Rams suffer close defeat to old
rivals Thunder!
After
putting a real shift in with a weakened team against Nottingham Scorpions the
week before, the Rams were out to spoil Sheffield’s good start to the season.
This always had the making for a great day of footy, Rams vs Thunder, Yorkshire
derby day!!
Before the
game got underway both teams agreed that a minutes silence should be given to
the recent loss of a fellow Yorkshire sports man, Danny Jones of the Keighley
Cougars RL. Who tragically suffered a heart
attack only several minutes into their game against London Skalors the week
previous. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.
Rams started
the first quarter stronger out of the two teams applying plenty of pressure on
the opposition. The midfield trio of Alex Overton, Luke Booth and Graham
Bickerdike swamped the ball up contest making it difficult for the
well-established thunder play makers to have any joy. This quarter was a
typical ‘arm wrestle’ with both teams trying to assert their dominance early
on. A couple of quick goals from thunders midfielder Mark Ireland and their
full forward would prove to be a thorn in the Rams side all afternoon. Booth
soon put a stop to Ireland’s Dominance, tagging him around the pitch and
spoiling good ball at every opportunity. Huddersfield respond with 2 goals of
their own from Josh Kenny and Ross shirtliffe and few behinds to go in at
quarter time 20-15 down.
The second
quarter continued as the first one ended. Pressure, pressure, pressure! Like a
pack of Hyenas hunting the ball as group, bodies in the contest, head over the
footy. In steps the Rams pocket rocket, Frank Chiarella. The cool headed
experienced Aussie seemed to glide to contests getting his hands on plenty of
ball and great disposals linking up with Overton and Shirtliffe on many
occasions. Shirtliffe, not long back from a long layoff with a bad back was
lively all day, making big leads and supplying the forward line with good clean
ball. Rams founder Karl Haigh had a bit of an off day with the boot but proved
to be a real headache at full forward contesting everything. Goal kicking
accuracy would be the major stand out factor in this quarter…thunder kicking 6
goals, 4 behinds to Huddersfield’s 3 goals, 6 behinds. Shirtliffe, Haigh and
Josh Kenny were beneficiaries of the teams’ hard work with 1 goal each in this
term. Sheffield went in at half time 60-39 up.
After the
team talk and some tactical adjustments the Rams were ready for business. Matt
Whitely and Jakob Garside marshalled the half back line with intelligence,
finding plenty of ball in the loose for the majority of the second half. With
this Whitely was hungry, picking Booth out on four occasions resulting in 4
quick goals in as many minutes. The pendulum swung and Sheffield came back firing,
flooding the midfield Huddersfield just couldn’t match them. Stephen Hall and
Robbie ‘worm’ Wilson spoilt all day in the back line but there was nothing they
could do on the many occasions they were severely out numbered. A further
couple of goals from Bickerdike and Shirtliffe reduced the deficit of the
quarter. At 3 quarter time the rams trail 106-78 leaving themselves a tough
final term if a win was going to be achievable.
The 4th
quarter was possibly the best one of the day for the Huddersfield side. Winning
contests, calm accurate kicking and keeping that ‘never give up’ attitude they
kept going until the final siren. With Chiarella and Booth picking up niggles
in the previous quarter, the job in hand got harder but the boys stuck to it.
Sam Gill kept things ticking over with him and Bickerdike sharing the load in
the ruck. This had been a great battle all game. Clean ball into the forwards
line allowed Booth to grab another 2 goals giving him a personal tally of 6 for
the day. Wilson had the goal of the day, kicking forwards from full back,
following up in support and finding himself in the thunder goal square to score
his 1st of the day. As with most of the game the Sheffield side
stepped it up again, this time it would be too big a gap to rescue. A further 2
goals from Ross reduced the losing margin for a final score of Sheffield
Thunder 130-107 Huddersfield Rams. A fair reflection on the events of the day.
The Rams next play 23rd May against the Birmingham Bears in
Birmingham, a must win game if they are to have any hopes of making the
play-offs.
Line up
Stephen
Hall, Jakob Garside, Matt Whitely, Graham Bickerdike (1), Alex Overton, Luke
Booth (6), Regan Hargreaves, Ross Shirtliffe (4), Karl Haigh (1), Matthew
Peckett, Josh Kenny (2), Robbie Wilson (1), Sam Gill, Frank Chiarella.
B.O.G
Luke Booth -
3 votes
Frank
Chiarella - 2 votes
Sam Gill - 1 vote
