MATCH REPORT: Midlands Hurricanes v Sheffield Eagles - 1895 Cup

Match Report by Charlie Lynch

Alexander Stadium played host as dual registration partner clubs turned opponents with Midlands Hurricanes taking on Sheffield Eagles.

Two sides with no previous competitive match ups but a wealth of knowledge on each other symbolised by their dual registration status for the upcoming season.

A fast-paced start saw Inoke Nakoronivalu carry the Canes up the pitch in a fast start for the hosts, before the Eagles reversed the play almost immediately with a 40/20 kick.

Matty Marsh’s turn of pace high up the field left the Hurricanes unable to react with only the try line left for him to cross, scoring the try confidently before Cory Aston successfully converted his kick to put the visitors six points ahead early on.

A lull in play was quickly broken by a good passing move by the Eagles down the right side of the field. Farrell found Marsh who reversed the ball to Millar leaving the Hurricanes 0-10 down 15 minutes in, with the Eagles missing the conversion.

The crowd compared Hurricanes vs Eagles to a disappointing Disney movie title but there was nothing family friendly about this match. Tensions rise as Farrell’s kick strikes Welham in the face and the two are carded 25 minutes in for a biff off the ball.

The tempers began to flare as the Hurricanes started to move the ball forward with some intent and amongst some heated exchanges caused by Farell of the Eagles kicking the ball at the face of Matty Welham, both were given yellow cards.

With the Hurricanes skipper in the sinbin, the Eagles mounted a successful attack on the Hurricanes try line and eventually Bayley Liu is the man to claim the points to put the Eagles 14-0 up on the brink of half time after they miss another opportunity to pull further clear of the Hurricanes with a missed kick.

The Hurricanes look to cement themselves in the match with some impressive forward play already looking like an improvement from the first 40 minutes.

Following the break, the Hurricanes looked to get themselves back into the game with some impressive forward play and the early signs in the second half showed a marked improvement from the home side.

Despite a strong start to the second half for the Canes, a scrappy move from Sheffield resulted in Oliver Roberts getting himself on the scoresheet as he added the visitor’s fourth try of the afternoon. The Eagles found a kick and then score another quick fire try through Ryan Johnson to frustrate the hosts further and put them 24 points ahead.

The Hurricanes had a couple of opportunities to get on the scoresheet, missing a try opportunity following what looked like a perfectly executed kick through the crowd of Eagles backs by Welham with no one able to get to the ball before a Sheffield player and then fumbling a pass just a few yards from the try line in what was turning into a frustrating afternoon.

Frustration quickly turned into optimism though for the Hurricanes. Todd Horner found Nakoronivalu, who’s fiery footwork is too much for a previously impenetrable Eagles defence. A fast-paced attack finally smashes the Eagle’s nest, the home crowd erupt with applause.The Conversion was dispatched emphatically by Dave Hewitt to pull the score back to 6-24.

The Hurricanes looked far more comfortable in the second half as a rapid counter attack by Joeli Varo picking up a loose Eagles pass and carrying the ball around 70 yards to score his first try for the club. Hewitt did the honours again and pulled the score back to 12-24 with the home faithful buoyed by this sudden comeback.

The 15 minutes at half time must have been something magical for the Canes who looked a different side, Dave Hewitt found Ross Oakes down the left who was there to finish another quick counter attack. The conversion was missed but it was truly game on as the Hurricanes were putting up a real fight.

The Eagles, now fully aware of the threat that the Hurricanes offer were looking for fresh ideas and they eventually they found them, with Lewis Peachey breaking the Hurricanes line and finding Matty Marsh to score an important try for the Championship side as they looked to see out the game. The conversion was successful to give the visitors a 14 point cushion as the clock ticked towards full time.

Whilst the Hurricanes may have lost, to put up a strong fight against a side who will surely be fighting towards the top of the Championship shows the pre-season progress that Mark Dunning’s men are making as they build towards their round one clash with Rochdale Hornets in a month’s time.

Full time:

Hurricanes:16

Eagles: 30

Midlands Hurricanes

1. Todd Horner

28. Joeli Varo

3. Matty Welham

4. Ross Oakes

25. Inoke Nakoronivalu

14. Brad Billsborough

7. Dave Hewitt

8. Jon-Luke Kirby

19. Chris Cullimore

24. Marcus Green

15. Aaron Willis

11. Tom Wilkinson

20. Owen Maull

Subs (All Used)

18. Elliot Windley

10. Sam Bowring

16. Ellis Hobson

26. Peceli Suguvanua

18th man:

9. Daniel Barcoe

Tries: Nakoronivalu (58), Varo (61), Oakes (73).

Goals: Hewitt (2/3)

Field-goals: n/a

Sinbin: Welham (24)- dissent

Dismissal: n/a

Sheffield Eagles

1. Matty Marsh

30. Ryan Millar

21. Ryan Johnson

23. Bayley Liu

5. Matty Dawson-Jones

6. Cory Aston

19. Izaac Farrell

20. Lewis Peachey

22. Kyle Wood

10. Tyler Dickinson

24. Oliver Roberts

12. Joel Farrell

13. Titus Gwaze

Subs (All Used)

11. Connor Bower

17. Mitch Clark

18. Aaron Murphy

26. Alex Foster

18th man:

9. Vila Halafihi

Tries: Marsh (4,78), Millar (11), Liu (31), Roberts (48), Johnson (52)

Goals: Aston (3/6)

Field-goals: n/a

Sinbin: Farrell (24)- dissent

Dismissal: n/a

MAN OF THE MATCH: 25. Inoke Nakoronivalu

Penalty count: Eagles-12 Hurricanes-13

Half-time: 0-14

Referee: Mike Smaill

Attendance: 345

Scoring sequence: 0-6, 0-10, 0-14, 0-20, 0-24, 6-24, 12-24, 16-24, 16-30.