Sandal 24 - Middlesbrough 30 14th May 2023
Sandal ended their season on a disappointing note with a 24-30 defeat against Middlesbrough in the final of the Yorkshire Cup, losing to the last play of the game when their opposition crossed to score a converted try in stoppage time. On reflection the Sandal XV had only themselves to blame for the result in this their 9th attempt to bring the prodigious piece of silver-ware to Milnthorpe Green, having been in front from the 15th minute. However, they were guilty of poor line-out work after the first quarter and offering Middlesbrough too many penalties throughout which resulted in their opposition gaining better field positions unnecessarily. Also as the game drew to a close the side failed to manage the tense moments whilst Middlesbrough showed a more positive approach and in the end were more deserving of victory.
In the early stages of the game Middlesbrough put Sandal under pressure causing the side to infringe giving away ground with too many penalties and when the fourth was converted the opposition had taken a 3-nil lead after seven minutes. Middlesbrough continued to attack and again were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which was converted to increase their lead to 6-nil after twelve minutes. Undaunted, but anxious to put points on the board Sandal created space to give Luke Adams an opportunity to touch down near the posts, which gave brother Jake Adams an easy opportunity to add the extras to give his side a 7-6 lead in the 15th minute. Then followed a period of play during which both sides attacked but with defences holding fast scoring opportunities failed to occur. But then after 28 minutes from a Sandal line-out in the Middlesbrough 22 young Archie Milner gathered and made a break for the line to score near the posts and with Jake Adams converting Sandal had increased its lead to 14-6. Between this score and half time both sides missed kickable penalties and no further scores were recorded before the interval.
In the second half Middlesbrough was the first to score after 45 minutes with a penalty kick following yet another Sandal infringement to take the score to 14-9. Then followed a Sandal onslaught in the Middlesbrough half with an excellent inter-passing move which ended with Archie Milner crashing over for his second try and with Jake Adams adding the conversion Sandal ‘s lead had increased to 21-9 with the side’s position looking good after 51 minutes. At this point Middlesbrough turned up the pressure, improved their field postion with the help of two more penalties and in the 55th minute from a line-out formed a rolling maul which the Sandal side was unable to defend, which gave the opposition a converted try and the score moved to 21-16. Middlesbrough were now looking dangerous but some relief came to Sandal with a Jake Adams penalty in the 62nd minute to take the score to 24-16. Immediately after this improvement the Middlesbrough stand-off and play-maker received a yellow card for a high tackle which might have helped Sandal but unfortunately it only concentrated Middlesbrough’s resolve. A further 8 minutes elapsed with Sandal finding it difficult to put together respectable attacking moves and with more infringements gave Middlesbrough an opportunity from a penalty to touch and from the line-out to form another rolling maul to cross and convert to take the score to 24-23 with only eight minutes left on the clock. The situation had become very tense with the result favouring either side and for the remaining time Sandal seemed to have held out until in the 80th minute Middlesbrough was awarded a final penalty. With their confidence now growing their stand-off set up an attacking move which resulted in the side scoring in the corner after a referee and assistant referee consultation. The try was converted which was immediately followed by the final whistle and Middlesbrough were quick to celebrate their Yorkshire Cup Final victory with a winning score of 30 points to Sandal’s 24.

Written by Howard Newton