Rugby Club Issue 73 | Page 76

Sheffield Tigers FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/RUGBYCLUBMAG Sheffield Tigers RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB Sheffield Tigers cannot wait to get their teeth into the new season. After the mayhem that was 2016-17, there is an atmosphere of confidence and optimism at Dore Moor. gend Pe ers le te ‘ Tig Sw at s’ Sw The side was down at half time and all seemed lost. But to the delight of the visiting fans, the players never wavered. Second half tries from Pete Swatkins, Jamie Broadley and captain Ryan Holmes pushed the Tigers ahead. Young substitute Lee Monks, whose energy and tactical awareness did so much to turn the match around, sealed the Great Escape with a try in the dying minutes of the season. More than anything, it was a team effort but standout players must be named: top try scorers, Pete Swatkins and Jamie Broadley played in the County at y kle nc i It is no secret that promotion to National 2 North did not go as planned. Dogged by both injuries and just plain bad luck, the club spent much of the season facing relegation – stuck firmly near the bottom of the league. But you can’t keep a good team down, strong score lines and narrow losses kept them in touch … just. Late in the season, changes in coaching team brought back the belief that had seen the side so dominant the season before and a 30-0 victory over Preston Grasshoppers sparked a series of thumping wins. It all came down to the last game of the season – away at Luctonians. g ima e courte sy o f F ra n Pete Swatkins and Aidan Leeming vs Hinckley image coutesy of Francis Morris “We have been sponsoring Sheffield Tigers RUFC for several years now and through our sponsorship it has been our pleasure to have seen the Tigers grow on and off the field. With our head office being based in Sheffield, we always 76 Issue 73 aim to support local clubs such as the Tigers. The company was delighted to see the club get promoted in 2016 and was proud of the battle the club put up last season to stay in the Northern National league Two. Henry Boot PLC cannot wait for the start of the new season and know Sheffield Tigers have what it takes to kick on with the next challenge and have a fantastic season. We believe in you!”