The University of Sheffield secures a 32 – 18 victory in windy conditions against Sheffield Hallam despite going 12 nil down in the first five minutes of the game.
Sheffield Hallam opened the scoring after a poorly chased kick by Sheffield University let the host build momentum into the Sheffield Universities’ half. After numerous phases, Mason Fleet was the beneficiary of a well-worked overlap, leaving him with just one man to beat as he crossed the white line opening the scoring for the game. Tom Wilkinson slotted home the conversion putting Hallam six points up.
Despite the University of Sheffield’s territorial dominance, they failed to make any inroads into the scoreline in the opening minutes as poor discipline let the visitors down.
Minutes after scoring the first, Hallam doubled their lead after Charles Ramsden broke the tackles of Sheffield University’s defence, putting his side on the front foot, giving the space for Tom Wilkinson to split the defence scoring Hallam’s second. Wilkinson followed his try-up by adding the extra two points with the conversion.
With a tempting grubber kick into the Hallam try area, Sheffield University came within inches of scoring their first point before it bounced into touch.
Hallam took their turn not making the most of valuable field positions. Failing to convert two big chances, the biggest of which saw Tom Bates knock the ball over the line after making a marauding run that deserved to be finished off with a try.
The University of Sheffield continued to knock on the door of the try line as a high cross-field kick was taken under pressure by Hallam’s Callan Clark, who kept calm metres from his try line with two chasing players under his nose.
Oliver Mckeown was left to run it in by the corner flag after Sheffield University took advantage of an overlap opportunity made possible by physical build-up play. Joe Winstanley’s attempt at conversion was unsuccessful due to the strong winds.
Sheffield Univerity kept their momentum going into the second half, scoring from the restart after Hallam failed to gather the ball securely, leading to a set play from a scrum which left Simon Billingsley unimpeded to score Sheffield Universities second try of the game. Winstanley was unable to add the conversion.
Heads didn’t drop after conceding for Hallam as Joe Brittain extended the lead by muscling his way through the defensive line. Wilkinson completed his third conversion in a row, which gave Hallam a ten-point lead.
Sheffield University kept the pressure on, commanding the territory. Constant pressure from the pack strained the Hallam defence leaving a gap for Nathan Okeefe to exploit. Winstanley found his kick boots converting the try.
Undeterred by injury difficulty, Sheffield University maintained pressure, looking to take the lead for the first time in the match.
Callan Clark kept his head under the pressure of the ball bouncing unpredictably inside the Hallam five-metre line by taking no risk and thrawting the attacking opportunity by kicking the ball into touch.
The pressure led to a breakthrough as Felix Hawes scored after capitalising from an underprepared Hallam defence who were slow to regroup after conceding a penalty inside their 22-metre line.
A clinical conversion from a tight angle under pressure by Winstanely puts Sheffield University into the lead, making it 18 – 20.
Two quick tries with minutes to spare put the nail in Hallam’s coffin as Simon Billingsley and Cameron Halliwell crossed the white line. Winstanley calmly converts both tries by pointing to his inner arm, indicating he has ‘Ice in his veins’, capping off a resilient 18 – 26 win for the University of Sheffield.
