Match Reports | Wheelchair double-header vs Bradford
11/09/2024
Sheffield Eagles 62 – 10 Bradford Bulls | Sunday 8th September, 10.00am Kick Off, EIS Sheffield
Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair Rugby League team put one hand on the Championship East League Leaders title after a 62-10 victory over Bradford Bulls.
The Eagles were made to work hard all game by a determined and resilient Bulls side, but the Eagles ability to soak up pressure in defence and create pressure in attack was the difference between the two sides.
Chris Haynes opened the Eagles account with a cheeky dummy at the line, before April Brooks broke free on the opposite side of the field to score in the right hand corner. Ben Simpson found his way over in the middle of the pitch shortly after a period of sustained defence to nudge the Eagles further ahead.
A break down-field by Will Brooks, fed by Haynes on the quarter-mark showed the Eagles dominance and with ten minutes of the half remaining, David Butler grounded the ball on the line to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Richard Wright’s penalty attempt went wide of the posts, resulting in the Eagles restarting with the 8m drop-out and grinding out a 28-0 lead at half time.
Will Brooks took Butler’s pass superbly to score out wide as the second half got under way before the Bulls managed to breach as Isabelle Wright found her way to the line in a well worked move.
Stephen Reilly hit back with tries ten minutes apart with his trade-mark dummy at the line, the first of which saw him knocked from his chair as he reached out to score in dramatic fashion.
Will Brooks completed his hat-trick on the hour-mark before Scott Pyrah caught the Eagles napping to post Bradford’s second try.
Simpson added a quick-fire brace as the clock wound down, completing the scoring.
The Eagles travel away to York Knights on Saturday 14th September, where only a loss by a significant margin will see them denied the League Leaders title.
Sheffield Eagles
Will Brooks, April Brooks, Joe Wink-Simmonds, Ben Simpson, Chris Haynes. Interchanges: Vicky Brooks, Stephen Reilly, Jenny Pearson, James Birchnall, David Butler
Tries: Chris Haynes (4), April Brooks (8), Ben Simpson (14, 71, 74), Will Brooks (21, 41, 61), David Butler (29), Stephen Reilly (48, 59)
Goals: Ben Simpson 5/6, Will Brooks 4/4, Joe Wink-Simmonds 1/1
Bradford Bulls
Scott Pyrah, David Gregson, Isabelle Wright, Richard Wright, Charlie Wanless. Interchanges: Sam Stebbings, Jon Bairstow, Michael Potter
Tries: Isabelle Wright (46), Scott Pyrah (63)
Goals: Richard Wright 0/2, Scott Pyrah 1/1
Referees: Jake Brook / Ewan Clibbens
Half Time: 28-0
Sheffield Eagles A 32 – 40 Bradford Bulls A | Sunday 8th September, 12.00pm Kick Off, EIS Sheffield
A compelling fixture which could have gone either way at any moment between the Eagles and Bulls second teams saw the Eagles Gold side go narrowly miss out on a win.
Bradford got to the scoreboard first through Darren Walker, before youngster Chris Brown’s for Sheffield as he streaked away without anyone managing to put a glove on him.
Livewire Annija Missina moved the Bulls further ahead with two tries, 10 minutes apart, with both sides completing sets and threatening inbetween. Andy Clare posted the Eagles second score, but Missinia added her third on the stroke of half time to give a 12-20 lead at the break.
Daniel McGrath stretched the Bulls lead in the second half, but it wasn’t long before they were pegged back by a fine effort from Barry Grayson and Jack Johnson fielding Shaun Orton’s kick which bounced superbly back into Johnson’s hands as he entered the in-goal area to add a celebrated try.
Walker added his second for the Bulls on the hour mark and it was Ellie Walker who was next in, retaining the advantage for Bradford before two quickfire tries from Stuart Wilkinson brought the Eagles back within four points.
With both sides throwing everything at the game to get the win, it was Missina who, probably fittingly, had the final word put daylight between the two sides at the end, capping a player of the match performance with her fourth try.
Sheffield Eagles A
Shaun Orton, Martin Turner, Christopher Brown, Jack Johnson, Stacey Roulson. Interchanges: Julie Fimusanmi, Barry Grayson, Andy Clare, Helen Calder, Stuart Wilkinson.
Tries: Chris Brown (8), Andy Clare (35), Barry Grayson (49), Jack Johnson (57), Stuart Wilkinson (69, 72)
Goals: Shaun Orton 2/2, Barry Grayson 2/4
Bradford Bulls A
Nellie Jo Hegney, Ellie Walker, Darren Walker, Annija Missina, Daniel McGrath. Interchanges: Jon Bairstow, David Gregson, Charlie Wanless.
Tries: Darren Walker (4, 60), Annija Missina (19, 32, 38, 78), Daniel McGrath (46), Ellie Walker (67)
Goals: Darren Walker 4/8
Referees: Ewan Clibbens / Jake Brook
Half Time: 12-20
