Eagles Wheelchair cruise past Bedford
02/12/2023
Bedford Tigers 10 – 64 Sheffield Eagles
Saturday 2nd December, 2pm
University of Bedfordshire
Sheffield Eagles travelled to Bedford Tigers for a pre-Christmas friendly and to welcome the Tigers to the Wheelchair Rugby League, providing the opposition for their first ever encounter.
With members of England’s World Cup winning squad present and the World Cup Trophy itself on display and a crowd of interested locals, it was the Eagles talisman Stephen Reilly who opened the scoring with two quick fire tries, the latter converted by Shaun Orton.
The Tigers responded through Ireland international Rick Rodgers who also converted, but Reilly broke free again to score and Joe Wink-Simmonds was on target with the kick and shortly afterwards converted Chris Haynes’ try.
With the score 6-22 at half time, the game looked to go either way. Stuart Wilkinson crashed over for the Eagles early in the second half but could not convert his own kick and it wasn’t long before Rodgers was in again for the Tigers, although this time he could not add the extras.
April Brooks scored a nice solo effort before Stephen Reilly added his third and the Eagles put their foot down with Will Brooks scoring a cheeky try in the corner, Ben Simpson finding space under the sticks, with Will Brooks shortly afterwards collecting his sister April’s kick for a fine long range effort. Reilly closed out the game collecting Vicky Brooks’ long range kick and a closer range solo effort, with conversions being scored by Wink-Simmonds, Simpson and Will Brooks to rack up a 10-64 win for the Eagles.
Bedford Tigers
Skye Tranter, Pete Lauder, Cameron Allsop, Rick Rodgers, Mark Jones. Interchanges: Oliver Askew-Fountain, Jason Holloway, Trevor Molsey, Rob Ashton, Ben Robinson, Scott Robertson.
Tries: Beford Rick Rodgers (13, 49)
Goals: Rick Rodgers 1/2
Sheffield Eagles
Steve Reilly, April Brooks, Shaun Orton, Chris Haynes, Stuart Wilkinson. Interchanges: Julie Fimusanmi, Vicky Brooks, Joe Wink-Simmonds, Ben Simpson, Will Brooks.
Tries: Steve Reilly (1, 2, 18, 58, 77, 79) Chris Haynes (21), Stuart Wilkinson (42), April Brooks (55), Will Brooks (62, 76), Ben Simpson (69)
Goals: Shaun Orton 1/2, Joe Wink-Simmonds 4/4, Stuart Wilkinson 0/1, Stephen Reilly 0/1, Will Brooks 2/3, Ben Simpson 1/1,
Referees: Karli Wilkinson / Peter Johnston
Half Time: 6-22
