Stafford welcomed a travelling Ludlow to the Cathedral for an encounter which was crucial to the season of both teams. Ludlow held 10th place in the league and a five point lead over an 11th place Stafford. A win for the visitors would cement their league position and guarantee safety from a potential relegation position. The home side had a simple strategy, win by a large margin and keep more than seven point margin to ensure that Ludlow went home empty handed.

Ludlow took the kick off and good follow up work forced Stafford into an early defence. An immediate Stafford response forced the visitors backwards and the ensuing pressure told through two Rich Martin penalties for a well-earned lead. The restart kick was quickly run back up the pitch, a flurry of passes stretching the defence between either side lines. Switching running fluidity for brute force, Mike Davies took the more direct line forcing his way across the line for the first try of the afternoon, Rich Martin adding the conversion. Ludlow had scant time to breathe as a disciplined Cathedral side mechanically received the restart and switched into an effective attack. A scything foray by Rhys Williams split the defence wide apart leaving Dan Smith with only two players to beat for the second try of the afternoon. The visitors settled into a good period of play and a couple of determined attacks could have produced points, but the home side defence proved as tenacious as their attack. Stafford blunted anything the opposition tried and when the opportunity appeared the spring uncoiled with a flying back line whipping the ball up the field, tearing through a beleaguered defence. Ludlow continued to hold the line, but a charging Carl Williams had picked his spot, smashing hand offs and pumping legs driving him over the line for Staffords third try, Rich Martin adding the conversion. Stafford went into the half time break with a convincing 25 – 0 lead and within one try of the bonus point target.

A half time team talk galvanised Stafford into a strong start to the second half. The movement of the home side was ominous and menaced the valiant efforts of a Ludlow XV. The smallest of mistakes was pounced on by the Stafford backs and fluid hands saw Rhys Williams dodging past the final defenders for the fourth try of the afternoon and the try bonus point. Carl Williams soon added the fifth, as with trademark panache the defensive line was bludgeoned out of the way to make the space for the try. Some good work at the restart saw Ludlow securing the ball, but an unfortunate knock on was all the encouragement that Stafford needed for a top class try as a surging team tore its way through a hastily built defence, Dan Smith muscling his way across the line for the sixth of the afternoon. Within a short period the dominant home side were reduced to thirteen players on the pitch, the first player leaving through a yellow card and the second via a red. It was Staffords afternoon and a two man shortfall wasn’t going to hold them back. Some great work by the forwards on the Ludlow line, saw Matty Walklate sucking in all of the defence to release a hurtling Dan Smith for the seventh try of the game, Rich Martin adding the conversion. Ludlow pressed for a consolation score, but the Stafford defence proved equal to anything which was thrown at it. Fittingly the home side had the last word as Rhys Williams found his way across the line for the eighth try, Rich Martin closing the scoring with the conversion.