Stafford 1st XV welcomed Stourbridge to the Cathedral for the return league game of the season. The damp and breezy conditions set the backdrop for what was going to be a tightly contested game of rugby.

Stourbridge produced a thundering opening to the game which pushed a defending Stafford back onto their own try line. Just when it looked like the visitors were about to take an early score, the Stafford back line snatched the ball and ran the play back towards the half way line. The momentum was then all with the home side and the visitors couldn’t contain a flowing passage of rugby which punched huge gaps in the defence. Ross Norton eventually crashing over the line for the first try of the game. Stourbridge were on the back foot and Stafford continued to press their advantage, carving their way through the opposition. Stafford took full advantage and fancy footwork saw a flying Dave Freeman crossing the line for the second try of the first half. Stourbridge then started to find some success through their heavy set of forwards and two tries with one conversion gave them the lead in a seven minute period. Stafford went into half time trailing by 10 – 12, but having had the better of the half.

Stafford rolled into the second half with a steely determination and the opening bruising clashes left players lying on the pitch from both sides. Stafford continued to press and it was a marauding Scott Raines, who with deft side stepping ripped open the defensive line, allowing Dan Smith to fly through and cross the line to retake the lead. The teams then settled into an evenly matched game where both sides struggled to find an advantage over the other. It was Stourbridge who broke the deadlock and as the ball found its way onto the wing, it became a one on one encounter. As the players clashed the side line loomed close, but the Stourbridge hand reached out for the try line. The linesman was unfortunately unsighted as cries went up from both sides, Stafford calling for the boot in touch, Stourbridge celebrating the try. The referees whistle signalled the try and the game cruelly slipped away from what had been a very worthy Stafford performance.