In a match filled with tension and flaring tempers, the Old Settletonians Stags secured a hard-fought 22-18 victory over the Boroughbridge Harlequins at Ribblehead Park. The game was marred by a second-half brawl that saw two players sent off, but the Stags kept their composure to snatch the win in the dying moments. This result bolsters Old Settletonians’s position in the top half of the Yorkshire Rugby Union standings, while Boroughbridge’s struggles continue.
From the opening whistle, it was clear that this was going to be a bruising encounter. Both teams came out with a point to prove, with crunching tackles and aggressive rucking dominating the early exchanges. The Harlequins, living up to their name, took the lead in the 12th minute when their powerful prop, Rob "The Wrecking Ball" Harrison, bulldozed his way over the try line after a series of pick-and-go phases. Fly-half Liam "Sharpshooter" Whitfield added the conversion, making it 7-0 to Boroughbridge.
Old Settletonians, however, responded with a penalty from fullback Max "Eagle Eye" Denton in the 20th minute after the Harlequins were penalized for collapsing a maul. Denton’s boot kept the Stags in the game throughout the first half. He added another three points just before halftime, reducing the deficit to 7-6 as the teams headed into the break.
The second half began with both teams continuing to exchange heavy hits, but the match took a dramatic turn in the 55th minute when a scuffle broke out between the Harlequins' flanker, Pete "Crusher" Davies, and Old Settletonians’s hooker, Jack "Bull" Rawlings. After a heated exchange during a breakdown, punches were thrown, and soon players from both sides were involved in an all-out brawl. The referee had no choice but to show red cards to both Davies and Rawlings, reducing both teams to 14 men.
The fight seemed to galvanize Old Settletonians, who took advantage of Boroughbridge’s shaken composure. A brilliant individual effort from winger Jake "Rocket" Saunders saw him beat three defenders down the left wing to score in the corner, putting the Stags ahead for the first time in the match. Denton’s conversion made it 13-7 to Old Settletonians.
Boroughbridge fought back with a penalty from Whitfield, followed by a well-worked try from their captain and center, Paul "The Bulldozer" Bryant, who crashed over the line from close range. Whitfield missed the conversion, but the Harlequins were back in front, 15-13.
In a match filled with twists and turns, Old Settletonians once again turned to Denton’s reliable boot, adding another penalty to take the lead back at 16-15 with just 10 minutes left to play. However, Boroughbridge were awarded another penalty shortly after, which Whitfield slotted to make it 18-16.
With time running out, Old Settletonians threw everything they had at the Harlequins. In the final minute, a last-gasp rolling maul from the Stags' forwards trundled over the try line, with lock Sam "Giant" Wilson touching down for the decisive score. Denton added the conversion, sealing a 22-18 victory in one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.
This win pushes the Old Settletonians Stags up to fourth place in the Yorkshire Rugby Union standings, putting them within touching distance of the top three. Their gritty performance, especially after the red card incident, has cemented their reputation as one of the toughest teams to break down. With their current form, Old Settletonians is emerging as a dark horse contender for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Boroughbridge Harlequins are facing increasing pressure. This loss keeps them hovering near the relegation zone, with only two wins from their last eight matches. With the season nearing its climax, the Harlequins will need to find some consistency if they want to avoid the drop. Their discipline, or lack thereof, continues to be a major problem, with this match marking their third red card in the past five games.
Old Settletonians’s head coach, Alan "The General" Bates, praised his team’s resilience: "We kept our cool after the brawl, and I think that’s what won us the game. The lads stuck to the game plan, and Denton’s boot was on point today. I’m proud of the fight they showed."
Boroughbridge’s coach, Dave "Ironman" Watson, was less impressed with his team’s performance: "We’ve got to stop shooting ourselves in the foot. The red card was completely avoidable, and it cost us. We had the game in our hands, but we let it slip."
Final Score: Old Settletonians Stags 22 - Boroughbridge Harlequins 18.
