SHREWSBURY 1ST XV vs STAFFORD 1ST XV. 2ND SEPTEMBER 2023. LEAGUE.

Stafford took a short journey across the border into Shropshire for the 2023/24 season opener. With both of the teams taking a home win last season it promised to be a competitive afternoon of rugby but Sundorne Castle has historically been a difficult ground to visit. Two home grown players, Archie Bent and Colton McLaughlin made their 1st XV debut both taking up position on the wings. New signing Driss Chouhaibi was also debuting being joined by a few returning familiar faces in the forwards.

The September sun shone brightly down on the pitch making it a hot afternoon for the players to ply their trade. The opening parts of the matches were played in the centre of the park as both teams started to get the measure of each other. A couple of penalties from the hosts put the visitors within striking distance of the line. Shrewsbury held off a couple of attacks before Carl Williams wrestled his way across for the opening try of the league season, converted by Alex Rock. This ignited Shrewsbury who came crashing into the restart and, helped by a few penalties, soon levelled the scores with a try of their own. With the game back in full swing the home side launched the ball high, a cruel bounce eluded Stafford and a chasing Shrewsbury profited to take their second try with 15 minutes gone. The visitors started to find some success through their forwards driving their way to the try line. But despite some ferocious hits couldn’t find their way across for a score. Shrewsbury then demonstrated all of their class and speed as they ran the ball from their try line, along the full length of the pitch for a try, extending their lead. The bonus point try soon followed for the Salopians as they poached the ball from minor Stafford mistakes. The Blackberry Lane XV wouldn’t lie down and good pressure forced penalties from Shrewsbury. With the try line in sight the visiting forwards unleashed a frenzied attack, culminating in Jordan Hales placing the ball for the final try of the half. Stafford went into half time trailing 28-12 and looking for some more continuity against a dangerous Shrewsbury XV.

A Shrewsbury try opened up the second half as the hosts continued to pile up the points. The visitors shook themselves back into shape and keeping hold of the ball started to play some effective rugby. Securing a quick penalty, a snipe by Alex Rock opened up the door and Jerry Qasenivalu weaved through for a try, converted by Alex Rock. The momentum was starting to swing and the Stafford game was looking much more composed. An elusive Tom Kirby break eluded the defence and put the hosts onto the back foot before the rest of the forwards piled in. With the try line being pounded by visiting bodies, it took Carl Williams to drag the ball down for a bonus point try, converted by Alex Rock. Stafford had managed to close the gap to a single score and secure a point for four tries. However, it was Shrewsbury who finished with a flourish, two successive tries put the game beyond the visitors and scattered any continuity. A yellow card for the home side reduced them to fourteen for the final ten minutes, but the Shropshire County Town Team still found the energy for the final try of the afternoon to close off what had been an exciting game for a neutral.