Eagles Wheelchair defeated by Dundee
04/04/2022
Sheffield Eagles 4
Dundee Dragons 88
Forge Valley Sports Centre, Sunday 2nd April, 2pm
Dundee Dragons were rewarded for their 650 mile round trip with a 4-88 victory over Sheffield Eagles. In the interest of fair play, the game was played 4v4 to accommodate a late withdrawal to illness by Dundee player Siggy Ahmed and, under no compulsion to do so and facing a team packed with Scotland internationals, the Eagles side were keen to maintain the high off-field standards and inclusive culture that has seen the side earn the respect of its opposition at each game it has played, despite results not going the club’s way.
It was one-way traffic in the first half with Dundee racking up a 0-44 lead with David Birtles the star player for the visitors, securing four tries whilst each of his teammates added a brace each to the score sheet.
Despite the onslaught, the Eagles showed some defensive flare, adapting to the additional space well with David Butler and Vicky Brooks both slowing the defensive effort down through quick pace from the marker position and Lottie Davis-Browne showing her speed to make some last ditch tackles to slow the pace of the Dragons.
Will Brooks’ introduction added some attacking pace, but the Eagles struggled at times to create an overlap and create the tempo in attack to exploit the gaps.
It was a dream start to the second half as Stacey Roulson caught the defence napping in the Eagles first attacking set, collecting Vicky Brooks’ kick to get the Eagles off the mark, which pleased the Eagles supporters.
Vicky Brooks was off target with the conversion and the Eagles went back into defensive mode as Birtles showed his skills to add a further four tries to his name, with Cadyn Thomson adding a further brace and Graeme Stewart a further try to complete the rout at, but as with the first half, the Eagles showed their potential with Jenny Pearson taking the ball on some difficult to defend angles and some clever last tackle kicks from Emma Pearson to reduce the pace of the game and turn the Dundee side around at their own line.
Sheffield Eagles Director of Rugby Mark Aston, watching his first of the club’s Wheelchair games, addressed the players with words of encouragement after the game and reminded them that their efforts will pay off in the long term.
“Don’t lose the faith” he told them. “It takes time to build a club and you’re doing everything right, but you can only get experience by playing and training together and that takes time. The results will come, stick at it and keep enjoying it!”
Sheffield Eagles
Vicky Brooks, David Butler, Shaun Orton, Stacey Roulson. Interchanges: Will Brooks, Lottie Davis-Browne, Jack Johnson, Stephen Palin-Campbell, Emma Pearson, Jenny Pearson.
Tries: Stacey Roulson (41)
Goals: Vicky Brooks 0/1
Dundee Dragons
Jay Anderson, David Birtles, Graeme Stewart, Cadyn Thomson.
Tries: Cadyn Thomson (1, 24, 47, 64) David Birtles (3, 12 , 23, 31, 45, 55. 59, 61) Graeme Stewart (5, 10, 69) Jay Anderson (7, 26)
Goals: 10/17
