On Saturday, the Brods first fifteen entertained bottom club Glossop for the final league game of the season. There was an air of expectation in the home supporters who took to the touchline after enjoying a sumptuous lunch and were in good humour after being entertained by the excellent comedian Barry Yorke.

Ground conditions were excellent under foot and for once it was a warm, sunny afternoon though there was a very strong wind blowing downhill all afternoon. Both teams were looking to finish the regular season with a win after a string of losses.

Glossop kicked off with Brods playing down the slope with the strong wind at their backs and were quickly on the attack. After a Kelly penalty finding touch inside the Glossop 22, from the ensuing line out the well-rehearsed rolling maul, the Brods forwards were over for the first try of the afternoon, coolly converted by Kelly. 7-0 after 4 minutes,

Kicks and mistakes from both sides characterised play in the next 10 minutes, but Glossop were performing well up the slope, belying their lowly league position. In fact, Glossop were retaining possession well and gaining good field position in the Brods half and were beginning to threaten, but after a peevish retaliation from the Glossop number 10, Kelly relieved the pressure with a kick into the visitors’ territory.

Brods were having to show their defensive qualities, and after 24 minutes Brods young lock, Charlie Culf, was yellow carded for an innocuous looking high tackle. Glossop continued to take play up hill into the Brods territory, and after 30 minutes it had been all Glossop and the home faithful were beginning to fear an upset. After yet another needless penalty, Glossop took it quickly and scampered over for a try converted by number 10. With the score now 7-7, Brods called for the cavalry and experienced heavyweights Lee Imiolek and Liam Stapley took the field.

The replacements made an immediate impact and after a dominant scrum Ben Barron cut through the visiting defence to score a fine individual try near the posts, the conversion making the score a now respectable 14-7. After 35 minutes Culf returned to the fray, no doubt refreshed from his 10 minute breather in the sin-bin, and from the following scrum Brods impressive number 8, Millington, powered over for a try. Conversion missed 19-7.

Brods were having a purple patch with Brods forwards enjoying total domination in the set pieces. However, plucky Glossop continued to press, spreading the ball wide up the slope, but alive to the opportunity, teenage Brods centre, Fyn Hobson, intercepted from half way to race 50 yards for Brods next try after 39 minutes, converted once more by Kelly making the score 26-7. Brods were not finished scoring in the first half, and driving the following visitors scrum back to win the ball against the head, Millington picked up and put Barron over for his second try of the afternoon in the last play of the half. 31-7.

The second half started with the wind picking up to almost gale force and the Brods faithful were wondering whether they had sufficient cushion at 31-7. Murphy soon relieved nerves galloping up hill to give Brods good field position but shortly afterwards a long clearance from within the Glossop 22, carried by the fierce wind, saw the ball come to a halt in play inches short of the Brods dead ball line, putting Brods young backs under pressure. Just when it seemed that the pressure had been cleared, the muscular Glossop 13 burst through the Brods defence from 30 metres to score an individual try. The conversion was missed but at 31-12 and with the elements in their favour, after 48 minutes it seemed Glossop were back in the game. A couple of minutes later young scrum half Leo Kemp, who had been distributing and sniping well to that point was carded for a technical offence.
For the next 10 minutes the reduced Brods numbers comfortably held out with relieving half breaks coming from bearded prop Jack Smart catching the eye.

After 58 minutes a Brods penalty gave them a line out in the Glossop 22 and the well drilled rolling maul was once again unstoppable in marching over for try number 6. The conversion made it 38-12. At this point Brods were back in full control and the recycling of the substitute bench brought on fresh legs to score another forwards rolling maul try, making the score 43-12 after 75 minutes. There was still time, however, for Glossop to score a consolation try from their big lock, driving over after a long kick, the conversion making it 43-17.

Brods immediately took play back into Glossop territory where the ball was spread and the biggest cheer of the afternoon came when the ever popular Lee Imiolek burst through the ranks to score under the posts. Converted by Josh Kelly making the score 50-17, it was a fitting end to the season that big Lee should score a fine solo try, and the whole squad can be proud of the top four finish in the Regional NE 2 League which has been the target from the off.

There's even a chance that Brods could finish third in the league, but that all depends on Goole v Moortown, this coming weekend. That match was postponed on Saturday but is due to be played this Saturday in a league/cup double-header. A Moortown win will see the Brods finish in third - our highest ever league finish in the club's history.

On the day, the well drilled Brods forwards were too strong for the visitors but special mention has to be made to the young Brods backs who imposed themselves well on the bigger Glossop back line and this gives Brods real optimism for both the upcoming Papa Johns Cup and the 24-25 season.