STAFFORD 1st XV vs STOURBRIDGE LIONS 1st XV. 11TH FEBRUARY 2017. LEAGUE MATCH.

Stafford 0 – 26 Stourbridge Lions

Stafford welcomed Stourbridge Lions to the County Ground for the first league game of February. The league leaders travelled looking to continue their impressive form and replicate the 58 points win which they took over the Stafford XV earlier in the season. A steady drizzle had combined with the thin sheet of snow to make a slippery surface and difficult conditions.

The opening five minutes saw a lively start from Stafford as they grappled with the opposition and the conditions. A minor slip surrendered the ball to Stourbridge who showed their pedigree by running in a try from half way to take an unconverted try and the lead. Continuing the pressure from the restart the league leaders secured the ball and set up camp in the Stafford half. The home side scrapped hard with a strong defence forcing back anything thrown at it, but the referees whistle undid all the hard work signalling a penalty try for the visitors. The home side battered their way back into the game and were building some good momentum when an unfortunate injury to Steve Rowland saw the Stafford powerhouse side-lined and leaving the ground in an ambulance. An injury to Louis Dewsbury further disrupted the county town XV and Stourbridge took full advantage of the changes to steal another try. The afternoon continued to dissolve when a red card left both sides looking slightly bewildered, but reducing Stafford to fourteen for the rest of the match. A late penalty could have increased the visitors lead, but it dropped short of the posts. Stafford went into half time trailing by 0 – 19, but having had some bright periods of play in a difficult first half.

Stafford started the second half strongly and put the opposition under immediate pressure the team of fourteen dominating against a full-strength Stourbridge. The visitors couldn’t make their numerical advantage count and the home side set up a comfortable camp in opposition half. A series of attacks tested the Stourbridge defence and Stafford appeared to have got their reward when Tom Windibank crashed across the line grounding the ball, but following a long period of deliberation the referee judged it to have been held up. The heart shown by Stafford was enormous and with only fourteen on the pitch spent a solid twenty-five-minute period in sight of the league leaders line, but it was an afternoon when a fighting performance didn’t earn its reward. With fifteen minutes left on the clock Stourbridge managed to clear their own lines and mount their first attack of the half. With Stafford defending strongly on their own line the referees whistle came into play again when he reduced the valiant home side to twelve, through two yellow cards. A mighty Stourbridge surge still couldn’t find its way through a snarling twelve-man defence and needed the sound of the whistle to award them a second penalty try of the afternoon earning the winning bonus point. With thirteen back on the pitch Stafford still wouldn’t lie down and caused problems for the visitors until a clumsy late tackle floored Dean Fuggle and destroyed any remaining momentum in the team. The final sound of the referee’s whistle finished a game in which Stafford can hold their heads high for the battling shift which they put in.