Sheffield RUFC pick up home win against Cambridge RFC
Sheffield RUFC 33 Cambridge RFC 22
Following a second trip to London, Sheffield faced Cambridge RFC, who were relegated from the Championship last season.
Sheffield’s injury concerns continued, although front-row forwards George Rogers and Will Archer returned on the bench and winger Chris Hooper started. Alex Fawdry joined the unavailable list. Josh Kent moved from the second row to blindside flanker, Barney Goatley dropped to the bench, Will Smith returned to centre and Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz made his debut.
Sheffield fell behind inside two minutes after Cambridge secured the kick-off. Centre Eli Craven broke through and passed to second-row Jake McCay, who scored by the posts. Luke Bouchier converted for 7-0.
Cambridge maintained intense pressure in the opening exchanges, but Sheffield slowly worked their way back into the contest. Hudson-Kowalewicz scored left of the posts and Jack Delaney converted to level matters after 19 minutes. Bouchier kicked a 27th-minute penalty to restore Cambridge’s lead, but Hooper then crossed by the posts and Delaney converted, giving Sheffield a 14-10 lead after 30 minutes. Two Sheffield penalties put Cambridge back on the attack, and winger Benji Ritson scored on the left before Bouchier converted. Cambridge led 17-14 at half-time.
The second half was immediately halted after Cambridge winger Ethan Thorne was injured, stretchered off and taken to hospital. After the restart, McCay was penalised and yellow-carded near Cambridge’s five-metre line. Sheffield capitalised, replacement prop Rogers scoring on the left before Delaney converted for a 21-17 lead after 46 minutes.
With McCay still waiting to return, second-row Dom Parsons scored and Delaney converted, extending Sheffield’s lead to 28-17 after 56 minutes. Hooper added his second try, Sheffield’s fifth, wide on the left after 63 minutes. Delaney missed the conversion, leaving Sheffield 33-17 ahead. The score followed sustained Sheffield pressure and two penalties which took them deep into Cambridge territory.
Cambridge responded five minutes later when hooker Harry Tunningley forced his way over on the right. Bouchier’s conversion went wide, making it 33-22 after 69 minutes. Sheffield held out Cambridge to secure a bonus-point win.
Sheffield RUFC: 15. George Castledine 14. Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz 13. Will Smith 12. Jack Delaney 11. Chris Hooper 10. Callum Posa 9. Elliot Fisher. 1.Ben Whitney 2. Rhodri Campbell 3. Aaron Lonsdale 4. Josh Redfern 5. Dom Parsons 6. Josh Kent 7. Felix Crapper 8 Zak Poole 16. Will Archer1 7. Alex Reid 18. George Rogers 19. Barney Goatley 20. Matty Drennan
Cambridge RFC: 1: Callum Smyth; 2: Harry Tunningley; 3: Billy Walker; 4: Jake McCay; 5: Jake Parkinson; 6: Alex Mead; 7: Tom Campbell; 8: Ben Adams (Capt.). 15: Joseph Brock; 14: Benji Ritson; 13: Jacob Cusick; 12: Eli Craven; 11: Ethan Thorne; 10: Luke Bouchier, 9: Ruaridh Dawson. 16: Chris Mills; 17: Sam Turner; 18: Nile Dacres; 19: Ted Warner; 20: Oscar Lewis.
Match Officials: – Referee: –Ben RaynerAssistant Referees: –Ben Davis; Ian Farrell