Sheffield Oaks 21 – 29 Halifax Halls
HT 21-12
In a recent work conversation I learned that Halifax Halls was traditionally and all female hall and this got me wondering what the game would entail. However on arrival at Niagara it appeared that Sheffield Uni has since rethought single sex halls as a bunch of young healthy looking male students arrived.
From the kick off HH wanted to get the ball wide and play expansive rugby, Oaks never ones to spoil the party allowed them to do this and they scored within seconds. At the restart it was original Oak Nipper that took the receiver out with a thumping tackle, showing the youth how it was done. Oaks managed to gain turnover ball and kept the pressure through the forwards (bolstered by none other than George ‘The Dentist’ Warmisham) A few strong phases saw Oaks pushing the students back quicker than a Leadmill bouncer. However indiscipline at the ruck conceded a penalty and Oaks had it all to do again.
Now playing in their own half Oaks defended well at the set piece but the bean-eaters got the ball wide quickly and exposed an overlap to score. The conversion missed and Oaks woke up. Again it was Nipper who managed to make the first hit, and Oaks managed to force a knock on. The Oaks scrum looked unsteady at first and uncharacteristically disorganised. Forwards coach of the day Hiscock was heard to say ‘that was bloody awful’, before the second scrum in quick succession with cries of ‘get low’ ringing in their ears Oaks fired up the engine room and got the nudge on. This was to set the tone for the rest of the match as the men of Oak drove their way forward making every scrum more or less an Oaks ball. The forward play didnt stop there and Oaks soon rumbled their way upfield before releasing Sgt. Mj. Akers (if you’ve seen the ‘tache you know what I mean) inside the 22 to score.
This was closely followed by another forward trundle this time releasing the backs and Paul Lockwood shrugged off the tackles to dot the ball down between the posts. Karl Ford kicked the conversion and Oaks were 2 points ahead.
It was just before half time when ‘Super’ Kev Guthrie scored a props try (apparently it was enough to inspire some bloke called Woodcock from NZ) to put the Oaks ahead 21-19.
The second half soon came around and a war of attrition set in, appearances from the bench came from Spolander, Tom Green and Teach (although the latter was very short lived due to being severelty unfit). The Oaks trundled on and defended well until with 10 to go they conceded a kickable penalty in their own 22. Oaks went down 21-22. With Karl contemplating drop goals and the forwards looking tired Oaks kept at it but the aching bodies gave way to a try with 5 to go 21-29.
A last gasp passage of play saw Oaks on the attack but it was to be fruitless. Fitness told out on the men of Oak and the final whistle went. Oaks 21 – 29 Halifax Halls
MOM: Nipper/Akers
DOD: (for being a ginger, according to his brother) Joe Burke.
