STAFFORD 1ST XV vs DROITWICH 1ST XV. 13TH APRIL 2024. PAPA JOHNS CUP.

Stafford 1st XV travelled across to Worcestershire for a cup encounter at the Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground. A hosting Droitwich promised to be a good opposition having had a similar season to the travelling County Town team. Following a heavy campaign, Stafford fielded a strong side but having to cover some key positions due to injury or unavailability. So, the mighty Blackberry Lane team travelled with only seventeen with a couple of debuting players and a sprinkling of returning stalwarts.

With the wind against them Stafford spent the first ten minutes in their own half as they got to know the layout of the unfamiliar pitch. The visitors put in a decent defence effort but Droitwich soon capitalised on all the territory with the opening try of the match. An early injury for the County Town team saw them calling on the bench and a subsequent yellow card, for both sides, added to the pressure as they had to temporarily play with fourteen on the field. The home side showcased some excellent rugby and taking two more tries, built a solid lead. The Stafford bench was soon empty as injuries led to more players leaving the pitch, but gained some respite from being restored back to a full compliment. With XV back on the pitch the Blackberry Lane tourists started to scrap their way back into a difficult match. Droitwich conceded a number of penalties which propelled them back towards their own try line. Feeding off the fleeting momentum Stafford put the hosting defence under the microscope as they tried to force their way across. The home side held out until Stu Lewis crumpled bodies to cross for a try, converted by Henry Perks. An unfortunate clash led to Ollie Croft being sidelined and stretchered off the pitch, leaving the visitors with only fourteen available players to continue the fight. Stafford went into half time trailing by 21 – 7, fourteen players readily available and nothing left on a depleted bench.

Working their magic, the physio team managed to resurrect one of the injured players to make up the depleted numbers. However, the opening period of the second half was horrendous for the County Town team. They were rooted to their own try line in a rolling defence trying to keep out a Droitwich who were trying to finally kill off the game. The resistance was magnificent as the visitors put the opposition down time after time until an eventual forward pass helped to clear their lines. A yellow card to the hosts reduced their numbers on the field, but Stafford soon followed the lead with a yellow card of their own. Dogged Droitwich endeavour eventually earned their final try of the afternoon to reestablish a solid twenty-one-point lead. The visiting XV wouldn’t lie down and were still working hard for each other and started to discover the combination to fire up a stuttering engine. A surprised Droitwich were forcibly bullied back up the pitch and Dan Watts crowned the phases by smashing through for a try, converted by Henry Perks. With the yellow card expiring, Stafford were restored to a full squad on the pitch. With the bit between their teeth all of the pressure was now coming from Blackberry Lane. Nothing appeared to be going right for a subdued Droitwich and they were soon stuck back on their own line. Several players couldn’t quite find the space to wrestle across, before a ferocious Alfie O’Brien broke through for a feral try and the Henry Perks conversion bought the difference to seven points. In a feisty five minutes, the hosts, exploited some rare possession to add three points to their meagres second half pot. Stafford finished at a relentless pace as they went looking for another score. The scrambled Droitwich response was more composed, but was gradually inched backwards. With the try line in sight, a cheeky Will Turner kick caused chaos for the defence. A prowling Stu Lewis burst through and scooped up the ball for a try to make it a five-point game. With a scarce few moments on the clock, the teams tussled backwards and forwards as one looked for the next score and the other dug in to endure. But time would be the undoing of the visitors fine second half comeback. Getting their greedy hands on the ball, Droitwich kicked clear for the referee’s whistle signalled the end of an energetic second half.