STAFFORD 1ST XV vs NEWCASTLE (STAFFS) 1ST XV. 17TH FEBRUARY 2024. LEAGUE.

Stafford hosted their first home game of February, looking to get back to winning ways against a travelling Newcastle XV. The visitors were having a decent season with twelve wins and only four losses seeing them sitting just outside the top two league places. Stafford were still involved in a swirling fight towards the other end of the table with positions seven to ten very tight and single points separating sides. The travelling squad boasted a number of former Stafford players who plied their trade at the County Ground pitting two teams of players who were well acquainted with each other.

The fixture opened to the backdrop of some ominous clouds and a swirling wind just benefiting the visitors playing down field. As soon as Newcastle fingers touched the ball the travelling team burst into life and a rippling series of passes ended in a well taken try to open the game. Stafford shrugged off the score and settled back into an already physical encounter. A sudden surge by Izzy Qasenivalu scattered the defence and a scrambling Newcastle were forced to concede a line out in reach of their line. The Stafford forwards secured the ball and quick hands released Will Turner who brushed aside all of the opposition to score under the posts, converted by Alex Rock. Newcastle retook a narrow lead from a subsequent penalty, before both teams found time to pause in a tiring game. The teams continued to competitively crash against each other, before Stafford levered open the space to march a begrudging Newcastle backwards deep into their own half. The County Town team were all over the visitors and a disrupted scrum between the opposition posts presented an open invitation. With the ball secured some sublime running rugby left the struggling defence in disarray and Rob Jones crossed in the corner for a try, converted by Alex Rock. The rain then swept in to make playing conditions more complex for everyone. It took the boot of Christian Stelian to drag Newcastle back into the match, two long range penalties soon saw the scores tied at fourteen points each. Riding the momentum, the visiting players stretched the black & amber defence and a try created a seven-point lead. As the period dwindled to a close a clumsy fend temporarily reduced Newcastle to fourteen on the field courtesy of a yellow card. A few phases later saw Alex Rock adding a penalty to the Stafford tally just before the referee’s whistle signalled the close. Stafford went into half time trailing 17-21 in a very exciting encounter but very much holding their own against the third-place opposition.

With the wind kind of behind them, Stafford came crashing into the second half. The rain was making possession difficult but the Blackberry Lane XV spent the first ten minutes laying siege to the opposition line. An increasingly desperate defence led to Newcastle incurring a second yellow reducing them to thirteen momentarily, but the next breakdown saw the expiry of the first yellow, swelling their ranks back to fourteen. Meanwhile Alex Rock pushed the ball between the posts, the penalty kick making it a one-point game. As the rain and physicality of the clash continued to stir a volatile mixture it was Stafford who were penalised next a yellow card thinning their numbers to fourteen. A composed Newcastle period saw some good rugby and with a full squad back on the field they threw themselves against a resolute immovable defence. Both teams were playing some strong rugby but the tight nature of the game saw passions boiling over and the referee was called into decisive action to separate the teams. A red card each helped to restore order and when the dust settled it was thirteen versus fourteen. Newcastle threw everything that they had into the onslaught but with the club house protecting their backs, Stafford would not let them through. After a brutal period, the North Staffordshire XV eventually got across the line but the referees whistle spoilt the party with a penalty awarded to scrapping home side. Stafford kicked themselves clear and flapping Newcastle lips gifted more ground before a mighty punt by Jerry Qasenivalu put the hosts within sight of the opposing try line. It was Newcastle in a painful defence which saw wave after wave of assaults which spat defenders out and left bodies strewn across the pitch. Both sides poured their hearts into some feral rugby but eventually the visitors buckled and Stafford swarmed through for Alfie O’Brien to take the lead through a try. With equal numbers back on the pitch the ferocity of the match didn’t abate, exemplified when a tackle from Will Turner cut a Newcastle player in half a snapping the side line flag post in half during the hit. Stafford then proceeded to put in a phenomenal final shift which disrupted the hard-working visitors and ensured that their second half point score remained at zero. The shrill sound of the referee’s whistle signalled a home side penalty and the ball was booted from the pitch to end an excellent game.

Next 1st XV Match: Saturday 2nd March 2024, Away vs Burntwood.