STAFFORD 1ST XV vs HARBORNE 1ST XV. 23RD SEPTEMBER 2017. LEAGUE MATCH.

Stafford 40 – 10 Harborne

Stafford welcomed Harborne to the County Ground for the first home league match of the season. The club held an old players reunion prior to the game, so there was a large and boisterous crowd to cheer on the home side. The match started with a minute’s silence for former players & long-time club members Chic Morrice, Dai Bryant and John Perry all of whom had passed away recently.

The referees whistle had barley faded when a surging Stafford secured their own kick off releasing a blistering run by Callum Jones to take the first try of the afternoon. The visitors weren’t allowed to settle with the forwards smashing through the defence, a devastating front row combination saw Angus Lennon bewildering the opposition with two sidesteps to put the ball into the hands of a charging Gaz O’Connor for the second try of the afternoon, converted by Louis Dewsbury. Stafford were relentless in securing the ball giving Harborne no time to reorganise, Ben Pryce was bought down just short of the line before quick passing opened the field for Callum Jones to take his second try of the afternoon, Louise Dewsbury adding the conversion. An intercepted ball led to a clinical Harborne try to cut the deficit. The visitors started to find some success with their attack coming close on a couple of occasions, dogged persistence led to the second Harborne try of the afternoon on the stroke of half time. Stafford went into the break leading 19 – 10 but guarding against a Harborne fight back which was edging the visitors back into the game.

With the half time team talk ringing in their ears the Stafford XV ripped into the opposition nearly taking another early try. The resulting line out built the platform for the forwards to drive across the line, Ben Pryce grounding the ball for the bonus point try, Louis Dewsbury adding the conversion. Stu Lewis and Oscar Saunders were the next to combine tearing up a broken field but just being kept at bay by a snarling defence. Harborne started to build some good pressure forcing the home side to defend deep in their own half before a brutally whirling Neil Green snatched the ball and ran over his opponents to relive the pressure. Harborne should have took their third try of the afternoon but the final pass flew into touch and an infringement at the line out bought Stafford the space that they needed. The home side worked the ball back up the pitch and a penetrating charge by Angus Lennon released his brother Callum Lennon to score the next try, converted by Louis Dewsbury. A tiring Harborne continued competing but a dropped ball was pounced on by Oli Greatholder who shrugged off weary legs to cross the line for the final try of the afternoon, converted by Louis Dewsbury.