STAFFORD 1ST XV vs CAMP HILL 1ST XV. 9TH SEPTEMBER 2023. LEAGUE.

Stafford hosted their first home game of the season on the 60th anniversary of the famous county town victory over Old Rugby Roma in 1963. Both teams were looking to kick start the season after opening day losses left them sitting mid table. In a rare occurrence the two sets of centres on the field were all brothers as Will & Angus Hamplett of Stafford faced off against Jonathan & Lawerence Betty of Camp Hill.

Blackberry Lane basked in the late season sunshine with the spectators revelling in the September heat which wasn’t so appreciated by the players on the pitch. The sound of the opening whistle had hardly died down when great work by Gaz O’Connor earned a penalty and Connor McCulloch slotted the ball between the posts for the opening score. Camp Hill responded immediately and an unconverted try gave the visitors a temporary lead. The teams battled for a while in the centre of the pitch before a great run by Driss Chouhaibi tore through the opposition. The forwards surged into the holes to further scatter players across the field. Secure hands threw the ball around and Will Hamplett crossed for a try, converted by Connor McCulloch. Shrugging off the oppressive heat, Stafford seized the momentum and were soon threatening again, deep in the opposition half. The visitors held out for a few attacking phases and the rooted defence was solid. It took a monumental charge from Hugo Sutton to break through and Stu Lewis had to juggle the ball before grounding for a try, converted by Connor McCulloch. In a tightly contested game, a Camp Hill try drew the scores back together. Stafford were then reduced to a temporary fourteen when they incurred a yellow card in a vigorous attempt to keep the visitors from taking another score. The County Town team wouldn’t give up an inch of ground from their line and it took a number of exhausting attacks before Camp Hill managed to break through for the final score of the period. Stafford went into half time leading 17 -15 in a very even game.

The second half commenced with an epic and tiring battle in the middle of the pitch. Neither side would back down and in some periods only the referees whistle provided respite for the bodies strewn across the pitch. The heat, pace of the game and massive hits were starting to take their toll, with both sides calling on the physios to patch up some battered bodies. It was Stafford who managed to pull the trigger on some exciting rugby. Connor McCulloch hared off down the pitch and stepped around most of the defence. A supporting Carl Williams was left with two to beat, one defender was dispatched with a hand off and a sprint to the line secured the try. With Stafford back up to a full fifteen on the pitch, the game could have swung either way as both teams fought hard. The conditions and pace of the match left some very tired legs, but all players continued to work massively hard. An unfortunate injury to Jordan Hales saw the County Town player being stretchered off the pitch as the game dwindled to its closing moments. It was Camp Hill who found the energy to ramp up the pressure for a last-minute storm. Stafford threw back everything which was rained down upon them. At one point Camp Hill looked to have finally broken through, but a last-minute tackle by Rob Jones cut the player in half, bundling him into touch. The teams slugged out the final minutes before the referee’s whistle closed off an entertaining game of rugby.

Next 1st XV Match; Saturday 16h September 2023, Away vs Old Saltleians.