1st XV
Matches
Sat 14 Mar 2020
Stafford RUFC
1st XV
40
22
Longton RUFC
STAFFORD 1ST XV vs LONGTON 1ST XV. 14TH MARCH 2020. STAFFORDSHIRE INTERMEDIATE CUP SEMI FINAL.

STAFFORD 1ST XV vs LONGTON 1ST XV. 14TH MARCH 2020. STAFFORDSHIRE INTERMEDIATE CUP SEMI FINAL.

Steven McLuckie15 Mar 2020 - 20:01
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Stafford run in six tries to fight their way to within touching distance of silverware with a cup final place, despite a strong Longton performance.

Stafford welcomed Longton for their inaugural visit to Coopers Park and a much-anticipated cup semi-final clash. The Potteries side had recovered from a slow start to the season with recent results securing a comfortable fifth place league position. Longton came into the fixture courtesy of an awarded tie against Uttoxeter, with Stafford earning their place with a hard-fought win over holders Newcastle.

Longton came crashing into the match with the visiting forwards carrying hard and driving deep into home side territory. The Stafford pack responded in kind and the opening ten minutes dissolved into a crashing mass of bodies trying to push the ball around the pitch. The Coopers Park XV dug in and some good spoiling play eventually secured an attacking scrum. The visitors were sharp in the set piece and a surge saw the ball squirting loose out of the back. An alert Jerry Qasenivalu secured the ball and pressed on the gas to get behind the Longton defence for the first time in the afternoon. A short pass found Callum Jones who wreaked havoc in the visiting ranks before Dan Mills finished the attack with a deserved try, converted by Christian Ureche. A subsequent scuffle saw most of the players pile in swinging their handbags and the referee punishing both sides with a yellow card to temporarily reduce the teams to fourteen a piece on the pitch. Longton settled back into a familiar attack through their forwards and soon got their reward with an equalising try which remained unconverted. The game hurtled on and eventually both teams got some respite when they were restored to a full squad on the pitch. But barley a few minutes elapsed before Longton were back down to a temporary fourteen from a second yellow of the game. Stafford took full advantage setting up a siege of the visiting try line, spurning a couple of penalty kick opportunities in favour of attacking line outs. Longton repelled a couple of forays but couldn’t stop Callum Jones from powering across the line for a try, converted by Christian Ureche. The travelling XIV kept the ball tight from the restart, but a tenacious forage by Callum Hoy ripped the ball clear. Fast hands shipped the ball across the pitch and Jerry Qasenivalu stepped through any remaining defence for a try, converted by Christian Ureche. Stafford went into half time leading 21-5 and managing to contain a bullish Longton Performance.

Stafford resumed the pressure from very early in the second half. A couple of attacks saw players crossing the line but unable to ground the ball. Longton looked to have absorbed the worst of the assault until an unstoppable offensive by Carl Williams broke through any resistance for a try, converted by Christian Ureche. With a full XV back on the pitch Longton battled back into the game, taking their first points of the half through some bruising forwards play which earned a converted try. The restart saw the visitors punting a speculative kick, which a flying winger chased down and as Stafford failed to deal with the ball, a Longton hand claimed the try. The Potteries side had grabbed all of the momentum and it wasn’t long before they claimed another try to put themselves within seven points of the lead. The game was balanced on a knife edge with both sides fighting hard and the clock ticking down into the closing ten minutes. A Stafford yellow reduced the county town team to fourteen for the remainder of the game and looked to have given Longton the advantage that they needed. The home side responded magnificently, starting to disrupt line outs and grind out the upper hand in the scrum. It was still a very tight game until a Jerry Qasenivalu run turned Longton inside out and a supporting Callum Jones charged onto the ball for his second try of the afternoon, converted by Dan Mills. Stafford started to stretch the visitors and were threatening from all areas of the pitch. An exhausting run by Gareth “Obi” Ley saw the home side forward bought down just short of the club house. But with a few minutes to go Obi was on the charge again, this time releasing Sam Egerton who tore past everyone and Callum Jones took the final pass for his third try of the afternoon to close off the game. Stafford ended the game with a 40-22 victory to book a place in the final against Leek on president’s day 26th April 2020.

Match details

Match date

Sat 14 Mar 2020

Kickoff

15:00
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Gold Sponsor - Towergate Insurance
Shirt Sponsor - Stafford Railway Building Society
Club Sponsor - Marston's Brewery
Club Sponsor - Mayflower Control
Club Sponsor - Churchill China
Ball Sponsor - Asset Solutions
Club Sponsor - O2 Touch Rugby
Club Sponsor - Thane Dispersions  Ltd
Club Sponsor - RMS
Shirt Sponsor - Lookers BMW & MINI Stafford
Shirt Sponsor - Gatehouse Theatre
Club Sponsor - Stafford Superbowl UK
Shirt Sponsor - OBI Home Improvements
Shirt Sponsor - Castle Way Dental Care
Club Sponsor - W R Davies Motor Group
Club Sponsor - STAFFORDSHIRE MECHANICAL SOLUTIONS