Report | Eagles Wheelchair Red claim League title!
16/09/2024
York Knights 22 – 40 Sheffield Eagles
Saturday 14th September, 2.30pm Kick Off, University of York.
Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair Rugby League team took their 8th consecutive win in Championship East, claiming the League Leaders title with a clean sweep of the league with a 22-40 win away at York Knights. Their unbeaten run marks steady progress from their first league campaign in 2022 which saw the Eagles go without a win all season.
The Eagles started strongly with Joe Wink-Simmonds powering through at the line with just one minute on the clock, adding an easy conversion.
York struck back, showing their determination and the reason that they have finished second in the league as Gary Atkinson caught the Eagles napping under their posts. Shaun Austerfield added the conversion to level.
Chris Haynes moved the Eagles back in front with a downfield break on the left edge, with Will Brooks adding the conversion. Vicky Brooks was awarded a penalty try as she was fouled with the line begging, with Will Brooks adding the conversion from under the posts.
Stephen Reilly used his wing-span to dummy through for a further Eagles score, with Wink-Simmonds adding the extras.
The Knights dug in and pressure the Eagles, who showed tenacity in defence, forcing errors and frustrating the York attack on a narrow pitch.
Ben Simpson grabbed a further try, which he converted before the Eagles shifted the ball from left to right and every set of hands to set April Brooks free on the wing who sailed in for a final try of the half, Simpson unable to convert.
Both sides started the second half with a renewed vigour and frustration boiled over as Irish hopeful Pat Murphy pulled Haynes chair back as he made a break, being sent to the sin-bin for five minutes.
The Eagles capitalised on the overlap with Simpson immediately scoring and Wink-Simmonds adding the goal.
Despite being a player down, Atkinson struck back for York but Stu Walker was unable to convert. York continued a strong finish with Steve Sprute and Dawn Shore scoring tries from the bench with Murphy and Atkinson converting respectively but it wasn’t enough to deny the Eagles the victory.
Sheffield Eagles will have a home fixture on Saturday 28th September in the play-off semi-finals with the opposition to be determined when North Wales Crusaders host York Knights next weekend.
York Knights
Gary Atkinson, Shaun Austerfield, Calum Japes, Dave Mountain, Stu Walker. Interchanges: Dawn Shore, Pat Murphy, Steve Sprute.
Tries: Gary Atkinson (5, 52), Steve Sprute (63), Dawn Shore (73)
Goals: Shaun Austerfield 1/1, Stu Walker 1/2, Pat Murphy 1/1
Sin Bin: Pat Murphy (49) – Chair Pull
Sheffield Eagles
Chris Haynes, Joe Wink-Simmonds, Will Brooks, Vicky Brooks, Stephen Reilly. Interchanges: David Butler, Ben Simpson, James Birchnall, Jenny Pearson, April Brooks, Stuart Wilkinson.
Tries: Joe Wink-Simmonds (1), Chris Haynes (9), Vicky Brooks (17), Stephen Reilly (22), Ben Simpson (34, 49), April Brooks (40)
Goals: Joe Wink-Simmonds 3/3, Will Brooks 2/2, Ben Simpson 1/2.
Referees: Paul Ward / Ewan Clibbens
Half Time: 6-34
York Knights A 56 – 6 Sheffield Eagles A
Saturday 14th September, 12.30pm Kick Off, University of York.
York Knights A and Sheffield Eagles A took each other on in a friendly ahead of the clubs’ first teams meeting at the University of the York.
York dominated the first half with six tries scored, running up a 30-0 lead at half time, despite some valiant plays by several Eagles which included a Gold team debut for Matt Davis, with Martin Turner and Andy Clare continuing to improve as they play more games and Stacey Roulson and Shaun Orton leading the team around the pitch.
Orton was rewarded for his efforts just after the hour mark with a well worked try and conversion to ensure the Eagles went away with points, but with another 5 tries shipped against them, it was merely a consolation with the final score ending 56-6 the way of the home team.
York Knights A
Jamie Jukes, Dawn Shore, Milda Ambrazeviciute, Steve Sprute, James Howard. Interchanges: Hayden Howard, Riley South, Seb Mountain, Ben Atkinson.
Tries: Steve Sprute (2), Jamie Jukes (15, 22), Dawn Shore (17, 45, 52), Seb Mountain (31,37, 60, 65), Milda Ambrazeviciute (55)
Goals: Jamie Jukes 4/7, Seb Mountain 2/3, Milda Ambrazeviciute 0/1
Sheffield Eagles A
Shaun Orton, Jack Johnson, Stuart Wilkinson, Matt Davis, Stacey Roulson. Interchanges: Martin Turner, Andy Clare, Helen Calder, Ben Wilson.
Tries: Shaun Orton (63)
Goals: Shaun Orton 1/1
Referees: Ewan Clibbens / Karl Sheppard
Half Time: 30-0
