Stafford held their final friendly game of the new season against a travelling Welsh team. Wrexham play their rugby in the tough Swalec Division 2 North league, presenting the home side with a difficult test for their final encounter before the cup game against Stoke next week.

The first quarter witnessed two very physical teams trading blows to assert dominance in a keenly contested game. Stafford looked good in the set pieces and a dominate scrum was starting to unsettle the opposition. The referee kept strict control over the two warring sides and after warning both captains for persistent minor infringements, the home side were reduced to fourteen for the next transgression. The referee had a busy period when a second yellow left Stafford with only thirteen on the field. The visitors took full advantage of the extra men and despite some valiant defence, snatched two converted tries to open up a 0 – 14 lead prior to the half time whistle.

Stafford started the first half back up to full strength and straining at the leash to fight their way back into the game. An early scrum saw Stafford destroying Wrexham, Oli Greatholder picking up the ball and brushing off Welsh hands to crash over for a try, Charlie Venables slotting the conversion through the posts. Wrexham continued to battle and an intercepted pass allowed them to restore a two try lead. The referee reduced Stafford back down to fourteen for a further infringement, but this just spurred on the home side as they started to smash their way up the field. The understrength home side launched a war of attrition against a solid visitors defence, but Ali Oxley was not to be denied as he ducked and squirmed across the line for Staffords second, Charlie Venables adding the conversion. It was all Stafford for the remainder of the half and they continued to dominate in most areas of the game. The home side backs had the final say as a period of sublime play saw slick hand ripping apart a desperate defence, James Atkinson stretching into the corner for the third Stafford try of the half. The cathedral held its breath as the difficult conversion was taken, but it agonisingly flew just wide of the posts, giving the victory to the visitors.

A superb performance from Stafford and at full strength they look a very dangerous team. There were some excellent individual performances, but particularly impressive was the dominance in the scrum and penetration of the back line.