MATCH REPORT: Vikings win tight match at Cookson

March 21, 2016 editor

Sheffield were forced into two changes from the match against Bury, with Luke Morton & Rich Hudson unavailable, meaning Niall Morton made his return from injury & Laura Watson came in, having just had her loan to Sheffield approved. Northumbria, meanwhile, made just the one change from their match against Edinburgh, with Keith Oldham replacing Dan Thompson in the side.

Northumbria achieved a 7-3 in heat two after a first heat 5-5 to go four up, but Sheffield reduced that lead to two with a 6-4 in heat four. Three drawn heats followed, with a 6-4 in heat eight for Northumbria extending the arrears to four, but a 7-3 to Sheffield in heat nine meant that the scores were level at half time.

A 7-3 in heat eleven put Northumbria back in front, but an exclusion to Michael Parr in heat thirteen after falling allowed Sheffield to gain a 7-2 and placed the home side in front for the first time by a single point. However, Ed Morton’s tape exclusion in the next heat meant the away side hit straight back with a 7-2 of their own and went four up.

An exchange of 7-3s in heats sixteen and seventeen left the Stars needing a 7-3 to draw the match in the final race, and although Adam Watson prevented a Gavin Parr maximum by winning the heat, Niall Morton fell when diving the Vikings’ captain to make the final scores Sheffield 87, Northumbria 91.

For the Vikings, Jason Keith went unbeaten and Gavin Parr dropped just one point, whilst Michael Parr and Dan Redshaw were the difference between the two sides. For Sheffield, Kyle Holland, Adam Watson and Joe Twigg all scored highly once again, whilst Niall Morton’s return was welcomed.

SHEFFIELD 87
Kyle Holland 16+2 (5), Vicky Brown 12+1 (5), Sam Haines 4 (4), Ed Morton 11 (5), Joe Twigg 14+1 (5), Adam Watson 14+3 (5), Niall Morton 10+1 (4), Laura Watson 6 (3)

NORTHUMBRIA 91
Michael Parr 14 (5), Andy Knowles 4+1 (2), Terry Kirkup 9 (5), Jason Keith 18+2 (5), Gavin Parr 16+3 (5), Keith Oldham (4), Dan Wharrier 12+1 (5), Dan Redshaw 12+1 (5)

Referee: Luke Morton

Upcoming Matches: The Vikings have a Division Two match away at Glasgow on the 4th of April, and both first teams are back in action a week later on the 10th when Northumbria travel to Heckmondwike and Sheffield are at home to Astley & Tyldesley

Division Two

SHEFFIELD 82
Niamh Morton 10+2 (5), Sophie Middleton 12 (5), Vicky Brown 11 (3), Laura Watson 13+3 (5), Rob Mawhood 9+1 (3), Sam Haines 13+1 (4), Jack Brownell 2 (2), Joe Twigg 12 (3)

NORTHUMBRIA 68

Referee: Kyle Holland