SHEFFIELD head coach Anthony Posa was a happy man as his side kicked off the campaign with a six-try bonus-point victory over Fylde yesterday afternoon.
A dominant performance from the South Yorkshire side saw a brace of tries for last season’s high-scoring winger Chris Hooper and one each for debutants Jack Dawson and Will Burden respectively.
With the try bonus point wrapped up before the half-time interval Posa was full of praise for the way his team handled the first outing of the new campaign.
He said: “That was a very good start, I’m very happy. Fylde are a quality team and we were very much in control of that game in my opinion.
“To get five points and then stop them getting their fourth try late on was impressive.”
Despite coming out on top, Posa reflected on areas for improvement.
“For me, the only time we were under pressure was when we put ourselves under pressure,” he added. “We have to get better in certain areas and will work on that for next week.”
Eary pressure from the hosts saw Dom Parsons held up over the line, before Fylde’s skipper Toby Harrison saw yellow.
Tenacious defending from the visitors was finally broken when the ball was moved swiftly out to Hooper on the left-hand flank and his pace seeing him over.
Despite total dominance, the home side were kept out until just after the half-hour mark when No.8 Ryan Burrows crashed over from close range.
Minutes later, Sheffield centre Will Smith scored the try of the game.
A free-flowing move saw Hooper burst out from half-way to feed Elliot Fisher, who was stopped just short, but a neat offload allowed Smith under the posts. Elliot added the extras for a 21-0 advantage.
The visitors hit straight back with a rare incursion into Sheffield’s half.
Good work from Greg Morgan allowed wingman Ben Turner to cross in the corner.
Just before the halftime interval, the hosts claimed the try bonus through Hooper’s power down a flank, to take the sides in at 26-5.
Fylde looked much brighter after the restart and were rewarded when Matt Garrod forced his way over.
A quick retaliation saw wingmen Hooper and Dawson combine to see the latter claim his first try for the club.
A scintillating solo effort from lightening winger Freddie Reader gave the visitors hope of a bonus point, but Burden rounded of a fine afternoon for the hosts with a sixth try.
TEAMS
SHEFFIELD: Castledine, Dawson, Smith, Burden, Hooper, Posa, Fisher, Lonsdale, Campbell, Hicklin, Crapper, Parsons, Fawdry, Hignell, Burrows Replacements: Hughes, Rogers, Castleton, Adcock, Drennan FYLDE: Atherton, Turner, Dorrington, Stott, Reader, Bishop, Gaughan, Bowker, Parker, Trippier, Morgan, Garrod, Quinn, Harrison, Walton Replacements: Rudkin, Bentley, King, Forster, Dorrington
REFEREE: Peter Connor ATTENDANCE: 168
Star man Chris Hooper -Sheffield
