The Sheffield Eagles missed out on keeping hold of fourth place in the RFL Championship after a narrow defeat to play-off rivals York Knights at the Olympic Legacy Park Stadium.
It could turn out to be the final home game in the long career of Eagles half-back Anthony Thackeray, who lined up alongside Cory Aston in the halves in his first appearance since announcing retirement.
It was the Eagles with the fiery start, and after penalties in quick succession, they made it count as Titus Gwaze crashed over from a short Thackeray ball to give the home side the early lead.
— Sheffield Eagles (@SheffieldEagles) September 20, 2024
However, just minutes later, Tongan international Ata Hingano pounced on a loose pass to run the length of the field and tie things up almost immediately, with an easy conversion for Nikau Williams, playing at full-back after a run of games in the halves.
The Knights were then very much in the ascendency, but couldn’t make the most of a number of sets on the Eagles line.
However, they hit back despite the Eagles growing into the game – a clever inside ball to Williams sent him over the line between the sticks, making it another easy kick for himself.
Hingano then sent a wonderful grubber kick in behind the Eagles defence for half-back partner Liam Harris to get on the end of and dive over to extend the lead further.
James Glover brought one back, however, powering over after a Knights knock-on near their own line, with Aston’s kick ensuring they went in to the sheds just one score behind.
SECOND HALF | Back underway in South Yorkshire.
12-18 | #StrongerTogether #40Years pic.twitter.com/byre46y23e
— Sheffield Eagles (@SheffieldEagles) September 20, 2024
The second half started full of errors for both sides, with neither managing to make the game their own due to a number of handling errors.
However, the race to another loose ball 25 yards from the Eagles line was won by Harris, who did his best Lionel Messi impression to soccer the ball forward and forward, and eventually touch down.
Yet again, that was converted, and Gwaze pulling a Knights man back off the ball resulted in a penalty 30m out, which Williams dispatched nicely.
A kick from Thackeray then saw quick hands on the left hand side to make the most of an overload – a Glover offload and a quick ball from Joel Farrell allowed Ben Jones-Bishop to go over. Aston’s kick from wide was good, and that brought it to 18-26.
Shortly after, a quick break was finished off by Tyler Dickinson, who made it a lot easier for Aston – there was now just two points in it with five minutes to go!
However, it wasn’t enough due to a knock-on, and they fall to defeat.
HALF TIME: Sheffield Eagles 12-18 York Knights
FULL TIME: Sheffield Eagles 24-26 York Knights
Sheffield Eagles: Marsh, Jones-Bishop, Welham, Glover, Dawson-Jones, Aston, Thackeray; Battye, Halafihi, Dickinson, Bower, J. Farrell, Gwaze
INTERCHANGES: Broadbent, Clark, Wood, Roberts
18TH MAN: Hansen
TRIES: Gwaze, Glover, Jones-Bishop
KICKS: Aston (x4)
York Knights: Williams, Brown, Field, Law, Lineham, Hingano, Harris; Michael, Jubb, Ta’ai, C. Bailey, Gannon, Thompson
INTERCHANGES: Dee,l Santi, Daley, Martin
18TH MAN: Antrobus
TRIES: Hingano, Williams, Harris (x2)
KICKS: Williams (x4)
ATTENDANCE: 952
