Wheelchair Squad named for Playoff Semi Final!
27/09/2024
A place in the Wheelchair Rugby League Championship Grand Final is at stake for Sheffield Eagles tomorrow afternoon as we host North Wales Crusaders in the Championship Semi-Finals at the English Institute Of Sport (11:45am KO).
Having gone unbeaten in Championship East, the league leaders welcome Crusaders who finished as runners-up in the Championship West, and on the back of their victory over York Knights in last weekend’s eliminator play-off game. The winner will meet the winner of the Hereford Harriers v Gravesend Dynamite on Sunday 13th October at the University of Hull in the final, as part of a double-header with the Super League Grand Final.
The Eagles first faced Crusaders in their first competitive match in 2022, losing 74-6 and having met a further time that year, twice in 2023 and in a friendly earlier this year, the Eagles are still seeking a win over the Welsh side. Nonetheless, a win in this year’s Challenge Trophy festival, which saw the Eagles win 12-6 in a shortened game will give the side confidence on top of their improved performances during the season this year.
Greg Brown will have all 10 of his first choice players available for the game, and the Red squad goes into the game battle-hardened after tough workouts against Bradford Bulls and York Knights earlier this month, with those players all in attendance for a specific training session ahead of the fixture, with 2024 awards winner Jenny Pearson (Most Improved Player) and Chris Haynes (Player Of The Year & Player’s Player Of The Year) both looking to feature after collecting their accolades at last Saturday's presentation evening.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's game, Head Coach Greg Brown said "Training went well on Monday, but it's not just about that session, its about the whole season and we’ve done the work and I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes” commented Brown.
“Everyone had a taste of it last year in the Challenge Trophy Final and have been dying to get another big game opportunity, so they’ll be giving it their all on Saturday.”
Crusaders will be equally prepared and determined for victory on Saturday as they aim to reach the final, and defend their title they hold, having defeated Wigan Warriors A in the 2023 Grand Final which was held at Belle Vue in Manchester.
Welsh international Stephen Halsey has stepped back from the side, whilst talisman Stuart Williams has returned from New Zealand and will rub shoulders with fellow Welsh internationals Harry Jones, Jess Booth and Mason Baker, which ensures Crusaders line up will be one of the strongest side that the Eagles will have faced this year.
Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s semi-final, the enormous improvement shown by the Sheffield side in 2024 will be the talking point as plans to take Wheelchair Rugby League in further are already underway for 2025.
“We aim to carry on improving” added Brown. “We have two teams currently, and we aren’t far of being able to field three, which is our next aim.”
Following the semi-final action, both clubs’ “A” teams will be in action with a 1.45pm Kick Off for a friendly between the two sides, with just Helen Calder and Stacey Roulson unavailable for Red & Golds.
Entry is free for all spectators with spectator seating available on the balcony of the EIS Basketball Hall which gives a superb elevated view of game.
Eagles v North Wales Crusaders, 11.45am
James Birchnall – Sponsored by JNL Electrical
April Brooks – Sponsored by The Jagger Family
Vicky Brooks – Sponsored by The Jagger Family
Will Brooks – Sponsored by The Jagger Family
David Butler – Sponsored by EVOGO
Chris Haynes – Sponsored by Horizon Roofing
Jenny Pearson – Sponsored by Megan Roberts
Stephen Reilly – Sponsored by Dave Reilly School of Motoring
Ben Simpson – Sponsored by Beam Dyslexia
Joe Wink-Simmonds. – Sponsored by Addison Project PLC
Eagles A v North Wales Crusaders A, 1.45pm
Christopher Brown - – Sponsored by Heather Brown
Andy Clare – Available for Sponsorship
Matt Davis – Available for Sponsorship
Julie Fimusanmi - Sponsored by Captain LM Johnson RAF
Barry Grayson - Available for Sponsorship
Jack Johnson – Sponsored by Heaton Dust Control Ltd
Shaun Orton– Sponsored by Sherwood Wolf Hunt Masters
Martin Turner – Available for Sponsorship
Stuart Wilkinson – Sponsored by All Round (Design)
Ben Wilson – Sponsored by EVOGO
