MATCH REPORT // Newcastle Thunder 32 v 38 Sheffield Eagles

Despite a spirited fight back in the second half, Newcastle Thunder fall short to Sheffield Eagles in a feisty Summer Bash clash at the LNER Community Stadium in York.

Thunder started the fixture brightly and worked hard to get into good positions but fell to an interception from Sheffield’s Anthony Thackeray. Keeping the ball alive the Eagles opened the scoring through centre Bayley Liu who dived over in the corner.

Jack Hansen converted from the touchline and the Eagles led 6-0 after 7 minutes.

Sheffield would strike moments later through winger Ben Jones-Bishop, collecting a loose pass and breaking tackles to score out on the right.

Hansen converted and the score now stood 12-0 with 12 minutes played.

Thunder would get their first of the afternoon five minutes later through winger Gideon Boafo. An excellent assist from half-back Jack Miller with a looping pass allowed Boafo to collect a pass to dive in the corner. Nikau Williams converted from the touchline and Thunder trailed 12-6.

Sheffield would show their class to see out the half, adding a further two tries through Kris Welham and Brandon Douglas. With Hansen converting both, Eagles went into the break 24-6 up.

Thunder broke the deadlock in the second half on 46 minutes after a superb break from Williams. Sprinting up the middle of the field, the scrum-half found support in Connor Bailey who ran in unopposed. Wlliams converted and the score now stood 24-12 to the Eagles.

Thunder unfortunate to build on the momentum, conceded a quick-fire double from the Eagles that saw Liu and Jones-Bishop both cross once more. Hansen, who had been excellent from the boot all day converted both tries, leaving the Eagles with a commanding 36-12 lead.

Newcastle would strike back through a double of their own soon after. Loanee Dan Windrow the first to cross on 59 minutes after another great pass from Jack Miller, which saw the space open for the Wakefield Trinity youngster.

Williams adding the extras and Thunder were back in the fixture with the score now 36-18.

Another loanee would get on the scoresheet for Thunder next up. Hull FC prospect Denive Balmforth collected a neat kick through from Williams to score down the right on 63 minutes. The creator converted the score and the game now stood 36-24 to the Eagles.

Sheffield added a penalty goal on 65 minutes through Izaac Farrell before Thunder struck twice again. Balmforth grabbed his second from dummy half on 77 minutes before a superb try from Alex Clegg rounded off the scoring.

A length of the field break, starting with Williams found Alex Donaghy who then fed the winger to score in the corner.

Both tries were unconverted and despite a desperate attempt to secure one more score, the match finished 38-32 in favour of the Eagles.

NEWCASTLE THUNDER SCORERS

TRIES: Gideon Boafo, Connor Bailey, Dane Windrow, Denive Balforth 2, Alex Clegg.

GOALS: Nikau Williams 4.

SHEFFIELD EAGLES SCORERS

TRIES: Bayley Liu 2, Ben Jones-Bishop 2, Kris Welham, Brandon Douglas.

GOALS: Jack Hansen 6.

PENALTY GOALS: Isaac Farrell