Tigers breathe easy after crucial victory

SHEFFIELD Tigers returned from Cumbria with a hard-fought four points after overcoming dogged hosts and fellow strugglers Kendal.

In wet and windy conditions, the match was played out in a quagmire which affected both sides’ ability to play open and flowing rugby and it was Tigers’ forwards that ultimately won the day.

Pete Swatkins put Tigers into an early lead, stand-off Jonny West converting.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kendal hit back two minutes later with Mark Ireland kicking a penalty.

After the break, Sam Cook added a second try for Tigers to take their lead to 12-3 and although the conversion was missed it was to prove enough to take the win.

The hosts hit back in the 69th minute with prop Dries Vetner crashing over and Ireland adding the conversion, which was enough for them to take a losing bonus point but not to take the win.

“We defended well against them in the first half, and got more of the ball, and ultimately I think we deserved the win,” said Tigers’ official Nigel Dakin.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Despite dominating the scrummage and matching the Bromsgrove forward effort, Hull were undone by a series of basic errors in kicking and handling that presented Bromsgrove with five tries.

Full-back Kirk strolled in for the opening try for Hull, although the wide angle proved too much for James Cameron to convert. This was to be the high point of Hull’s afternoon as poor kicking presented Wilson with an equalising try and Oliver the go-ahead score.

With the conversions missed and the score at only 10-5 it was possible for Hull to retrieve the situation. But missed tackles enabled Bache to score in the corner and then after another good passing movement by the home side Hull’s stretched defence could only watch as Warren dived on a loose ball over the line.

Cameron kicked a penalty but the charging down of a simple clearance kick enabled Burrows to touch down for the home side.

Hull then had a good spell of pressure and Chris Murphy drove the team over for a score but two more tries either side of that ended their hopes.