NEWCASTLE 1ST XV vs STAFFORD 1ST XV. 4TH NOVEMBER 2023. LEAGUE.

Stafford took the short journey up the A34 for the first match of November. The encounter was against a strong Newcastle side who with five wins to date held a strong fourth place in the league. The County Town team were still looking for some continuity in form, but in a continuing difficult season travelled with a squad of seventeen for the game. The seniors were still blighted by injuries and unavailability but did field three first team debutants. With the addition of the weather, it promised to be a challenging afternoon of rugby.

Bouts of sustained rain had contributed to some difficult playing conditions for both teams. The opening whistle heralded the start of some physical phases of rugby, with Stafford handling their share of the play Exchanging meaty hits the teams continued to slug out the opening periods of the encounter. With a few bodies littered across the ground a frantic series ended with Nathan Caucau being helped off the field. As Stafford adjusted their team, Newcastle fired into top speed to take the first try of the afternoon. The visiting XV struck back almost instantly with some superb attacking rugby which earned a penalty deep in the home side half. Jerry Qasenivalu stepped up and struck the ball sweetly between the uprights to narrow the deficit. The hosts shook themselves back into a dangerous attacking shape which pinned Stafford on their own line. Valiant defence absorbed some ferocious assaults before Newcastle eventually crossed for a hard-earned try. The momentum was all with the home side, but a handling error saw a slippery ball bobble out into open ground. This was quickly swept up by Jerry Qasenivalu, deep in his own half, who then sprinted, hacked forward and out played all of the defence to score a blistering try along three quarters of the pitch. A yellow card punished Newcastle indiscipline, temporarily reducing them to fourteen on the pitch. But despite the reduced numbers a well drilled back line was ever dangerous and some fantastic running rugby soon took a third try for the flying home side. An injury to Angus Hamplett saw the visiting bench emptied and players shuffling positions on the pitch to compensate. The Blackberry Lane team finished strongly with some hard carries which put huge dents in the Newcastle defence. Stafford went into half time trailing 19-8, but having played some gutsy rugby.

With a full complement restored, Newcastle demonstrated their class and two quick tries suddenly produced a sizeable lead. Stafford responded with some great heart and worked hard for each other to propel Newcastle back onto their own line. The teams crashed into each other in a frenzy of attacking and defending. Eventually Stafford wrestled their way into position and Charlie Woolman muscled across for a try, converted by Jerry Qasenivalu. The home side were ever alert to any opportunity and the next try wasn’t long coming as the sizeable lead grew. The County Town team wouldn’t lie down and a snarling effort drove them back within striking distance of the opposition line. Newcastle were again forced into a bruising defence against the chaos being rained down on them. In a five-minute period both teams put their bodies on the line before Alfie O’Brien crossed for an enormous try. With bodies being patched up to keep XV on the pitch a tiring Stafford couldn’t stem two more Newcastle tries. Indiscipline then cost the home side as a second yellow again reduced them to fourteen, this time for the remainder of the game. A Stafford yellow evened up the numbers on the pitch and an injury reduced the proud County Town team to thirteen as there were no walking replacements available. Despite the numbers advantage, Newcastle were only able to take two more tries against a proud Stafford effort which made their opponents fight for every inch of the field.