Sheffield Eagles 40 London Broncos 6: Aston thrilled as ‘outstanding’ Eagles stun relegated Broncos

A week after Leigh Centurions triumphed over fallen World Club champions Bradford Bulls, it was Sheffield Eagles’ turn yesterday to inflict demoted London Broncos’ first defeat of the campaign.

The manner in which Mark Aston’s side did so, running in eight tries, was mightily impressive.

They were 20-0 up after just 34 minutes and in complete control, their full-time opponents looking visibly shocked by a combination of the hosts’ slick approach work and rugged defence.

Granted, London were not without unfortunate problems which they could do little about, losing two players to nasty injuries in the first half alone.

Scrum-half Joe Keyes was led off in a daze after lengthy treatment on the field in the 22nd minute and, soon after, ex-Leeds Rhinos full-back Richard Mathers – London’s high-profile signing from Wakefield Trinity – was stretchered off after his head clashed with Jon Molloy’s knees while trying to stop the thundering forward, who was so classy on his Sheffield debut.

The visitors were always likely to struggle after such disruption but they were already 16-0 down when Mathers departed and more credit should be given to the style of the home side’s performance.

The only disappointing aspect for Sheffield was the woeful attendance of just 361, one of their lowest league crowds in years and a genuine worry as they start life at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium while they await their new ground being completed some time towards the end of the 2016 campaign.

Aston, whose side lost at Dewsbury in their first game, said: “We played some outstanding rugby.

“We were disappointed last week and said they’d played dumb but (yesterday) we stuck to a game plan, worked hard and were defensively great for 80 minutes. To keep a full-time side like that, who have just come out of Super League, to one pretty flukey try on the hour is pretty outstanding.

“We were composed and I’m delighted for them. I think people will take notice but we’ll have to back it up next week with a tough trip to Whitehaven.”

Sheffield took just 106 seconds to get off the mark, Michael Knowles scoring from Dominic Brambani’s kick for a try to bolster their own confidence instantly.

It would be a common theme as five tries would come from kicks including their second, the London defence making a hash of clearing it to gift second-row Molloy a try in the 17th minute after arriving on a month’s loan from Wakefield last week and only training on Friday.

Full-back Quentin Lalulu-Togagae then rattled up his 500th point for the club with his 125th try in Sheffield colours before Kyle Briggs eased over after London second-row Daniel Harrison spilled another ball coming away from his own line.

Brambani added two conversions for a 20-0 interval lead and that was extended further when Briggs’s grubber was collected by Misi Taulapapa.

Sam Smeaton then got his first try for the club before Rhys Williams finally replied for the bemused visitors, Wes Naiqama converting.

Rob Worrincy came off the bench to make his first appearance since re-signing for the Eagles, having completed a nine-month ban for betting on games while at Halifax, but it was Duane Straughier and Scott Turner who rounded off the scoring with late tries, Pat Walker improving the latter.

London coach Joey Grima also saw props Nick Slyney and Josh Cordoba depart injured but he offered no excuses.

“I don’t think we competed hard enough and it was evident by some of their tries; their energy and competitiveness was clear to see for everyone and we were just out-enthused,” he said.

Sheffield Eagles: Lalulu-Togagae; Taulapapa, Smeaton, Yere, Turner; Briggs, Brambani; Battye, Davey, Thorpe, Knowles, Straughier, Walker. Substitutes: Aston, Tonks, Worrincy, Molloy.

London Broncos: Mathers; Williams, Farrer, Naiqama, Hellewell; Thomas, Keyes; Slyney, Nasso, Cordoba, Harrison, Lovegrove, Garside. Substitutes: Dwyer, Dollapi, Wallace, Everwtt.

Referee: D Merrick (Featherstone).