1st XV
Matches
Sat 07 Mar 2020  ·  Midlands 2 West (North)
Stafford RUFC
1st XV
24
27
Wolverhampton
STAFFORD 1ST XV vs WOLVERHAMPTON 1ST XV. 7TH MARCH 2020. LEAGUE MATCH.

STAFFORD 1ST XV vs WOLVERHAMPTON 1ST XV. 7TH MARCH 2020. LEAGUE MATCH.

Steven McLuckie8 Mar 2020 - 18:47
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Stafford stand toe to toe with the league leaders with an excellent game of rugby being decided by a last-minute try.

Stafford ushered in March with a visit from league leaders Wolverhampton. The Black Country side were deservedly sitting on top of the table boasting an impressive fourteen wins, one draw and a single loss in an impressive season. The previous meeting between the teams had seen a close game which was eventually edged by a ruthless Wolverhampton display.

Stafford started brightly with some good opening phases trucking the ball up the pitch and a burst by the backs nearly exploited a small gap. Once Wolverhampton had managed to secure the ball, they displayed a tenacious reluctance to let go of it, forcing Stafford into a reluctant fighting retreat. The home side try to swamp each attack with a ferocious defence but incurred a couple of penalties along the way for their efforts. Stafford couldn’t dislodge Wolverhampton from their half and the afternoon further deteriorated when an injury to Callum Hoy saw the bench being called into play. The visitor’s over enthusiasm eventually relieved the pressure when a yellow card reduced them to a temporary fourteen on the field. With the player advantage Stafford wrestled back the momentum and it was Wolverhampton’s turn to concede penalties allowing the County Town team to establish a firm foothold in opposition territory. A couple of attacking phases nearly paid dividends and Rich Martin was unlucky not to make it across the elusive line. The home side forwards took control, battering holes in the visiting defence before a charging Sefanaia Bulumakau carried three opposition players across the line for a try, converted by Christian Ureche. The subsequent restart saw Stafford throwing the ball around to stretch a defiant Wolverhampton. Jerry Qasenivalu found room to terrorise his opposite number before releasing Dan Mills for a try, converted by Christian Ureche. With Wolverhampton back up to a full compliment on the pitch the league leaders resumed playing some good attacking rugby which came close to scoring on a couple of occasions. Stafford continued to be obstinate but an exhausting set ended with the visiting XV crashing across the line for a converted try. Stafford went into half time leading 14-7 but having to contain a very dangerous Wolverhampton attack.

Wolverhampton came bounding into the second half with an early try to tie the scores. The Black Country side showed why they are top of the league as they unleashed an attacking onslaught which Stafford had to dig in and endure. A yellow card temporarily reduced the home side to fourteen and an injury to Sefanaia Bulumakau started to put pressure on a depleted bench. The Coopers Park XIV put in a phenomenal defensive display which absorbed everything thrown at it and eventually forced the visitors to settle for a single penalty kick to take the lead. Stafford roared right back into the game from the restart with the forwards scrapping for possession and carrying hard into the heart of the visiting team. A brutal series of assaults were repelled before a ruthless surge shredded the opposition and Sam Egerton took a try, converted by Christian Ureche. Wolverhampton immediately hit back with a try of their own but a missed conversion made it the narrowest of leads at a single point. With time haemorrhaging from the clock, Carl Williams charged up the pitch demolishing any resistance and was bought down just short of the line. Stafford crossed the line twice, but a careful inspection by the referee deemed that they had both been held up. With less than five minutes left the sequence ended with a Christian Ureche penalty kick to snatch back a two-point lead. With a full XV back on both sides the final minutes of the game resumed with the Wolverhampton assault being met by a heroic Stafford defence which left players from both sides strewn across the pitch. The visitors scrapped their way to an attacking scrum which set the platform for a final offensive which snatched the winning try in an exhausting game. There was just time for the restart which Wolverhampton secured to end the game, leaving a brave Stafford performance with the reward of a losing bonus point.

Match details

Match date

Sat 07 Mar 2020

Kickoff

TBC

Competition

Midlands 2 West (North)

League position

2
Wolverhampton
4
Stafford
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Gold Sponsor - Towergate Insurance
Shirt Sponsor - Stafford Railway Building Society
Club Sponsor - Marston's Brewery
Club Sponsor - Mayflower Control
Club Sponsor - Churchill China
Ball Sponsor - Asset Solutions
Club Sponsor - O2 Touch Rugby
Club Sponsor - Thane Dispersions  Ltd
Club Sponsor - RMS
Shirt Sponsor - Lookers BMW & MINI Stafford
Shirt Sponsor - Gatehouse Theatre
Club Sponsor - Stafford Superbowl UK
Shirt Sponsor - OBI Home Improvements
Shirt Sponsor - Castle Way Dental Care
Club Sponsor - W R Davies Motor Group
Club Sponsor - STAFFORDSHIRE MECHANICAL SOLUTIONS