STAFFORD 1st XV vs KIDDERMINSTER 1st XV. 16th APRIL 2016.

Stafford 20 – 24 Kidderminster

The last league game of the season saw Kidderminster travelling to a damp County Ground, looking for revenge for the opening day defeat inflicted on them by the Stafford XV. With both teams having a similar season this was always going to be a tough fixture.

The first ten minutes did nothing to dispel the hard hitting potential it carried as both teams sized each other up. Kidderminster had the better of the play and opened the scoring through a penalty. Stafford responded immediately with a period of attrition which pinned the visitors back in their own half, the best chance coming from a well-placed ball from the boot of Matt Walklate which was secured by the juggling hands of Steve Rowland, with the defence just managing to keep the Stafford stalwart from crossing the line. The home side eventually settled for a penalty, Rich Martin drawing the scores back together. As Stafford piled on the pressure a scything run by Dave Freeman ripped open the defence, but a desperate last minute tackle forced the ball loose to bobble forward. Rich Martin added another penalty to take the lead for the first time in the afternoon. The referees whistle dramatically changed the momentum in the game when two yellow cards saw Stafford reduced to thirteen, Kidderminster taking full advantage with two tries to establish a sizeable lead. A third Rich Martin penalty helped to cut the deficit, but all the home side could do was endure a strong Kidderminster performance against a reduced Stafford XV. Stafford went into half time trailing 9 – 17, but having dominated the play at times during the half.

With XIV back on the pitch Stafford opened the second half strongly, a Rich Martin penalty reducing the Kidderminster lead. With a full XV back on the pitch, the County Side team started to batter their way to success. A bruising Steve Rowlands charge prising the defence open for the ball to fly along the line into the hands of Cal Jones, who crossed the line for Staffords first try of the afternoon and draw the scores level. Kidderminster responded with a physical counter attack and only a heroic tackle by, try scorer, Cal Jones prevented the try. The see-saw momentum switched again when a blistering run by Quade Boal left the defence standing, earning a penalty for Rich Martin to slot between the posts and take the lead for the second time in the game. Kidderminster responded with a converted try to wrestle the lead back into the arms of the visitors. The final five minutes of the game produced an explosive finale when the visitors were reduced to fourteen courtesy of a yellow card. The home side piled on the pressure against an equally tenacious opposition defence. Some magnificent attacking play looked to have created the opening and the dancing feet of Rich Martin flew towards the try line, but a stretching Kidderminster tackle dislodged the ball and it flew loose. A final yellow card reduced Stafford to fourteen as time ran out and the game came to an exhausting conclusion.