BackSat 28 Feb 2026 · Regional 1 North East
1st XVPenrith
Tries: H Jukes (2), D Ebsworth, O Wigglesworth, E Pitchford, H Joannou, W HenshallConversions: T Hodson (4)
43
7
1XV v Penrith RUFC 28/02/26 - Sandal 43 Middlesbrough 7
Justin English2 Mar - 08:54
@rfu @yrfu
Sandal RUFC returned to winning ways with the defeat of Penrith RUFC in this season’s return fixture by the substantial margin of 43-7. Unfortunately, the contest was marred by heavy rain during most of the first half, which resulted in watery ground conditions making free flowing rugby difficult. With this situation, there is no doubt that the home side left several otherwise scoring opportunities on the field against a poor visiting side, which is surely destined for relegation at the end of the season.
Playing against the slope Sandal made a dream start with Harry Jukes receiving the ball from Will Henshall on the half way and carved his way through Penrith’s defence to touch down in the top corner to give Sandal a 5-nil lead. Sandal continued to put pressure on their opponents and following a break by Declan Thompson the ball found Llyr Ebsworth who coasted untouched up the touch line to score under the posts making it easy for Tom Hodson to convert to give the hosts a 12-nil lead after seven minutes. The roles were then reversed to give Penrith field advantage from where a converted try was scored under the posts arising from Sandal’s poor defensive play, taking the score to 12-7. From the resumption Penrith kicked away possession which was exploited from the half way line by Will Henshall when broke and combined with Harry Jukes, who crossed in the corner and with Tom Hodson’s conversion Sandal had extended its lead to 19-7. With heavy rain now making things difficult the game went into a quiet mode for some 20 minutes, with both sides kicking for field positions and at times creating scoring chances only to succumb to good defences. But as half-time approached Penrith went on the attack only to lose the ball in Sandal’s 22 to Mihali Joannou who kicked ahead, which resulted in the receiver conceding a penalty. Harry Jukes took a quick penalty and passed to Llyr Ebsworth who had Oliver Wigglesworth on hand to finish off the move in the corner. The conversion was missed but Sandal took a creditable 24-7 lead into the interval together with a try bonus point.
The second half started slowly with both sides finding it difficult to post a score but then in the 55th minute Will Henshall made a telling break before handing on to Tom Hodson who had a clear run to the line but has he crossed a Penrith defender produced an unprecedented tackle with the result that the try was disallowed, resulting from the ball being considered to have been held up. Sandal continued to attack and from a line out in Penrith’s 22 the backs produced a good movement which ended in Eddie Pitchford touching down in the bottom corner and with Tom Hodson adding the conversion Sandal’s lead had moved to 31-7 with 20 minutes left on the clock. Five minutes later Penrith conceded a penalty in the Sandal 22 and from the ensuing Sandal line-out the ball crossed the field to find Harry Jukes who made the initial break before passing to Mihali Joannou who ran the final 50 metres to post Sandal’s sixth try taking the score to 36-7 and an unassailable victory. As the game slowly came to an end with the exchange of several penalties Sandal continued to strive to register a final score, which finally came when Sam Millard surged forward with Will Henshall in support to finish off the move under the posts to take the final score to 43-7 and a deserved victory played in difficult conditions against an out-played Penrith side, who to their credit never gave up.
Written by Howard Newton
Playing against the slope Sandal made a dream start with Harry Jukes receiving the ball from Will Henshall on the half way and carved his way through Penrith’s defence to touch down in the top corner to give Sandal a 5-nil lead. Sandal continued to put pressure on their opponents and following a break by Declan Thompson the ball found Llyr Ebsworth who coasted untouched up the touch line to score under the posts making it easy for Tom Hodson to convert to give the hosts a 12-nil lead after seven minutes. The roles were then reversed to give Penrith field advantage from where a converted try was scored under the posts arising from Sandal’s poor defensive play, taking the score to 12-7. From the resumption Penrith kicked away possession which was exploited from the half way line by Will Henshall when broke and combined with Harry Jukes, who crossed in the corner and with Tom Hodson’s conversion Sandal had extended its lead to 19-7. With heavy rain now making things difficult the game went into a quiet mode for some 20 minutes, with both sides kicking for field positions and at times creating scoring chances only to succumb to good defences. But as half-time approached Penrith went on the attack only to lose the ball in Sandal’s 22 to Mihali Joannou who kicked ahead, which resulted in the receiver conceding a penalty. Harry Jukes took a quick penalty and passed to Llyr Ebsworth who had Oliver Wigglesworth on hand to finish off the move in the corner. The conversion was missed but Sandal took a creditable 24-7 lead into the interval together with a try bonus point.
The second half started slowly with both sides finding it difficult to post a score but then in the 55th minute Will Henshall made a telling break before handing on to Tom Hodson who had a clear run to the line but has he crossed a Penrith defender produced an unprecedented tackle with the result that the try was disallowed, resulting from the ball being considered to have been held up. Sandal continued to attack and from a line out in Penrith’s 22 the backs produced a good movement which ended in Eddie Pitchford touching down in the bottom corner and with Tom Hodson adding the conversion Sandal’s lead had moved to 31-7 with 20 minutes left on the clock. Five minutes later Penrith conceded a penalty in the Sandal 22 and from the ensuing Sandal line-out the ball crossed the field to find Harry Jukes who made the initial break before passing to Mihali Joannou who ran the final 50 metres to post Sandal’s sixth try taking the score to 36-7 and an unassailable victory. As the game slowly came to an end with the exchange of several penalties Sandal continued to strive to register a final score, which finally came when Sam Millard surged forward with Will Henshall in support to finish off the move under the posts to take the final score to 43-7 and a deserved victory played in difficult conditions against an out-played Penrith side, who to their credit never gave up.
Written by Howard Newton
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