles: Crawford, Mills, A.Dickinson, Stott, De Chenu, G.Brown, Presley, Buckenham, Brentley, Molyneux, S.Dickinson, C.Brown, James Subs: (all used) R.Dickinson, Morton, Hurst, Tillyer

Referee: Colin Morris (Huddersfield)

Att: 371

Eagles Star Man: Chris Molyneux

Report reproduced with kind permission from Jeff Bowron
 

THE Eagles might have been the last team to win at Workingtons Derwent Park, but 13 months have passed since that home reversal for the West Cumbrians. And really there wasn¹t much doubt that Town would maintain their unbeaten home sequence this season.

Although Eagles started brightly enough, they were out-fought upfront as Town won the battle of the packs. The victory pushed Town towards their target of finishing second in National League Two behind champions elect York City Knights, but for Mark Aston's men theres still work to be done to fashion one of the final places in the play-offs.

Although stand-off Gavin Brown and hooker Liam Brentley tried to be creative for the Eagles, the visitors were closed down by a keen-tackling Workington side. It might have been different if the Eagles had scored from their first serious assault on the Workington line. Jon Presley¹s kick through for the corner slipped agonisingly away from the outstretched hands of winger Carl de Chenu as he hurled himself in aerial pursuit of the ball.

Town responded by setting up an attack on the Sheffield line and prop John Tuimaualuga gave Jonny Limmer the pass to dive over the line for the opener. Jon Roper converted. Sheffield stayed in the game by levelling the scores. Gavin Brown made a neat break from his own 22-metre line and had good support from Alex Dickinson who forced his way downfield before finding Presley backing up. The scrum-half took the pass and raced the last 30 metres to score the try which John Crawford converted.

Town had more of the territory and the possession, and scrum-half Tane Manihera restored Town¹s lead when he dived over for the second try which Roper again improved.
Sheffield rather lost their way in the last ten minutes of the half and turned round 24-6 behind.
There was more determination from the Eagles in the second half, but practically all their best work was in defence. Town winger Matthew Woodcock managed to get the ball down by the posts despite the attentions of two tacklers and Workington scored their sixth try in the 69th minute.
But seven minutes from time Sheffield capitalised on a rare Workington mistake and winger de Chenu darted down the touchline to score in the corner.

Workington: Sione, Woodcock, Frazer, Roper, Wilson, Kiddie, Manihera, Cox,  Limmer, Tuimaualuga, Vaughan, Campbell, Dean. Subs: Robinson, McGuinness, Beaumont, Lavulavu.

Eagles: Crawford, Hurst, A Dickinson, Stott, de Chenu, G Brown, Presley, Buckenham, Brentley, Molyneux, Turnbull, C Brown, S Dickinson. Subs: Pearson, Rice, Tillyer, Lynch.

Eagles scorers: Tries - Presley, de Chenu; Goal - Crawford.

Referee: Jamie Leahy, Dewsbury.

Crowd: 866.
 

SHEFFIELD Eagles play-off hopes took a tumble as they stumbled to a home defeat by Hunslet Hawks. The Eagles looked set to power to a win early in the second half as Hunslet were hit by injuries to three key players. They came within four points of the Hawks after Greg Hurst's second try but could not raise their game and kick-on.

In the first 40 minutes the sides slugged it out with the lead changing constantly. Hunslet took the lead after three minutes with a penalty kicked by hooker Jamie Wray. Sheffield hit back on six minutes with John Presley and Lynton Stott setting up a try for hooker Liam Brentley. Crawford added the goal.

Poor defence on the Sheffield line allowed Hunslet to retake the lead with a try from prop Lee Williamson with Wray adding the goal. A sweeping move ended with Alex Dickinson providing the final pass for winger Greg Hurst to dive in at the corner for a try to put the Eagles back ahead at 10-8.

Hunslet lost the influential Mark Moxon but got the boost of a try from centre Anthony Gibbons to take back the lead. A 30-metre break by Stott sent in Aled James and Crawford added the goal to send the Eagles back into the lead on 24 minutes but five minutes later Chris Redfearn burst through to level the scores and Wray's goal took Hunslet ahead.

A missed tackle allowed Chris North to force his way over to give Hunslet a 22-16 lead at half-time. On his last game for the Eagles before returning to Otley rugby union, Waisale Sovatabua scored the first try after the break. Hunslet came back again with a second try for Redfearn and with Wray's conversion edged out the lead to six points.

Hurst's 30-metre break for his second try on 62 minutes gave the Eagles  hope. They dominated possession and pounded the Hunslet line but were unable to control the midfield. Second row Nick Turnbull came the closest to the vital try but failed to ground the ball. A gritty Hunslet, led by former Eagles second rower Wayne Freeman, held out and a try by Mark Shickell on 79 minutes with the goal by Wray sealed the win.

Factfile
 Eagles: Crawford; Hurst, Dickinson, Stott, DeChenu; Gavin Brown, Presley;  Howieson, Brentley, Lynch, Craig Brown, Turnbull, James. Subs: Tillyer, Rice, Sovatabua, Molyneux.

Hunslet: Raynor; Watson, Anthony Gibbons, North, Brent; Bastow, Moxon; Staveley, Wray, Williamson, Freeman, Andy Shickell, Redfearn. Subs: Cass, Mark Shickell, Cook, Carbutt.

Scorers:

Eagles. Tries: Hurst 2, Brentley, James, Sovatabua. Goals Crawford 2.

Hunslet. Tries: Redfearn 2, Williamson, Anthony Gibbons,  North, Mark Shickell. Goals: Wray 5.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield)

Attendance: 846
 

SHEFFIELD Eagles produced a strong second-half comeback to keep their revival going against Workington Town  to claim their third straight win. They have to thank Anglo-Australian John Crawford who was switched from fullback to stand-off and scored two tries.

Playing at Woodbourn Athletics Stadium - because Don Valley is ruled out by  maintenance work - the Eagles struggled for much of the game. Workington's pack dominated and with scrum-half Tane Manihera buzzing the Cumbrian's  held a 24-12 lead early in the second half. But coach Mark Aston  brought on the experienced  Lynton Stott at fullback, switched Crawford and pepped-up the pack by sending winger Greg Hurst into the second row.

Aston said: "I thought we were very poor. We were lucky to come away with the result.We've got three (wins) back-to-back and again we showed a lot of character to hang in there because at 24-12 we could have died."

Town went into the lead after three minutes when Manihera's pass sent in centre Neil Frazer for the first try. But a well-worked move by Jon Presley and Gavin Brown gave loose-forward Sean Dickinson the opening to level the scores and Crawford's conversion put the Eagles ahead. Crawford produced a weaving run for the Eagles second try and added the goal for a 12-6 lead.

Poor tackling allowed Workington to hit back with tries from winger John Woodcock and hooker Jonny Limmer. Two conversions from John Roper and a penalty gave Town a 18-12 lead at half-time. That was soon 24-12 with a Manihera try and Roper goal soon after the  restart.

But approaching three-quarter time, centre Waisale Sovatabua blasted through, Crawford got his second and added both goals to level the score.A Gavin Brown drop goal edged the Eagles ahead and winger James Ford, on loan from Featherstone, and Crawford's fifth goal extended the lead to 31-24. Limmer's second try of the game, four minutes from time, set up a frantic finish but the Eagles held out.

FACTFILE

Eagles: Crawford; Worrincy, Sovatabua, Alex Dickinson, Ford; Gavin Brown, Presley; Howieson, Brentley, Lynch, Turnbull, Craig Brown, Sean Dickinson.Subs: Hurst, Tillyer, Stott, Morton.

Workington: Wilson; Woodcock, Frazer, Johnson, Chilton; Kiddie, Manihera; Beaumont, Limmer, Tuimauluga, Vaughan, Miller, Roper. Subs: Robinson, McGuinnes, Lavulavu, Armstrong.

Scorers: Eagles - Tries: Crawford, 2,  Sean Dickinson, Sovatabua, Ford. Goals:Crawford 5. Drop Goals: Brown G 1.

Workington: Limmer 2, Frazer. Woodcock, Manihera. Goals: Roper 4.

Half-time: Eagles 12 Workington 18

Referee: Paul Carr (Dewsbury)

Attendance 650.

Star man: John Crawford.
 

SHEFFIELD Eagles produced a superb display to stun joint National League Two leaders Dewsbury Rams in a pulsating game at Tetley's Stadium.

New signings John Presley, at scrum half, and speedy winger James Ford had impressive games with the latter running in a brace of tries on his debut. Gavin Brown orchestrated play from stand-off, while full back John Crawford capped a fine display with a long-range try. But it was in the forwards where Sheffield won the game, constantly bursting holes in the Rams defence.

Even when the Rams produced a thrilling second half fightback, Sheffield remained firm and had enough left in them to snatch victory with a try 11 minutes from full-time, before Gavin Brown sealed the points with a last-minute drop goal.

Coach Mark Aston was delighted with the display, saying: "The first half was the best we have played this season. We had a tough time, losing four games on the trot, but I saw the win over Gateshead as the turning point and this win is great for us. We were solid in defence and produced some good stuff and I thought for the first 38 minutes we were excellent. Dewsbury are a good side and with players like Ryan Sheridan, Francis Maloney and Warren Jowitt we knew they would come back strongly but our attitude was great and we ground out the result."

The Eagles led 18-6 at half-time and extended their advantage within a minute of the re-start before  Dewsbury fought back to level at 24-24. The Rams looked to have taken the lead when Sheridan's  huge bomb was spilled into the in goal area and Leon Williamson pounced to touch down only for his effort to be disallowed for offside after the intervention of a touch judge.  It proved the turning point as the Eagles gained a second wind and after Waisale Souatabua had been tackled close to the line the powerful centre barged his way over for a 69th minute try which Gavin Brown converted and the  tand-off capped an excellent win with a drop goal in the final minute.

The Eagles played some neat passing rugby early on and deservedly took the lead when Damien Lynch collected an Aled James offload to score next to the posts. Crawford landed the conversion and added a penalty goal soon after. Quick passing tore Dewsbury's defence apart as Ford raced in for two tries in the space of three minutes and with Crawford adding the extras to the latter, Sheffield led 18-0.

Anthony Thewliss pulled a try back before half-time which Maloney converted but just a minute into the second half, Sheffield extended their lead to 24-6 as Crawford collected a Gavin Brown offload and raced 60-yards, rounding full-back Darren Rogers and his way to the line for a try which he also goaled. Dewsbury battled back and from Maloney's neat chip to the corner, winger Ian Preece outjumped the defence to collect and plant the ball down despite Eagles claims he had stepped in touch in the process. Maloney added an excellent touchline goal to kick start the Rams' fightback.  Maloney then latched on to a chip over the top by Kurt Rudder to score before Sheridan dummied his way to the line with Maloney's two conversions levelling matters at 24-24.

Dewsbury looked favourites to snatch an unlikely win but Sheffield dug deep to claim a vital victory to the delight of their small but vociferous band of supporter.


Dewsbury
Rogers; Williamson, Hall, Crouthers, Preece; Maloney, Sheridan; J Walker, Chapman, Jowitt, Bretherton, Seal, Rudder. Subs (all used): Mycoe, Kelly, Thewliss, Hicks.

Eagles
Crawford; Worrincy, Souatabua, A Dickinson, Ford; G Brown, Presley; Howieson, Brentley, Lynch, Molyneux, C Brown, James. Subs (all used): Hurst, Tillyer, S Dickinson, Morton.
details

Scorers
Rams: Tries -Thewliss (34), Preece (55), Maloney (57), Sheridan (64); Goals - Maloney 4 from 5.
 
Eagles: Tries - Lynch (15), Ford (24, 27), Crawford (41), Souatabua (69); Goals - Crawford 4 from 5, G Brown 1 from 1; Drop-goal - G Brown.

Eagles Star Man: James Ford (Two tries on an impressive debut).

Attendance: 988.
 

SHEFFIELD Eagles blasted back to winning ways after five defeats - in five minutes. In that time the Eagles scored three tries and completely demoralised an impressive Gateshead side at Don Valley.

Coach Mark Aston said: "Not at any stage was I worried. I thought our defence was outstanding. The attitude of the players was outstanding and before the game I felt they were ready to play."

Gateshead had made the running for most of the first half and led by eight points. Then on 29 minutes it was all change as centre Lynton Stott broke on the right and passed to winger Carl De Chenu who somehow squeezed in by the  corner flag. A second try followed as Gavin Brown's towering kick was collected by De Chenu who touched down and with fullback John Crawford kicking the goal the Eagles were ahead.

Scrum-half Jon Presley, on loan from Featherstone raced in for the Eagles'  third try. Crawford kicked the goal and added a penalty just before half-time for an 18-8 lead. But had started the stronger and taken the lead on 13 minutes when Chris  Birch kicked an easy penalty.

On 25 minutes when second row Tabua Cakacaka touched down for a try and  Birch added the goal. If there were any doubts that at 18-8 ahead at half-time the Eagles had the  game won they disappeared soon after the break. The Eagles extended their lead on 45 minutes when hooker Liam Brentley  capped an outstanding bustling display by using sheer power to force his way  with a 10 metre drive. Crawford added the goal.

Eagles Simon Tillyer was sent to the sin bin on 51 minutes after a clash with Rob Line. Crawford scored a deserved try with a well-timed angled run from Nick  Turnbull's pass on 55 minutes and added the goal.
Gateshead had to settle for a Mike Hobbs try following a 25 metre run from  the base of the scrum on 62 minutes and a final minute try from Liam  Garside. Birch converted Hobbs's try. The game ended early for Collins and DeChenu after the former team mates  were sin binned for a clash on 70 minutes.


Eagles: Crawford; Worrancy, Sovatabua, Stott, DeChenu; Gavin Brown, Presley;  Howieson, Brentley, Molyneux, Turnbull, Craig Brown, James. Subs: Hurst,  Tillyer, Dickinson, Lynch.

Gateshead: Neighbour; Peers, Liddell, Firth, Brown; Stringer, Birch, Line,  Collins, Day, Cakacaka, Garside, Burley. Subs: Hobbs, Barnes, Pierce, St Bernard.

Scorers:

Eagles - Tries: deChenu 2, Preseley, Brentley, Crawford. Goals:  Crawford 5.

Gateshead - Tries: Cakacaca, Hobbs, Garside.  Goals: Birch 3.

Referee: Craig Holloran, (Dewsbury)

Attendance: 764
 

THE Eagles produced another baffling performance in the defeat at Hunslet Hawks. After looking like they were about to power on to a second win in the league the Eagles let another game slip away.

Hunslet were no great shakes but when given long periods of possession, gifted penalties, that ensured good field position, they did the business. After taking a 12-4 lead midway through the first half the Eagles did a quick-change act and slipped back into all their bad habits. But for nearly 30 minutes at Hunslet it looked as if the corner had been turned.

Waisale Sovatabua rolled back the years on his return to rugby league and was in the thick of the action at loose-forward and loan signing Jon Presley gave a fresh buzz to the half-backs. After going behind to a try by winger Calvin Watson on seven minutes the Eagles hit back in style. Presley produced a tricky break 15 metres out from the Hunslet line before back-from-injury second rower Craig Brown burst on to his short pass to crash over for a try. John Crawford added the goal.

A second try soon followed created by a cheeky opportunist run by hooker Liam Brentley that took him 35 metres through a stunned Hunslet defence before he passed inside to the supporting Presley to cross the line. Again Crawford added the goal.

Then another Eagles took over. Tackles were missed, penalties were given away and Hunslet were allowed to take control. The Hawks levelled the scores with a try from Andrew Shickell and a goal and penalty from Jamaine Wray. The game was lost in a ten minute spell leading up to half time with tries for Hunslet from Chris North and David Gibbons and a Wray goal for a 22-12 lead.

Less than a minute after the restart Watson got his second try and completed his hat-trick on 66 minutes. For the Eagles the second 40 minutes are only memorable for a yellow card for Sovatabua and Hunslet's Nick Staveley for fighting with the incident put on report by referee Jamie Leahy. There was a scare when fullback Crawford was knocked unconscious by a high tackle and then crashed to the ground by Hunslet's Antony Gibbons. He was taken off on a stretcher but recovered and will have checks later this week. Gibbons was put on report.

Referee Leahy, who had been a model of inactivity as the game became increasingly fractious. finally took definite action on 76 minutes by red carding Hunslet's prop Marc Shickell for violent play.


Hunslet:

Raynor; Watson, Antony Gibbons, Cummins, North; Moxon, David Gibbons; Marc Shickell, Wray, Coyle, Freeman, Andrew Shickell, Redfern. Subs: Cass, Staveley, Cook, Bastow.


Eagles:

Crawford; Worrincy, Stott, Breakingbury, DeChenu; James, Presley; Howieson, Brentley, Lynch. Turnbull, Craig Bown, Sovatabua. Subs: Pearson, Sean Dickinson, Rice, Morton.

Scorers:

Hunslet - Tries Watson 3, Andrew Shickell, North, David  Gibbons.Goals: Wray 3.

Eagles - Tries: Craig Brown, Presley. Goals: Crawford 2.


Referee: Jamie Leahy (Dewsbury)

Attendance: 323.

Sent off: Marc Shickell (Hunslet).
Sin binned Sovatabua (Eagles), Staveley(Hunslet).

Starman: Rob Worrancy - the wingman was always a danger but needed betterservice.
 

THIS was the Eagles worst result ( and performance) since the formation of  the two-division LHF Healthplan National League. York enjoyed a field day as the Eagles conceded 11 tries - all but one
through their left-side defence. Mind there wasn't much defending in evidence.

Coach Mark Aston tried desperately to patch over the cracks with substitutions and switch players but it had little effect. "Today we just looked clueless.We went behind and then we didn't look able
to get out of it - that's a concern," he said grimly.

After a bright early period the Eagles slid into a nightmare. The only consolation was that it was away at York's Huntington stadium.Vital one-on-one tackles were missed and penalties (11 to York three to the Eagles in the game) gifted to the home side adding to the pressure. Organisation disappeared and York were allowed to showboat as they dominated possession.

An early penalty gave York position to set up the first try after four minutes from centre Dan Potter with Paul Thorman adding the goal. It was still a contest with props Damien Lynch and Jack Howieson taking the ball up well and Jimmy Pearson was producing some break-opening short passes for Andy Rice. Scrum-half John Crawford was starting to show a kicking game and the Eagles levelled the scores on ten minutes.

Lynch almost powered his way over under the posts but was held. Acting half-back Gareth Stanley produced a perfect pass out for second row Nick Turnbull - the Eagles most impressive performer -  to run on and twist through tackles and over the line. Crawford added the goal. Then the Eagles defence went into self-destruct mode. Winger Peter Fox went over wide left for the first of his four tries on 16 minutes. High kicks were totally misjudged as the Eagles defenders on the left gifted
soft tries for Fox and Levy with Fox completing his hat-trick of tries five minutes from the break. Forman's penalty and two more conversions made it 28-6 at half-time.

The second half opened with disaster as Greg Hurst, on at fullback,  misjudged a high kick and presented Fox with his fourth try after five minutes. Hurst looked downcast but battled on to finish the Eagles' best move of the half involving Stanley, Jaymes Chapman and Aled James for a 74th minute try. Jonny Liddell, Levy with his second, John Smith, Jim Elston and Simon Friend  brought the York try count to 11 - all scored on the Eagles left side, except Elston's 60 metre solo effort. Forman's goal total moving up to eight by the hooter.

York: Liddell; Fairfield, Potter, Law, Fox; Thorman, Levy; Smith, Jackson, Sullivan, Ward, Kirke, Paterson. Subs: Elston, Callaghan, Friend, Sozi.

Eagles: Stott; DeChenu, Veamatahua, Alex Dickinson, Mills; Pearson, Crawford; Howieson, Stanley, Lynch, Turnbull, Rice, James. Subs: Hurst, Sean Dickinson, Pitt, Chapman.

Scorers: York - Tries: Fox 4, Levy 2, Potter, Liddell, Smith Elston, Friend. Goals: Thorman 8.

Eagles - Tries: Turnbull, Hurst. Goals: Crawford 1.

Referee: Jamie Leathy (Dewsbury)

Attendance: 1, 596.
 

THE changing room door stayed firmly shut as Sheffield Eagles players dissected their shock defeat by Blackpool Panthers. For nearly 30 minutes after the hooter the Eagles players faced the reality of a disjointed performance that saw them slip to defeat in their first home league game of the season.

For the Panthers it was their first win in the LHF Healthplan League but early in the game the result looked to be going the other way. Sheffield started well with scrum-half Gavin Brown and loose-forward Aled James bringing the forwards in to the game. Prop Jack Howieson, back after missing six games with a knee injury, was taking the ball up well and looking strong.

The Eagles took the lead on 13 minutes following an interception by fullback Lynton Stott who race 60 metres before being caught. But the Eagles kept the pressure high and second-row Nick Turnbull raced on to Gavin Brown's short pass to crash over with Brown adding the goal. Blackpool came back with a penalty kicked by stand-off Liam Bretherton on 16 minutes.

Scrum-half Martin Gambles was starting to buzz and giving the Panthers a sparkle and urgency the Eagles lacked. Blackpool were dominating possession and enjoyed their best spell leading up to taking the lead on 31 minutes. Again the try came from an interception with centre Glenn Godbee latching on to a John Crawford pass before running 80 metres to touch down under the posts. Bretherton added the goal.

Winger Carl DeChenu came close to restoring the Eagles lead but was forced into touch near the corner flag and Blackpool finished the half stronger and 8-6 ahead. The problems mounted for the Eagles on 47 minutes when loose-forward Danny Barton took Gambles' short pass and went on a curving run that took him through the Eagles' line to score the try. Breatherton added the goal. Gambles should have sealed the game on 67 minutes from Bretherton's pass but he dropped the ball over the try line.

The Eagles had spells of possession and were making the hard yards but lacked a cutting edge and never looked like saving the game. Too often they were reduced to playing one-man rugby in a desperate attempt to break down a strong Blackpool defence. Hope came briefly on 74 minutes when prop Chris Molyneux crashed over the line but failed to ground the ball cleanly.


Eagles: Stott; Mills, Alex Dickinson, Veamatahau, DeChenu; Crawford, Gavin Brown; Howieson, Stanley, Molyneux, Turnbull, Craig Brown, James. Subs:Hurst, Brentley, Sean Dickinson, Lynch.

Blackpool: Watts; Arnold, Godbee, Kilgannon, Rourke; Bretherton, Gambles; Martin, Roden, Hill, Chamberlain, Smith, Barton. Subs: Ramsdale, Parry, Omesher, Jones.

Scorers: Eagles - Tries: Turnbull. Goals Gaving Brown 1. Panthers - Tries: Godbee, Barton. Goals: Bretherton 3.

Referee: P Carr (Castleford)

Attendance: 727
 

Sheffield Eagles opened their LHF Healthplan National League Two campaign in style with a resounding 10-try demolition of London Skolars at New River Stadium.

The fans that braved the long Bank Holiday trip to the capital were rewarded with an Easter feast of attacking rugby, as both sides took advantage of the pleasant conditions. The Eagles got off to the worst possible start when they sent the kick-off out on the full and, from the resulting penalty, Kurt Pittman broke through to lay on a try for Tim Gee.

Sheffield soon responded though, when Craig Brown crashed through some weak tackling to score, and two tries in as many minutes midway through the first half opened up a 12-point lead for the visitors.

Liam Brentley made a break from dummy half that resulted in John Crawford going over by the posts, and then Andy Rice and Adrian Veamatahau combined for Carl de Chenu to score his first try.

Gee grabbed his second shortly before the break to close the gap, but Aled James restored the gap early in the second half. Ashley Tozer replied for London but three Sheffield tries in six minutes effectively killed the game as a contest. Nick Turnbull powered his way through three would-be tacklers to score before sub Sean Dickinson crossed, and Veamatahau again supplied the pass for de Chenu to get his second try of the afternoon.

Matt Pitman scored two tries, either side of Danny Mills' simple run in to the corner for the Eagles, to give the scoreline some respectability but two further Sheffield tries sealed an excellent victory. Veamatahau finally got his name on the score sheet with three minutes remaining and Gavin Brown brought up the half century with the seventh of his eight conversions, before Crawford pounced on Brown's well-weighted grubber kick for his second try.

Scorers:

London: Tries: T Gee (2), Tozer, M Pittman (2) Goals: T Gee (3)

Eagles: Tries: Crawford (2), James, Mills, C Brown, Turnbull, Veamatahau, De Chenu (2), S Dickinson.  Goals: G Brown (8)

Attendance: 200