Match Report | Sheffield Eagles 24-26 York Knights
20/09/2024
Sheffield Eagles were narrowly beaten 24-26 on Friday evening against York Knights in the Betfred Championship at Olympic Legacy Park.
The Eagles were boosted with the return of Anthony Thackeray following his recent absence from injury. He started at half-back, a few days on from announcing that he would retire at the end of the season.
Sheffield also handed a 200th career appearance to forward Mitch Clark, who was named on the interchange bench.
The home side made a dream start in South Yorkshire as they went ahead in only the fourth minute. After three repeat sets, Titus Gwaze powered his way over the try line to score after connecting with a short ball from Thackeray.
But the lead lasted only three minutes as Ata Hingano raced the length of the field to score after he picked up a loose ball in front of their own posts following a mistake by the Eagles.
York went ahead just short of the half-hour mark as Nikau Williams danced his way through a body of Sheffield defenders to get himself underneath the posts to score, before he added the conversion from in front for a 6-12 lead.
Hingano then created an opening for Liam Harris, who grounded the ball minutes later after a kick through the Sheffield defensive line for 6-18.
James Glover closed the gap two minutes before the break as his 16th try of the season saw him ground the ball to the left of the sticks against his former side to pull the game back to 12-18 heading into the sheds at the break.
The second half started with various errors from both sides, but it was York who capitalised in the 59th minute to go 12-24 ahead. The ball came loose as Sheffield looked to spread the ball wide to the left, Harris intercepted and kicked through before grounding the ball under the sticks.
Williams added a penalty in the 62nd minute to put York three scores ahead, but that lead was pulled back by the Eagles with seven minutes to go as Matty Dawson-Jones crossed out wide after good play by Glover and Farrell.
Sheffield then scored again from the restart as a break through the York line by Thackeray was finished off underneath the sticks by the supporting Tyler Dickinson for 24-26.
But it was York who were able to hold on for the win as an error on halfway saw them claim back the ball with two minutes to go, and they ran the clock down for the win.
The Eagles travel to Dewsbury Rams next weekend in their last regular game of the Betfred Championship season, knowing victory will secure their place in the end-of-season playoffs. Kick off at the FLAIR Stadium is 3pm.
Sheffield Eagles: Marsh, Jones-Bishop, Welham, Glover, Dawson-Jones, Aston, Thackeray, Battye, Halafihi, Dickinson, Bower, J.Farrell Gwaze
Interchanges: Broadbent, Clark, Wood, Roberts
18th Man: Hansen
Tries: Gwaze (4’), Glover (38’), Dawson-Jones (73’), Dickinson (75’)
Goals: Aston (4/4)
York Knights: Williams, Brown, Field, Law, Lineham, Hingano, Harris, Michael, Jubb, Ta’ai, Bailey, Gannon, Thompson
Interchanges: Dee, Santi, Daley, Martin
18th Man: Antrobus
Tries: Hingano (7’), Williams (26’), Harris (31’, 59’)
Goals: Williams (5/5)
Referee: Liam Rush
Attendance: 952
Man of the Match: Anthony Thackeray
