Following our torturous trip to Tonbridge Juddians last weekend, we welcomed fellow Yorkshire rivals. Leeds Tykes. There were late changes to the team from that was originally selected, due to what we hope are minor, and short-term issues for prop forward, Jake Hicklin and scrum-half Sinjin Broad. George Rogers moved off the bench to start at tighthead prop and Aaron Lonsdale took Jake’s place on the bench. Sinjin’s spot on the bench went to Matty Drennan. We also remain without the services of Archie Crapper, Josh Reed and Cammy Catleugh.

Sheffield were first to break somewhat of a deadlock over the first fifteen minutes, but where Sheffield had slightly better of the set pieces, maintaining a strong scrum and stealing some Tykes lineout ball. The deadlock was broken when Tykes fly half, Eddie Crossland kicked from inside their 22-metre to clear their lines. He put in a massive kick that was to travel the full length of the pitch and over the dead ball line. Sheffield broke from the resulting scrum and moved the ball smartly through the back division for right wing, Cuchulain Livingstone to go over for the first try for the host with sixteen minutes on the clock. Callum Posa’s conversion drifted to the left of the uprights, but Sheffield led by 5 points to nil.

Leeds Tykes’ response was almost instantaneous when Sheffield coughed up the ball after the restart and similarly to Sheffield, broke from the scrum and moved the ball to left wing, George Worthington, who powered down the wing to finish in the corner. Eddie Crossland could not add the conversion and the scores wee tied at 5 points all. From the restart, Tykes kicked the ball down the field to George Castledine, who linked with centre, Barney Goatley who broke through the initial line of defence. However, a knock on saw the ball back with Tykes, but Sheffield were awarded a penalty for the tackle and kicked to touch. The ball was lost and a series of kicks ensued with George Castledine and Barney Goatley making good ground, before a penalty allowed them to increase the pressure on Tykes. Zack Poole made a clean break, handing off to hooker, Will Archer who stretched well to add a second try wide out on the left, on twenty-seven minutes. Callum Posa added the conversion and Sheffield led in the match once more, now at 12 points to 5.

Sheffield were to cross the Tykes try line again on thirty-four minutes, but were adjudged to have been held up, and Eddie Crossland was again able to use his boot to clear the Tykes lines from the goal line drop out. Tykes had an opportunity to even things up right at the end of the half, when a penalty gave them a lineout close in, but Sheffield snaffled their lineout ball and were able to close out the half.

The second half was no less contested than the first half had been, with both teams creating opportunities, which then disappeared with knock-ons and penalties. However, thirteen minutes in to the half, Sheffield found a hole in the Tykes defence, with centre Will Smith breaking clear to give a pass out to Chris Hooper, who scampered over from the 22-metre on the left, before cruising in toward the posts. Callum Pose once again added the conversion and the lead was out to 19 points to 5. A further chance came Sheffield’s way after twenty minutes, with a penalty on Sheffield’s 10-metre. Elliot Fisher streaked off before passing on to Matty Drennan, playing on for the injured Cuchulain Livingstone. Matty was eventually forced in to touch inside Tykes 22-metre. However, Tykes attempt to clear their lines was poor and the pressure was firmly on the visitors, which soon saw a yellow card for Tykes replacement prop, Jamie Major.

A further opportunity for Sheffield was once again created by Will Smith, however, his pass to Barney Goatley, loitering out on the right wing, just fifteen metres out, and with no defence in front of him, was adjudged to be forward, and Tykes had survived what would probably have been a killer blow. However, Tykes recovered their composure and started to exert considerable pressure on the home team. Matty Drennan was to fall foul of the referee on seventy-seven minutes and Tykes took full advantage to drive second row, Jack Hamilton, over the line for their second try. Replacement fly-half, Seremaia Turagabeci knocked over the conversion to take the score to 19 points to 12 with barely a minute to play. Sheffield restarted, kicking deep, to screams of let it go dead. It did not go dead and Tykes knocked on. Sheffield, for a second or maybe two, thought five metre scrum and a chance to score again. The referee thought otherwise and blew for full time.