The latest game in the league calendar saw Longton taking the short trip down to the County Town. The North Staffordshire travellers were having a complex season with only four wins out of sixteen games seeing them languishing in the bottom half of the table. In contrast Stafford were sitting in a solid fifth place with a decent eight wins out of sixteen. Longton came into the game looking for a measure of atonement following the seven-point loss to the Blackberry Lane XV in the reciprocal game earlier in the season.

The referees whistle had hardly died down when an energetic start by Longton opened the afternoon with a quick try. An instantaneous Stafford response secured the restart and some slick passing shredded through the opposition ending with Rob Jones crossing for the equalising try, converted by Henry Ralphs. As the teams settled into the contest a clumsy clearing kick fell into the arms of an alert Jack Raine. Running at slightly more ponderous targets, the Stafford player left defenders rooted to the spot as he crossed for a try, converted by Henry Ralphs. The home side had all of the momentum with the visitors digging in to endure the relentless barrage. Lodged deep in Longton territory, the Blackberry Lane XV niggled at the opposition until they secured an attacking line out. With the ball snatched out of the air, Alistair Weedon was steered across the line by his comrades to take the next try, converted by Henry Ralphs. Longton chatter earned the wrath of the referee and they forfeited the restart to give Stafford a penalty kick from the half way line. Snatching back the ball the Stafford line shimmered as some deft passing found its way to Jack Raine who cruised across for the bonus point try, converted by Henry Ralphs. The game then descended into a slightly laborious stalemate as Stafford appeared to minorly step off the gas. Longton kept themselves busy around the pitch but couldn’t maintain any consistent firepower to really threaten what was a comfortably solid defence. With the half dwindling towards its expiry an unfortunate yellow card temporarily reduced the Blackberry Lane XV and the visitors fed on renewed energy to ramp up their attack. A few forays were thrown back but eventually Longton managed to cross the elusive line for a late try. Stafford went into half time with a 28 -12 lead and very much having had the better of the game.

Back up to a full complement on the field, Stafford were fully focussed and creating havoc from the restart. Longton were scrambling to defend but couldn’t get near to Stu Lewis as he powered through for a try. As the game resumed a knock on from the visitors was scooped up by Alex Rock who tore away for the next score. In a final flourish Stafford tied up several of the Longton defenders before scything running carried Jerry Qasenivalu across the whitewash for a try. The game then took an unexpected turn as the referee’s whistle started to create a disjointed affair and Longton profited from numerous penalties to claw their way up the pitch. In a ferocious ten-minute period, Stafford couldn’t find a response to appease the referee but Longton lacked the finishing touch to take any points. Finally, a second yellow to the same player reduced the County Town team to a permanent fourteen for the remainder of the afternoon. It still took the visitors another long five minutes of arduous work to scrap their way to a third try. The referee continued to penalise an increasingly bewildered Stafford and a third yellow reduced them to only thirteen on the pitch. This fired up the home side and Longton were pummelled rapidly backwards despite having two extra players. As the stunned defenders tried to regroup, Alex Rock batted them aside to take a further try converted by Henry Ralphs. A ponderous Longton restart slowly proved effective and the visiting XV managed to snatch a bonus point try. Eventually managing to work back within acceptable referring parameters, the leaking penalties soon dried up and the understrength Stafford wrestled back control of the game. With a line out deep in the visitor’s half, Ben Dodd carried hard and threw off all defenders for a try converted by Henry Ralphs. With a restored fourteen back on the pitch the home side looked to finish the game on a high. Longton were visibly suffering and sucking in greedy oxygen from around Blackberry Lane. The defenders wouldn’t stand down but were visibly creaking at the assault being thrown at them. Despite the heroic Longton defensive effort they eventually ran out of steam and Colton Mclaughlin tore across the whitewash for the final try of the afternoon converted by Henry Ralphs.

Next 1st XV Match: Saturday 21st March vs Bridgnorth Bulls, Away. K.O. 15.00