By Ian Lovell at Penallta RFC
Conference South league leaders Sheffield Hallam Eagles put on a polished performance to put a bigger gap between themselves and the following pack after a hard fought 38-4 win in South Wales on Saturday July 12.
From the start, Cougars worked their way up-field courtesy of a series of penalties but they could not penetrate the visiting defence. Eagles hit back with a similar raft of penalties before a huge brawl saw both sides reduced to 12 men with Cougar’s Martin Luckwell and the visitors Tom Ashton being sin binned. Cougars were reduced to 11 men shortly afterwards as full back Danyl Davies joined them for a ten minute rest for dissent.
Numerical supremacy eventually saw Sheffield take the lead with a try by Alex Palmer, Holt missing with his goal attempt.
Cougars looked for a breakthrough but Sheffield scored again through Dean Roberts with Holt adding the goal.
Donald Kudangirana added a further unconverted try for Sheffield before Steve Bray barged his way through the defence to put the Cougars in with a shout of getting back into the game.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with both sides conceding needless silly penalties.
Sheffield full back Ross McGinn crossed out wide for an unconverted try and five minutes later Scott Smith put the game beyond the Cougars’ reach with a try under the sticks, Holt adding the extras. Eagles continued to dominate with Chris Hall crossing the white-wash, again Holt added the goal.
Tom Ashton completed the scoring after 70 minutes with a well worked try, Holt’s goal putting his side out of reach of the Cougars, who fought hard but could not break the Eagles defence again.