Stafford welcomed Camp Hill to the County Ground for the last home league game of November. The visitors travelled sitting second in the league with a practically unblemished record their only loss being on the opening day of the season to newly promoted Walsall. Camp Hill held home and away victories over Stafford from last season, so it promised to be a difficult afternoon of competition.

The sound of the referee’s whistle had just faded when Camp Hill scored the opening try of the afternoon, the travelling XV not giving the hosts a minute to settle. The visiting team continued with early pressure, laying siege to the opposition line who responded with some fierce defending. Stafford started to find some continuity and were just building some momentum when a yellow card temporarily reduced them to fourteen on the pitch. Camp Hill took advantage to grab their second try of the afternoon and extend the lead. Stafford heads didn’t drop and they came roaring back at the visitors, a solid period of attack ending with a Louis Dewsbury penalty to put points on the board for the home side. A Camp Hill drop goal re-established a ten point margin, but with a full team back on the pitch, Stafford started to play all the rugby. A period of sustained defence saw Camp Hill earn a yellow card reducing them to fourteen. A rejuvenated Stafford ramped up the attack battering the defensive line, Quade Boal eventually weaving across the line for a try, Louis Dewsbury converting to narrow the deficit to three points. Stafford finished the half the strongest and were unlucky not to get their reward through a second try to snatch the lead. The photographers lens showing a different angle to referee’s line of sight which judged the ball not grounded and denying Louis Dewsbury a well worked score. Stafford went into half time trailing 10 – 13 but having fought their way back into a difficult game.

The Stafford physio team had a busy start to the second half as they patched up first half injuries and accepted fresh damage from the opening session. Camp Hill settled into a composed game and pouncing on two consecutive Stafford errors, took two converted tries established a sizeable lead. Stafford regrouped and responded with a ferocious attack which propelled them within sight of the Camp Hill line for a snarling Carl Williams to claw his way through a strong defence for an unconverted try. The home side continued to press and found success through some strong running from Ollie Leigh and Quade Boal. In a disciplined response Camp Hill took their fourth try and the bonus point to effectively close the game down. Stafford wouldn’t lie down and in the closing moments of the game Kevin Bunter crashed across the line to be denied by a Camp Hill player who held the ball up. The referees whistle sounded the end of a hard afternoon of rugby by both sides.