Wheelchair host two friendlies this Saturday!
12/12/2024
Sheffield Eagles’ Wheelchair team will round off the year with two friendlies on Saturday at the English Institute Of Sport.
The Champions will play two first-team games, with Head Coach Greg Brown selecting two balanced squads, who will welcome Rochdale Hornets for a 12.45pm kick off, with the second game of the day starting at 2.45pm against Batley Bulldogs. The game against Batley will mark the first clash between the two clubs in the Wheelchair discipline.
The Eagles will be without Stephen Reilly, Joe Wink-Simmonds and Ben Simpson, who all featured in the Eagles Championship Grand Final victory in October, whilst Martin Turner will also be missing due to illness.
However, Head Coach Greg Brown has the remainder of his large squad available to him, and he will hand first-team debuts to Sammi Kelly-Pride, Matt Davis and Andy Clare, who have already featured in “A” team action for the Eagles during 2024.
Zoe Davis and Louie Taylor will also earn their heritage numbers as they set to play their first ever games in red and gold.
The Christmas friendlies, which have quickly become a tradition for the Wheelchair team, will conclude a year of celebration which saw the club’s first team go unbeaten in the Championship East and take the Championship Grand Final win in extra time over Gravesend Dynamite, consistently field its second team for a record 10 games during the year, record a further increase in participation numbers, and see its first representative earn an England cap as Chris Haynes made his England debut against Spain and score two tries last month.
“It’s been another fantastic year of achievement both-on-and-off the pitch for the Wheelchair team” commented David Buter, Eagles Foundation Chairperson.
“The steep learning curve and the journey that many of the players have been on since our first game back in 2021 has been phenomenal, and a joy to be part off. I am sure that journey will continue positively as we head into 2025 and whatever that brings us.”
Spectators are welcome to attend the fixture for free, and with 250 seats available, there is plenty of room for Eagles fans to get out and support the team and enjoy some Rugby League in the off season.
Eagles team to face Rochdale Hornets (12.45pm):
April Brooks (The Jagger Family), Vicky Brooks (The Jagger Family), Will Brooks (The Jagger Family), David Butler (EVOGO), Matt Davis, Zoe Davis, Barry Grayson, Chris Haynes (Horizon Roofing), Jack Johnson (Heaton Green Dust Control LTD), Jenny Pearson (Megan Roberts)
Eagles team to face Batley Bulldogs (2.45pm): James Birchnall (JNL Electrical), Helen Calder (The Calder Family), Andy Clare, Julie Fimusanmi (Captain LM Johnson RAF), Sammi Kelly-Pride, Shaun Orton (Sherwood Wolf Hunt Masters), Stacey Roulson (EVOGO), Louie Taylor, Stuart Wilkinson (All Round (Design), Ben Wilson (EVOGO)
