Stafford 1st XV welcomed Wolverhampton to the cathedral for the fourth league game of the season. The team still had some very noticeable absences, but were fired up for what has always been a hard fought fixture.

Wolverhampton were reduced to fourteen players in less than five minutes, the referee wielding a yellow card for a dubious tackle. Stafford took full territorial advantage to put their opponents under immense pressure, but a loose ball was seized by the visitors to score the first try against the run of play. Stafford hit back via the boot of Jayson Trevis, a well-earned penalty their reward for another sustained period of pressure. The game shifted momentum when Stafford got the next yellow card, Wolverhampton shifted gears to take advantage of the extra man to score their second try of the half and open up a sizeable lead. Stafford went into half time trailing by 3 – 14, but having had the better of the rugby.

Stafford opened the second half with an attack of such attrition that it left bodies lying all over the field. In an effort to halt the baying Stafford pack, Wolverhampton earned their second yellow of the game and a reduced team on the pitch. Stafford continued the assault and eventually the defence gave as Dan Smith battered his way across the line for a try. The visitors followed this with their brightest period of the afternoon, a try and a series of penalties extending the lead. Stafford would not lie down and as passions boiled over the referee produced a yellow for each side. After a brief examination of the little black book, the Wolverhampton yellow became red as the player was sent off for the second time in the game. Stafford continued to press and an inspired kick and chase by Rich Martin saw the second home side try of the afternoon. The conversion may have grabbed the loosing bonus point, but it wasn’t to be as the ball dropped just short.