STAFFORD 1st XV vs VESEYANS 1st XV. 5th MARCH 2016.

Stafford 17 – 0 Veseyans

The first league game of March saw Stafford welcoming a travelling Veseyans XV to the county ground. The away league match had produced a close game with Stafford losing by a narrow 3 point margin, so the encounter promised to be a hard fought afternoon of rugby.

Stafford started the game at a ferocious pace and for the first ten minutes the visitors had to endure a barrage of assaults. With the Stafford forwards standing toe to toe with their heavy counterparts, the backs stretched the game from side to side. Veseyans defended strongly keeping out several decisive drives by the forwards, but they couldn’t contain a rampaging Russ Gauden for crashing over for the first try of the afternoon. Veseyans responded with a good period of play, but the Stafford defence was tenacious as ever and although the visitors threatened they couldn’t find the space to grab any points. The home side broke the attack and in an inspired move, Steve Rowland ran over players to maraud down the wing and re-establish camp in the Veseyans half. Stafford came close on several occasions, but strong defence, the referee’s whistle and minor infringements prevented the County Town team from scoring any further points. Stafford went into half time having spent the majority of the game in sight of the opposition line but with only a marginal lead of 5 – 0.

With the half time team talk ringing in their ears, the Stafford XV came swarming into the second half. A scything run by Matty Walklate ripped open the Veseyans defence and only a brave response from the visitors managed to close the gap preventing the rest of the team from pouring through. With a yellow card reducing Veseyans to 14 on the pitch, the Stafford forwards looked to ramp up the pressure and a sustain period of attrition saw Tom Windibank muscling his way across the line for the second try of the afternoon. The weather then started to play its part in the game as the heavens opened and driving rain sheeted across the pitch. The visitors started to build some momentum and possibly had their brightest period of the afternoon, but an impenetrable Stafford defence snuffed out any real challenges. Stafford incurred their own yellow card reducing them to 14, but when the visitors suffered a couple of injuries to key players it disrupted their shape enough to negate any advantage. Stafford continued to play the more dominate rugby and the visitors maintained a dogged defence. As the play moved around the field an eagle eyed Rich Martin kicked the ball into space, Cal Jones picked up driving at the remaining defender and tired defensive legs couldn’t prevent Will Hamplett from crossing for the final try of the afternoon, Rich Martin adding the conversion.