HUDDERSFIELD RAMS 206 V TYNE TEES TIGERS 2
SHEFFIELD THUNDER 147 V BIRMINGHAM BEARS 98
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL-AFL CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ENGLAND LEAGUE
6 JUNE 2015 1PM AND 3 PM AT THE TIGER DOME SHEFFIELD RUFC DORE MOOR
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| AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL IN SHEFFIELD |
[Please take a look at the blogs Facebook page under 'we all stand together for a few more pictures of todays games]
Invite received to Australian Rules Football and accepted, suitcase packed for a trip to Sydney it was only later I realised I was going to a city starting with the same letter......Sheffield!
My previous knowledge of Aussie Rules Football stretched back to the 1980's when Channel 4 in its early years showed highlights of games on a Saturday morning that looked very exciting so when Clay Cross Town supporter Trevor encouraged me to visit, with his mate Ray, for the chance to blog a new summer sport I could not say no.
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| SHEFFIELD TIGERS RUFC CLUBHOUSE |
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| DISASTER AS TREVOR [RIGHT[ AND RAY ARE NOT SELECTED! |
Todays games were to be played at Sheffield Tigers Rufc's ground at Tiger Dome out on Dore Moor, the site of which is well placed on the southern side of the city towards The Fox House public house and although there is public transport I would guess it is a difficult ground to attend without your own transport. The ground has two main pitches at a lower level the far one is floodlit and I guess The Tigers main pitch, on the entrance road there is a small building with a small wooden temporary cricket type stand and then the main bar and changing room comes into view before behind this a store room for all the necessary rugby equipment.
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| ITS ALL IN THE PLANNING |
The club house is a functional affair with a nice bar, TV and comfortable seats were you could view a rugby game from on what I guess can be cold winter afternoons high up above the steel city. There is also a small kitchen area where I managed to obtain a coffee later and some confectionary from the barman in the break between matches. To the rear of the club house on a higher level accessed by a set of steep steps is a third pitch and this one today will be used for the two games. It is a very blustery day and this weather clearly has an effect on the games today with the wind behind your backs playing to a great advantage. As with most rugby union and league grounds at this level there is not much cover, although there is a small cover for a few people on the far side with a few benches available for 4 or 5 people. Todays crowd probably peaked at around 40 and barring the wind it was a fair day so the covered accommodation was not challenged.
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| HUDDERSFIELD RAMS GOAL ATTEMPT |
So Aussie Rules, well the game here is under the auspicious of AFL England and features teams of 9 with interchangeable subs, whereas in Australia features teams of 18 players but is played on very big oval pitches. The games in England are played on rugby pitches and with the main posts secure 6 point if the ball is goaled and if the ball strikes the centre bar which does not exist in Aussie Rules then it is still 6 points as this would not be in existence. The two outer smaller posts are known as 'behinds' and this area secures one point for travelling through these posts. The game is played in 4 quarters of 20 minutes with a five minute break on the first and third and the half way stage up to 20 minutes. The make up of the league is 7 theme named teams as in many sports today and with the link to tigers being strong for the blog recently following Sheffield's speedway team meeting on Thursday and now staged at the rugby union Sheffield side with the same moniker we add to this the first game featuring Tyne Tees Tigers taking on Huddersfield Rams for the opening 1pm 'ball up'.
The fixtures are set up to feature 4 teams and allow two games to be played on the afternoon and clearly there is some big travelling to be done by the teams and today Tyne Tees have a big distance journey.
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| TYNE TEES 'HANDBALLING' A PASS |
The game itself sees a very one sided affair with the Tigers only getting points on the board in the last 1/4 and even though both teams were in the low reaches of the league a closer contest could have been anticipated. Of course Tyne Tees had a long journey and it must be said they kept going throughout and turned a team out who gave of their best. The first quarter saw Huddersfield Rams lead 63-0 and then 104-0 by the half way stage, by the end of the fourth quarter the Rams had nearly doubled their score and managed to secure a victory by 206-2.
During the break it was nice to have a quick catch up with Huddersfield Rams President but it was but a quick chat as he was off on umpire duties for the next game.
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| SHEFFIELD THUNDERS SQUAD V BIRMINGHAM BEARS |
With the teams now out on the pitch there was just enough time to secure a quick photographic team line up of the Sheffield Thunders players who were on duty for todays game.
There was little time to secure a beverage and some chocolate from the clubhouse before we were under way for the home sides appearance and it was top of the table Sheffield Thunder taking on the Birmingham Bears.
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| HIGHER |
With the wind increasingly raising its influence on the game the first quarter saw a remarkably close score line with Thunder leading 23-22 at the hooter. The lead had switched this way and that and as the scoring went strongly with the wind for the remaining three quarters it looked like this first period was probably were Birmingham ultimately lost the game. At the half way break Sheffield had a storming second quarter with the wind at their backs to lead 76-30.
Bears took advantage of the wind in the third period with 50-15 score line in their favour meaning we entered the final 20 minutes with a score of 91-80 to the Thunder.
With weather advantage favouring Sheffield in the final quarter the home supporters were tipping the Thunder but the opening 5 minutes saw The Bears matching them all the way. In the final 15 minutes Sheffield got themselves together to overall their visitors to run out winners by 147 to 98 with some lovely goals.
At the end of the game there was a chance just to thank Sheffield Thunders Garth Nevin for an enjoyable afternoon, plus help with the team photo, as he continues to bring his nations sport to England and enthusiastically encourages his team.
Unbelievably it appears like I missed Sheffield gold medal Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill who was in attendance for some the Thunders game, how did I miss that one?
A cracking second game with a victory that keeps Sheffield at the top of the table, if you get the chance to watch some Aussie Rules do so but take a notebook and pen because the goals go in thick and fast!
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