Milestone for Ireland in Tigers’ derby win
SHEFFIELD Tigers fly-half Mark Ireland fittingly secured victory at Sheffield in the dying minutes after a man-of-the-match display that saw the veteran become the all-time top points scorer in National 2.
The 33-year-old’s ability from the tee, scoring 20 points while pulling the strings in the middle of the park for Tigers, was pivotal as they reclaimed the Chandler Cup and moved ahead of their derby rivals in the table.
Tigers scored tries through centre Jamie Broadley and replacement hooker Louis Townsend in their first away win since beating Rotherham in November.
Tigers director of rugby Jack Howieson said: “We were outstanding defensively for the first 25 minutes and that really made the difference.
“It’s an important win. They beat us convincingly early in the season and that began a bit of a dip, so everyone was up for this. Our form’s been
improving and we played some really good rugby.
“We’ve beaten Preston, Wharfedale and Tynedale recently, so it feels like we’ve turned a corner.”
It didn’t take Tigers long to get ahead. The visitors won a scrum penalty in the third minute, with Ireland kicking it from 40 metres out.
Two minutes later, Ireland doubled the Claret and Amber lead before a great ruck turnover by Tom Calladine stripped the home side of the ball, allowing Broadley to sprint 35 metres to score under the posts.
Sheff’s penalty count was already in double figures as the ever-present Ireland scored his third from four, making it 16-0 after 16 minutes. Tigers lock Joe Fitzsimons was sin-binned in the 26th minute for having his hands illegally in the ruck and Sheff capitalised. The home side put together 12 phases and gained 50 metres before wing Cameron Catleugh found a gap to score.
Sheff narrowed the gap to two points after half-time, hooker Sam Grady-Graham scoring.
Great work in the loose from Connor Scott and Calladine led to Ireland scoring twice more from the tee, with Sheff pinged for coming in at the side.
A driving maul from a line-out ten metres out went over the whitewash, Townsend dotting down.
Tigers replacement Simeon Meek was sinbinned for obstruction within seconds of coming on and Sheff wing Chris Hooper found a gap on the short side of a driving maul to score.
An aerial collision saw Catleugh suffer a broken leg before Ireland secured the win late on.
Sheffield coach Anthony Posa said: “We’re disappointed. We felt we could have won. It was a typical derby game, very brutal, well contested, but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb at the start.”