Wheelchair Match Reports - North Wales Crusanders
05/03/2024
Sheffield Eagles 26 – 69 North Wales Crusaders
Sunday 3rd March, 11.45am Kick Off
All Saints Sports Centre
Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair Rugby League team lost out to league champions North Wales Crusaders in a pre-season friendly which showed a markable improvement on previous years’ encounters between the two sides.
Welsh international Stephen Halsey was the dominant force for the visitors, scoring 6 tries, kicking 9 conversions and 3 drop-goals to give a personal haul of 45 points, with youngster Jakub Wasieczko also looking impressive for the visitors.
The most dramatic try of the day was the Eagles opener as Stephen Reilly chased down David Butler’s kick for diving score in the corner, which Butler converted. Impressive defence kept a reasonable 10-33 deficit at the break, with Ben Simpson’s well worked try adding to the tally, although Joe Wink-Simmonds was unable to add the extras.
A strong defensive effort by the visitors saw the Eagles held at bay for much of the second half, but they finished with a flurry as Reilly crossed again in the corner, with Wink-Simmonds converting, before Chris Haynes crashed through on the left and Will Brooks scoring a popular try in the middle, also converted by Wink-Simmonds, to complete the Eagles scorers.
Sheffield Eagles
David Butler, Stephen Reilly, April Brooks, James Birchnall, Will Brooks. Interchanges: Chris Haynes, Joe Wink-Simmonds, Vicky Brooks, Ben Simpson, Barry Grayson
Tries: Stephen Reilly (7, 67), Ben Simpson (22), Chris Haynes (74), Will Brooks (79)
Goals: David Butler 1/1, Joe Wink-Simmonds 2/4
North Wales Crusaders
Stephen Halsey, Mason Baker, Jessica Booth, Jakub Wasieczko, Harry Jones. Interchanges: Sophie Bamford, Wyatt Jones
Tries: Stephen Halsey (1, 6, 24, 41, 59, 77), Mason Baker (20, 30), Wyatt Jones (27), Harry Jones (45) Jakub Wasieczko (49, 51)
Goals: Stephen Halsey 9/12
Drop Goals: Stephen Halsey (39, 69, 71)
Referees: Matt Ball / Grant Jackson
Half Time: 10-33
Sheffield Eagles A 12 – 34 North Wales Crusaders A
Sunday 3rd March, 1.45pm Kick Off
All Saints Sports Centre
Sheffield Eagles A were also in action against North Wales Crusaders A, serving up a close encounter which saw several Eagles players gaining valuable game time.
Stuart Wilkinson opened the Eagles account, with great pass from Ben Wilson to go into the corner. Shaun Orton kept the score ticking for the home team with a short range effort and Jenny Pearson was rewarded for a lively performance having returned after nearly 8 months on the sideline following an operation.
Crusaders firepower was too much for the fledgling Eagles, with Jessica Booth posting four tries of her own, with Matthew Turner adding a hat-trick to make the difference. But the reality was that Rugby League was the winner, with both sides being able to give game time to their extended squads in a friendly which was watched by almost 50 enthralled onlookers.
Sheffield Eagles A
Jack Johnson, Stacey Roulson, Shaun Orton, Jenny Pearson, Stuart Wilkinson. Interchanges: Christopher Brown, Julie Fimusanmi, Ben Wilson, Helen Calder.
Tries: Stuart Wilkinson (22), Shaun Orton (60), Jenny Pearson (77)
Goals: Stacey Roulson 0/1, Shaun Orton 0/1, Ben Wilson 0/1
North Wales Crusaders A
Jessica Booth, Matthew Turner, Wyatt Jones, Sophie Bamford, Matthew Turner. Interchanges: Ethan Nielson, Mark Drakeford, Kieran Barlow.
Tries: Matthew Turner (4, 70, 75), Jessica Booth (10, 20, 25, 42), Wyatt Jones (30)
Goals: Matthew Turner 1/4, Jessica Booth 0/3, Wyatt Jones 0/1
Referees: Grant Jackson / Matt Ball
Half Time: 4-22
