The scoreline suggests a pretty forgettable contest and, whilst not always the case, this time it would be spot on. Try scoring chances were virtually non-existent and even with a strong wind blowing down the pitch the conditions could not be blamed for such a poor game.
We simply never got going and looked a shadow of the team that beat Wheatley Hills last week. Sheffield dominated the set pieces with our scrum back-pedalling most of the afternoon and in the second half, when trying to use the wind to our advantage, we barely won a line-out on our own throw.
The first half ended scoreless with only a single shot at goal from Sheffield fly-half Jimmy Pearson as a genuine scoring chance. Even that was from almost half-way and was pushed well wide. We did manufacture two half chances but first Jonny Boatman was stopped 10 metres out after breaking from a rolling maul and penalised for holding on, then Peter Youll’s charge down earned attacking ball in the 22 only for it to be knocked-on in the backline.
With the Sheffield scrum-half yellow carded in the closing minutes of the first half and the wind now at our backs there was still optimism we could get on top in the game. The visitors had other ideas though and went straight on the attack as the second half got underway. Flanker Tom Womack made a good break and was tackled 5 metres from the line and when Liam Bailey came into the resulting ruck from the side he joined Josh Bird in the sin-bin and Pearson made no mistake with the simplest of penalties from right in-front of the posts.
Sheffield continued to press and twice had the ball over the line but were judged to be held-up and eventually we relieved the pressure with a free-kick after a delayed put-in to a scrum. Stu Waites then drew us level with an excellent long range penalty on 52 minutes but the tied scoreline only lasted 2 minutes before Pearson restored the lead with another successful shot at goal.
Pearson went on to miss two further attempts, the second from a very straightforward position, as we struggled for possession and momentum. Our chance finally came in the final 10 minutes as three times we kicked for the corner from penalties inside the 22. Despite having clung on to the first two lineouts we couldn’t do so with the third and Sheffield secured the ball to ensure a late comeback would not happen.
It was no less than the visitors deserved and had we scored a late winner it would have been a cruel outcome. We didn’t deserve to win the game and it could easily be argued we were fortunate not to lose by more as Sheffield missed kicks at goal and were twice held-up over the tryline.
With four games remaining and three of those against sides around us in the table we will have to forget about this performance quickly and play with some of the form which got us to third position if we want to stay there.
West: Mallinson, Butcher, A Cheslin, Bailey, Youll, Waites, Painter, Angus, Rollins, Coates, Hogan, Bennett, Barker, J Boatman, Miller.
Reps: Johnson, Dixon, C Cheslin
Pen: Waites
YC: Bailey
Sheffield: Shore, Twomey, Cribley, Tillyer, Morley, Pearson, Bird, Marples, Whitworth, Adamo, Montague, Ellis, Seabright, Womack, Kelly.
Pens: Pearson 2
YC: Bird
Referee: Andy Boulanger [London]