WILLENHALL 1ST XV vs STAFFORD 1ST XV. 14TH OCTOBER 2017. LEAGUE MATCH.

Willenhall 8 – 28 Stafford

Stafford were on the road for their third away fixture of the season. This week’s destination was Bognop Road to face Willenhall. Sitting 6th in the league the home side promised a tough test for the travelling county town side.

Willenhall started strongly using their experienced forwards to keep the visitors rooted inside their own half and threatening a well defended line. Stafford absorbed the pressure and accurate kicking dispersed all the momentum built up by the home side. Stafford started to settle into the game and when Will Turner charged down a kick it was the visitors charging forward on the front foot. A missed penalty could have given Stafford the lead but dropped just short, hard work forced a second penalty and the boot of Louis Dewsbury slotted it between the posts for the lead. A Willenhall penalty tied the scores but the home side were struggling to contain the Stafford assault with Josh Arnold and then Tom Williams coming within touching distance of the line. The visitors wouldn’t relent and a good line out platform ripped open the defence for Angus Lennon to cross the line for a try, converted by Louis Dewsbury. The Willenhall response was instant and an intense period of attack deserved some points, but a tenacious defence kept the line safe. A Stafford penalty saw Louis Dewsbury stretching the lead before the referee’s whistle signalled the end of the half. Stafford went into half time leading 3 – 13 but having to cope with a ferocious Willenhall attack.

The second half saw both teams crashing into each other as they resumed the encounter. A Stafford penalty allowed Louis Dewsbury to add to his tally and increase the lead. A defending Willenhall put themselves under further pressure when a yellow card temporarily reduced them to fourteen. Stafford camped out on the Willenhall line with several forays eventually releasing Oscar Saunders for the try, converted by Louis Dewsbury. As the momentum swung again it was Stafford’s turn to be reduced to fourteen as they incurred their first yellow card of the afternoon. Willenhall sensed blood and a punishing fifteen-minute period saw the home side battering the visitor’s line with all the hard work resulting in a try. Stafford came flying back at their opponents and with less than five minutes on the clock, a sustained attack saw Louis Dewsbury crossing the line for the try and the last points of the game. The game ended abruptly early when an unfortunate tackle left Matty Walklate unable to continue and the referees whistle signalled the end of the encounter.