Quarter-finals reward for Eagles as nine-try display ousts Knights

Sheffield moved smoothly into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a nine-try victory over the Knights as scrum-half Dom Brambani simply posed too many questions for York’s stretched defence to answer.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Apr 2012, 13:09 BST

Andrew Henderson was Brambani’s foil ensuring the willing and powerful pack continually maintained impetus thereby forcing York to play primarily off the back foot. After just seven minutes Henderson looked to have opened the scoring darting over the line from close range only for an eagle-eyed touch judge to rule he had used an elbow.

But the respite was short lived as Brambani’s quick break and touch down set the scoreboard rolling and even though James Ford looked to level for the Knights after collecting Jordan Tansey’s kick through it was Brambani who immediately hit back with the first of two influential 40/20 kicks.

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York had upped their commitment after losing at Hunslet last week although struggled to create any significant impact against a resolute, committed defence. But it was no surprise when Eagles winger Neville Morison scored after a cross-field passing movement and Henderson dived over from close range providing an 18-point lead at half-time.

The Eagles intensified the pace after the break and Misi Talapapa offloaded for Morrison to score.

Menzere Yere picked up the scraps to score as York winger Ben Dent failed to collect Brambini’s high kick in the swirling wind.

Brambani’s repeat bomb saw Dent misjudge the ball’s flight to hand an easy try to Scott Turner but the scrum-half then gifted York a simple try as George Elliott collected a wayward pass to sprint 60-metres and touch down.

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Eagles second rower Alex Szostak marked his 100th appearance for the Eagles with a fine try from Henderson’s quality offload before full-back Quentin Laulu-Togagae scored two trademark tries against a failing defence only for York substitute Dave Sutton to have the final word touching down Tansey’s kick.

York: Tansey, Bush, Elliott, Garside, Dent, Ford, Thorman, Sullivan, Brining, Freer, Hemmings, Houston, Clarke. Substitutes: Lee, Benson, Sutton, Aldous.

Sheffield: Laulu-Togagae, Turner, Yere, Talapapa, Morrison, McDonald, Brambani, Howieson, Henderson, Higgins, Szostak, Green, Hirst. Substitutes: Knowles, Hepworth, Rowe, Stringer.

Referee: R Laughton (Barnsley).

Related topics:Dom BrambaniYorkEaglesKnights