London Broncos v Sheffield Eagles
On Sunday 26th February the Sheffield Eagles played their next game of the 2023 season, away to London Broncos.
We look back to the first time that Sheffield Eagles played Fulham, who went on to become London Broncos
The first game against each other
Sheffield Eagles and London Broncos played each other for the first time on 9th September 1984, the 2nd game of the Eagles' first season. London were then known as Fulham - before becoming London Crusaders, London Broncos. then Harlequins before going back to London Broncos in 2012.
That first game against each other was at Owlerton stadium and it saw the Eagles lose 18-14 in front of a crowd of 1,145. Try scorers for the Eagles that day were Gary Hetherington and Paul Welsh, with three goals from Dave Alred.
In the book "Against the Odds" it says of the game:
The Eagles were at home against newly relegated Fulham who were on odds of 3-1 to win Division 2. Like all good Rugby League teams Eagles had fielded A. N. Other against Rochdale, now revealed as scrum half Paul Welsh, whilst injuries forced Gary Hetherington to turn out as stand-off. The Fulham backs were regarded as the best in the division, with the Moroccan Hussein M'Barki and young Welsh Rugby Union convert Adrian Cambriani adding pace to their attack. Trailing by 12 points at the interval Eagles achieved a respectable 14 points, with a Hetherington try near the posts and Welsh also scoring with Dave Alred on target with three goals. The 14-18 defeat appeared to confirm the Eagles promise and potential. Vince Farrar was the media's choice of man of the match and some of the fans had already dubbed him as "Bald Eagle" as it was this class and experience that would be of great importance to the club on the field.
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