Sheffield Tigers 42 - Bromsgrove 41
Poor play from the Bromsgrove kick-off gave the visitors a flying start. The ball was allowed to bounce twice in the Tigers twentytwo before a short touch kick enabled the Bromsgrove forwards and number eight Sam Gibbons to force a rolling maul from the lineout over the try line and Jon Critchlow converted. Bromsgrove had started much the better of the two sides and it needed a good tackle by prop Anthony Ross to break up another attack.
Bromsgrove nearly outflanked Tigers defence only for the referee to bring play back for Tigers offside and Critchlow added three more points and 10 - 0 after just seven minutes. Tigers then got into the opposition half and started to pass the ball with confidence. A good pick up of a low pass by Richard Joel enabled the ball to be passed down the line and Peter Swatkins raced in untouched from twenty metres. Tom Outram converted and the lead was cut to three points after ten minutes. Bromsgrove were kicking for position but when they were penalised Jon Buchanan made the first of many strong runs and off loaded to Jamie Broadley. He powered between two defenders before cutting inside the fullback for a seven pointer on sixteen minutes.
Tigers were now looking sharp and three minutes later a sustained attack forced a penalty and Outram added the three points. The strong Bromsgrove pack came back but a chance for the visitors was negated as winger Liam Wallace shepherded a chip to the corner into touch. Critchlow reduced the lead to just four points with a penalty on twentyeight minutes. Two minutes later it was a repeat of the Buchanan break and Broadley power show. This time from Buchanan’s pass he went outside a defender before shrugging off a would be tackler to race in. Outram again converted and the lead was 24-13 with ten minutes till half-time. Ross White had a seventy metre double kick and chase which was only just cleared by Bromsgrove before there was stoppage for what appeared to be a hamstring injury to the referee Stephen Rainey. There was just time for him to be replaced by an assistant referee and for fourth official Alick Bush to display his famous yellow shirt before the half-time whistle sounded.
The start of the second half was marred by an injury to Bromsgrove’s
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back-row player & captain Tom Warren. After an hour long delay for a neck injury he was taken to hospital by ambulance and the match restarted. We wish him a speedy and complete recovery. Callum Mackenzie replaced Steve Walker in Tigers back-row as Bromsgrove mounted pressure on the home try line. An error was expensive as having gained possession of the ball Tigers then lost it and the Bromsgrove prop Kevin Salisbury was driven over. Critchlow converted for 24-20. Gregor Hayter replaced Dave Price with White moving to hooker. This immediately saw Tigers pack take a scrum against the head and from Hayter’s pick up and drive Tigers nearly scored. Soon after a long floated pass by Buchanan saw winger Alex Graham step inside his man for a seven pointer. 31-20 after fortynine minutes. Back came Bromsgrove and five minutes later a poor pass on the half-way was pounced on by the visitors. Two missed tackles later the Bromsgrove centre Lloyd Lones scored under the posts to cut the lead back to four points again. From the restart Bromsgrove thought they had cleared their lines with a long kick to the Tigers ten metre line. Swatkins thought otherwise as he caught the ball and, with the defence rushing towards him, placed a diagonal kick into space near the corner. His pace won the race to the ball and he took a tackler over the line with him to edge out the lead to nine points after fiftysix minutes. Outram added a penalty four minutes later and the win looked secure at 39-27.
The Bromsgrove pack had other ideas as they began to get on top with strong driving mauls. From a Tigers knock-on at the base of a scrum the visitors forwards drove over the try line and replacement George Glenn was credited with the score. Critchlow again converted and with fourteen minutes left the home lead was down to just five points at 39-34. Tigers replaced Anthony Ross at prop with Anton O’Donnell as Tigers took play into the
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Bromsgrove twentytwo. Joel stole the visitors lineout ball to set up two unsuccessful catch and drive attempts by the home forwards and Tigers had to settle for an Outram penalty. What an important three points that was to prove, as in the last minute the Bromsgrove pack again drove Tigers forwards over the try line for a seven pointer. There was no time to restart the game and Tigers had won a thrilling contest by just the one point.
Credit goes to both sides for a marvellous advert for rugby at this level. The win keeps Tigers in fourth equal spot in the league and Tom Outram’s seventeen points puts him on top of the league kickers with ninetyseven points. We wish the referee and Bromsgrove’s Tom Warren speedy recoveries and look forward to the return fixture in February. Bromsgrove have since reported that although Tom was taken to hospital as a result of a serious injury to his neck they are happy to say that his X-Rays showed no damage and he has been discharged.
This Saturday sees Tigers make the long trip to Luctonians. This will be another stern test as they have won five of their eight matches and are unbeaten at home.
Man of the match – Jon Buchanan – a powerful game both in defence and attack with good off loads
Team – Ross (O’Donnell 70), Price (Hayter 46), Cone, Joel, Wragg, Walker (Mackenzie 42), White, Pearson N(C), Drage, Outram, Graham, Buchanan, Broadley, Wallace, Swatkins
Replacements not used – Dunn, Argyle
Referee – Stephen Rainey (Barry Dalby 39)
Assistants – David Lodge and Barry Dalby (Alick Bush 39 (Andrew Calvert 41)
Report – Nigel Dakin
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