Match Report | Midlands Hurricanes 16-30 Sheffield Eagles
19/02/2024
Sheffield Eagles ran in six tries as they secured a place in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Quarter Final with a 16-30 win at Midlands Hurricanes.
After scoring five times in the first-hour, Midlands responded with three tries in the space of fifteen minutes to give the Eagles a late scare, but a late Matty Marsh try secured a fourth successive victory in all competitions for Mark Aston’s side which sees us advance into the final eight of the competition.
The Eagles took an early lead against their League One opponents at the Alexander Stadium, scoring after only four minutes. After an attack down the left edge, Marsh stepped away from two Midlands defenders before going over to score his third try of the season.
Cory Aston added the extras with the boot, the first of three conversions from six attempts for the afternoon.
It didn’t take long for Aston’s side to double their lead as the Eagles spread the ball towards the right edge, before Marsh’s short-ball played in Ryan Millar for a stroll-in try to double the lead.
The Eagles led 0-14 at the break as Bayley Liu managed to find his way over the white-wash to score seven minutes before the break after Matty Dawson-Jones was originally held-up on the previous tackle.
In the second half, two tries in the space of four minutes extended the Eagles’ lead even further as a Kyle Wood short ball was met by Oliver Roberts, who powered his way over from close-range to score underneath the posts, before centre Ryan Johnson reached out to score in the corner minutes later.
The hosts weren’t to be underestimated as Mark Dunning’s side found a way back into the game as they managed to get over the try line three times inside of a fifteen-minute period.
Inoke Nakoronivalu danced his way through a body of Sheffield Eagles to score to the right of the sticks, before fellow winger Joe Varo intercepted Cory Aston’s pass and produced a full-length of the field try, racing 90m clear from to touch down in the left corner.
Former Eagles centre Ross Oakes then managed to power his way over from close-range to score after the Hurricanes threatened the Eagles’ line on the right edge once again with five minutes to go. Dave Hewitt scored two out of three conversions, clawing the score back to 16-24.
But the Eagles weren’t done there as they managed to seal the win with a late try as the hooter was imminent. Lewis Peachey broke through the Hurricanes line, before offering the ball inside to the supporting Marsh, who went on to add himself a second try of the afternoon and seal a 16-30 win on the road for the Eagles.
Sheffield Eagles will take on Batley Bulldogs in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Quarter Final at Olympic Legacy Park on the weekend of the 2/3rd March 2024. Should we see off the Bulldogs, then a trip to either York Knights or Oldham awaits in the semi-final of the competition, which would be played on the weekend of 11/12th May 2024.
Midlands Hurricanes: Horner, Nakoronivalu, Oakes, M.Welham, Varo, Hewitt, Bilsbrough, Kirby, Cullimore, Green, Willis, Wilkinson, Maull
Interchanges: Windley, Bowring, Hobson, Suguvuanua
18th Man: Barcoe
Sin Bin: M.Welham
Tries: Nakoronivalu (60’), Varo (63’), Oakes (75’)
Goals: Hewitt (2/3)
Sheffield Eagles: Marsh, Millar, Johnson, Liu, Dawson-Jones, Aston, I.Farrell, Peachey, Wood, Dickinson, Roberts. J.Farrell, Gwaze
Interchanges: Bower, Murphy, Foster, Clark
18th Man: Halafihi
Sin Bin: J.Farrell
Tries: Marsh (4’, 78’), Millar (11’), Liu (31’), Roberts (48’), Johnson (52’)
Goals: Aston (3/5)
Referee: M.Smail