Sheffield Eagles grind out 18–6 Cup win to set up Warrington Test
Sheffield Eagles managed a tough fought victory in the Challenge Cup 2nd round against Whitehaven at the weekend, winning 18-6 and securing their place in the 3rd round for an away fixture against Super League’s Warrington Wolves.
Meeting for the second time in a week following their Betfred Championship season opener, the two sides went head-to-head once again in the 2nd Round tie as they looked to secure a clash against Warrington Wolves in the next round of the competition.
The Eagles named an unchanged seventeen for the visit of Whitehaven, with the only change being made at 18th man as Ryan Millar came in to replace Alex Foster.
Whitehaven made several changes in anticipation of the match, with Joe Lowe and Ellis Nixon making an appearance in the squad for the fixture.
The South Yorkshire side looked a dominating force in the opening minutes of the first half with two great try attempts being held up within the first five minutes of the contest.
After 10 minutes, Whitehaven turned the tides and began to apply pressure on the Eagles as two potential quick scores were ruled out by referee Tara Jones.
Twenty-eight minutes in, Whitehaven full-back Cole Walker-Taylor opened the scoring with a try in the left corner after a successive flow of passes from the Cumbrian side, followed by a successful conversion by Ciaran Walker.
It looked like the Eagles would head into the sheds behind at the break, but winger Joe Brown produced a miraculous try, followed by a successful Jordan Lilley kick, which saw the Eagles go level a minute before half time.
Whitehaven thought they’d retaken the lead early in the second half, but a foot in touch in the process of the ball being grounded ruled out the try.
On his 250th career appearance, Joel Farrell put the Eagles ahead with a try in the 47th minute after coming up with a powerful run towards the try line from close-range to the left of the sticks.
Victory was sealed for the Eagles with thirteen minutes to go as a first competitive try in an Eagles shirt from Conor Fitzsimmons saw him go over for Sheffield’s third try of the afternoon.
Lilley once again added the extras, going three from three with the boot to help secure an 18-6 win for the Eagles, helping see his side advance into the next round of the Challenge Cup to face Warrington in two weekend’s time. The 3rd round fixture will be played away at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Friday February 6 (7:30pm KO).
Sheffield Eagles: Marsh, Brown, Gill, Hodson, Walkley, Morgan, Lilley, Matongo, Bowes, Reilly, Bower, Farrell, Bussey
Interchanges (all used): Fitzsimmons, Johnson, Griffin, Peachey
18th Man: Millar
Tries: Brown (39’), Farrell (47’), Fitzsimmons (67’)
Goals: Lilley (3/3)
Whitehaven RLFC: Walker-Taylor, Dave Eccleston, Burns, Bickerdike, Todd, Lowe, Walker, Pearce, Holgate, Bailey, Pearce, Nixon, Kellett
Interchanges: Shackley, Brennan, Brown, Blinkhorn
18th Man: Newbegin
Tries: Walker-Taylor (28’)
Goals: Walker (1/1)
Referee: T. Jones