VESEYANS 1st XV vs STAFFORD 1st XV. 21ST NOVEMBER 2015.

Veseyans 16 – 13 Stafford

Stafford travelled to Veseyans for the eighth league game of the campaign. Both teams were having a fairly similar season tied on the equal points in the league, with the home side just holding the advantage through superior bonus points. The ground was still slightly soggy from recent rain, the temperature bitingly cold and with a gusting wind the conditions were excellent for a November’s afternoon of rugby.

Playing into the wind, the first five minutes heard the referees whistle in almost constant use as a penalised Stafford were rolled back down the pitch and the home side concluded the period by putting the first points on the board through a penalty. The visitors then settled into playing simple rugby which put the home side under pressure. Slick passing and tenacious forward forays saw the Veseyan line threatened but the visitors couldn’t quite find their way across the line. A second Veseyan penalty increased the lead and an unfortunate mistake by Stafford then gifted the home side a try. The afternoon continued to unravel for the county town side as Matt Walklate hobbled off the pitch and a further moment of inattention was leapt on by the home side to poach a further try. Stafford went into half time trailing by 16 – 0, but having had some excellent periods of play and the score not reflecting the competitive first forty minutes.

With the wind behind them and a strong motivational half time team talk ringing in their ears, the Stafford XV had all of the work to do. The visitors rose to the occasion and a bruising opening period of rugby saw Veseyans pinned on their own line. Stafford eventually settled for a Sam Bedworth penalty to put points on the board as the try line continued to remain elusive. It took a break by Dean Ainger to stretch the opposition, a swarming Stafford in support poured through the gap, with Carl Williams battering down the remaining defenders for Tom Williams to force his way across the line for the first try of the half. The game continued to turn when Veseyans were temporarily reduced to fourteen men incurring a yellow for repeated high tackles. The afternoon then evolved into a stalemate as both sides defended strongly, preventing any continuity in the play. An injury to Angus Lennon caused more disruption for the visitors, but Stafford weren’t finished for the afternoon. Showing all of the spirit that this team has, they kept at the task in hand. Veseyans continued to defend strongly, but quick hands stretched a tiring home side and when the ball reached a marauding Tom Hamplett nothing was going to stop a try crashing over the line. Not long after the referees whistle signalled the end of the game and what had been a fighting second half performance from the travelling Stafford XV.