The Sheffield Eagles are just 80 minutes from Wembley, as they’re through to the 1895 Cup semi-final after a 26-10 victory over fellow Championship side the Batley Bulldogs.
The Eagles started strongest, with their first set finishing deep into opposition territory, and Batley knocked-on straight away when they had ball in hand for the first time.
After a great run from James Glover forcing a drop-out, Ben Jones-Bishop, after juggling the ball out on the right, just about stayed in play before a fantastic finish got the Eagles on the board. Cory Aston’s unbelievable kick from just inside the touchline added the extras.
Batley hit back well, and Anthony Thackeray dropping the ball from kick-off and Glover’s knock-on attempting to play the ball meant the Eagles had to survive some tackles on their line.
There was plenty of sustained Batley pressure but Eagles got out of trouble on occasion with good hands, particularly over to the left.
Making the most of a penalty, an Aston kick bobbled about before getting to Joel Farrell who had the freedom of Sheffield to put the ball down between the sticks. The kick was much easier for Aston this time! 12-0 they lead.
It look a while to make the most of their pressure, but after a Batley high kick, Kieran Buchanan managed to take the ball first and throw it inside to Ben White to get the Bulldogs on the board. Woods makes it 12-6.
There were some huge hits early on, and tensions eventually flared with a brief scrap just before the half. A Mitch Clark hit made Batley’s Michael Ward unhappy.
A fired-up Batley meant that the half-time whistle felt needed for the Eagles, but they came straight back after the break putting the home side under even more pressure.
A Batley knock-on was celebrated passionately by the Eagles, and this showed just how much they’d had their backs to the wall. They’d survived a long period of Batley pressure, and finally had an attacking set.
👏 80 minutes from Wembley!
🦅 Jack Hansen completed the scoring for @SheffieldEagles in their @ABSundecksLtd 1895 Cup victory over Batley yesterday… pic.twitter.com/1MCxSharrk
— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) March 4, 2024
Soon after, it was try time! Some poor Batley defence allowed Kris Welham to weave his way over the line straight from a scrum to extend the lead. Aston made no mistake. 18-6!
Batley then had a lot of the ball in Sheffield’s ten but were held up over the line three times thanks to some immense Sheffield defence. When they were pushed out of touch on the right, it felt like one of the moments of the match. SURVIVAL.
Batley had looked slow all game, but Alistair Leak’s run marked the first quick attacking play from Batley, which led to a try.
An excellent pass to Kieran Buchanan produced a try in the right corner for the Bulldogs. Woods’ kick was similar to Aston’s first: but he hit the post to leave the Eagles with a two-score lead.
The Eagles’ kick-off was allowed to bounce by Batley and went in touch, which really stopped the away side from pressing on following their try.
Soon after, Jack Hansen made the most of a poor Batley pass and ran 50 yards to score an interception try. The ball had bounced perfectly to allow him to run away to send the Eagles towards the semi-final.
Aston made it four kicks from four, and after he won the ball from a Bulldogs short kickoff, he added another two points from a penalty to make it 26-10.
The Eagles held on to win, and the fans were chanting “Wembley, Wembley” at full-time.
Before that though, there will be a semi-final, and York Knights’ win over Oldham means it will be away at the LNER Community Stadium.
After the game, the Eagles’ Jesse Sene-Lefao told Forge Press that Wembley was the goal.
He said: “100%, it’s definitely on our vision board. It’s definitely something we want to achieve as a club, as a unit, and as a family that we have here.
“That’s where our vision is, we just need to get over these hurdles first and then we can start prepping for that!”
Featured Image Credit: @SheffieldEagles via X