Aston unhappy with Eagles’ performance

If Sheffield Eagles are to hold off the challengers to their current third place berth, they will have to play a lot better than this.

With a trip to Leigh Centurions on the horizon they made hard work of disposing of Whitehaven allowing the game to drift away until sparked into life when the score was level at 16-16 with 20 minutes to go.

“I’m not happy with the performance,” said coach Mark Aston. “We got the start of the game right but the rest of it we probably didn’t. We have got to start playing for 80 minutes, we are playing in fits and starts.”

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Prospects of an open game disappeared as the teams shared 18 penalties in the first half at Doncaster Knight’s rugby union club ground – Sheffield’s third ‘home’ venue this season.

Kyle Briggs provided the pass for Quentin Laulu-Togagae to stroll in for the opening points then added the goal.

Craig Calvert’s try brought a swift reply with a reversal of Sheffield’s first score as Briggs collected Laulu-Togagae’s pass.

On half-time Misi Taulapapa crashed over and with Briggs’s goal Sheffield went in 16-4 ahead.

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A penalty led to Haven scoring the first try after the restart from Scott McAvoy. A dour game only came alive when Jessie Joe Parker crossed and Lous Jouffrat’s goal levelled the score.

Briggs took charge and Scott Turner squeezed in at the corner. Briggs added the goal and Taulapapa’s second try sealed a third straight win.

Sheffield: Laulu-Togagae; Turner, Yere, Smeathon, Worrincy; Briggs, Brambani; Thorpe, Carlile, Stringer, Knowles, Straugheir, Petersen. Substitutes: Battye, Langley, Taulapapa, Davey.

Whitehaven: Jouffrat; Sigismeau, Wilde, Parker, Calvert; Aiye, Gore; Ted Chapelhow, Coyle, Beaumont, McAvoy, Allen, Brooks. Substitutes: Taylor, Newton, Jay Chapelhow, Davies.

Referee: J Roberts (RFL).