Eagles Wheelchair - Bulls Wheelchair match report
21/03/2022
Sheffield Eagles 4
Bradford Bulls 110
Forge Valley Sports Centre, Saturday 19th March 2022, 2pm KO
Sheffield Eagles succumbed to a dominant Bradford Bulls side in the Wheelchair Rugby League Championship North, but not without a spirited performance which saw the Eagles field a full squad of players with game time shared as evenly as possible across the team.
Despite two early scores by Bradford through George Herd and Mike Knight, Sheffield showed their defensive steel keeping the visitors at pay for a solid quarter of an hour before Herd struck for his second and the floodgates opened to leave the Eagles trailing 0-50 at the break, although home side showed plenty of flair in attack, with Vicky Brooks making ground with some clever dummies and Chris Haynes punching some holes in the defensive line.
The Eagles' persistence paid off in the second half with Stephen Campbell adding his name to the scoresheet early in the first half, although Emma Pearson was off target with the conversion. Bradford continued to press, with Herd and Knight adding several further scores alongside Scott Pyrah and Sam Stebbings both securing a hat-trick each for the visitors.
“Although the score line might suggest otherwise, the team stepped up once again and showed vast improvements” said David Butler, who assisted with coaching on the day. “The most important thing is that the players love playing the game and getting stuck in and everyone did that today.
"We’ve had Jenny Pearson, Emma Pearson and Jack Johnson who have all made competitive debuts today and are all better for the experience.
"Bradford are a very good side and at times we found them out today and put them under pressure. We’ll continue to improve during the season and I am sure that elusive win is not far away.”
The Eagles Wheelchair team trains Monday nights at the Pearson Building, Sheffield Hallam University, 6.30pm to 8pm.
Sheffield Eagles
Shaun Orton, Lottie Davis-Browne, Stephen Campbell, Vicky Brooks, Chris Haynes. Interchanges: Will Brooks, Jenny Pearson, Jack Johnson, Emma Pearson, Stacey Roulson.
Tries: Stephen Campbell (47)
Goals: Emma Pearson 0/1
Bradford Bulls
Stephen Scott, Mike Knight, , George Herd, Scott Pyrah, Rhett Johnson. Interchanges: Aimee Beveridge, Sam Stebbings
Tries: George Herd (1, 20, 58, 61, 63, 72, 78), Mike Knight (4, 30, 33, 39, 56), Rhett Johnson (23, 44), Scott Pyrah (26, 27, 66, 79) Sam Stebbings (35, 41, 51)
Goals: Stephen Scott 8/12, Rhett Johnson 7/9
Match Officials: Grant Jackson & Richard Turner
