Sandal hosted a visit from Old Brodleians after a break of more than 15 years to contest the quarter final of the 2025/26 Yorkshire Cup. The game resulted in being one of two halves with Brods taking a convincing first half lead of 17 points with Sandal producing an improved performance in the second by scoring 22 points without response to register a 36-31 victory and a place in the semi-final of the Cup Competition.
In the game’s early stages Sandal suffered by having little possession with the result that they had to withstand the pressure of Brodleians’ lively attacking approach, which had to produce results. So, with the game eight minutes old the visitors gathered momentum in the Sandal half and a kick ahead was gathered by their winger who made no mistake in touching down under the posts to register a converted try to take a 7-nil lead. Only a further three minutes elapsed before Brodleians contested a line-out in the home side 22 from where the ball was distributed to their centre who easily crossed to score a second converted try to increase their lead to 14-nil. Undaunted, Sandal worked hard to take play into their opponent’s territory from where the side steadily built-up pressure to give Will Forrest the room to cross in the corner and with Tom Hodson converting from wide out Sandal had reduced the deficit to 14-7 after 21 minutes. But two minutes later the visitors regained their fourteen-point lead with another converted try taking the score to 21-7. From the home side’s point of view the situation wasn’t looking good, which worsened in the 33rd minute when Brods scored again in the corner to improve their lead to 26-7. From the resumption Sandal went on the offensive with Tom Hodson creating his own space to cross in the corner to take the score to 26-14, when he converted his own try in the 36th minute. From the resumption Sandal lost possession to give Brodleians the advantage and with half time approaching the visitors were anxious to add to their score which they did with a fifth try after 40 minutes to take a deserved 31-14 lead into the break, leaving Sandal with it all to do in the second half against the slope.
The early part of the second half saw the sides exchange field positions several times before Harry Jukes was able to mount a serious attacking break before handing on to supporting Tom Hodson who posted his second try, which he converted to reduce the visitors lead by seven to take the score to 31-21 in the 47th minute. With this score Sandal was slowly taking command and showing more positivity in their approach to put pressure on the visitors in their own half. Such that after 55 minutes from a home side scrum the Brodleians line was attacked enabling Aaron Dyer to touch down under the posts to give Tom Hodson an easy conversion to bring his side’s score to within three points of the visitors at 31-28 with a possible victory in sight. By now it was anyone’s game and with sound intentions Sandal took play well into the Brodleians’ half from where they made several attempts to cross but the visitors’ defence held firm for 15 minutes. But finally, Brodleians transgressed for which the home side was awarded a penalty in front of the posts and Tom Hodson made no mistake in placing his kick between the posts to level the score at 31-31. At this point there were ten minutes left on the clock during which time both sides suffered tense moments but the one able to hold its nerve was most likely to win with the next score being crucial. Then after 75 minutes from a scrum in the Brods 22 the Sandal backs made a break and a kick ahead was gathered by Harry Jukes who charged over to give his side the lead for the first time at 36-31. With four minutes of play still remaining Sandal was able to hold out for a hard-earned victory which looked most unlikely at the break, but credit must go to all players for believing in their own ability to secure a cup victory which home supporters will remember well into the future.
Written by Howard Newton