Stafford were on the road to the east of the County for the latest match in this season’s campaign to face Burton 2nd XV. The hosts were having a reasonable season with two wins out of five holding a solid mid table position. Stafford bought with them four wins out of five, but with a wariness of facing the unpredictable make up of second teams. The County Town team fielded two more debutants in Edward Smith and Conor Shrehorn, both having their first run out for the 1st XV. The early morning haze had cleared, allowing the sun to shine down for the afternoon of rugby.

Burton bought the pressure from the outset and the opening minutes saw Stafford incurring a couple of penalties. The hosts took the opportunity to throw the ball wide and missed tackles left an open door for the first try of the afternoon. Burton successfully focused on the same route and with fifteen minutes gone had added another two tries for a decent lead. A clumsy tackle earned a yellow card to reduce the home side to a temporary fourteen. But this didn’t stop the momentum and despite being a player down Burton soon secured their bonus point try. With twenty minutes gone and on the wrong side of twenty-six points, Stafford needed something. The visiting XV slowly started to string some phases together and worked their way deep into Burton territory. With the try line in sight, a couple of shunts saw the defenders starting to buckle. A final effort scattered the opposition and Dan Watts was at the base of the pile for a try, converted by Henry Ralphs. The Burton restart flew straight out and was called back for a Stafford scrum on halfway. Playing some brutal rugby, the Blackberry Lane XV were gaining the upper hand. Within touching distance another driving maul was spitting out Burton players and crashed over the line for a Dan Watts second, converted by Henry Ralphs. With a full team restored, Burton resumed breaking through very soft shoulders and a try soon followed. Despite the referee’s warning the home side then inexpiably minorly imploded, with a succession of penalties earning two subsequent yellow cards. With a couple of players advantage, Stafford ramped up the tempo against the reduced defence. In a blistering finale, Rob Jones erupted from the scrum to take a punishing try, converted by Henry Ralphs. But it was left to a thirteen-man Burton to close the half as they ran through, largely unopposed, for their sixth try. Stafford went into half time trailing 38 – 21 and looking for a workable solution against the rugby Burton were bringing.

Stafford started the second half brightly and some good early play paid dividends. Burton defended strongly but couldn’t stop Alex Rock from grounding the ball for the bonus point try. The home side effectively managed the final few minutes of the yellow card and they were soon restored to a full XV on the pitch. Stafford then had to endure a good twenty-five minutes of pain in which they struggled to fight out of their own half. The hosts were playing some clinical rugby which continually dismantled any resistance being built in front of them. A haul of three additional Burton tries tore apar any come back aspirations in a torrid period of rugby. Into the final ten minutes, Stafford put together some good phases putting the home side under pressure. With the try line in sight the ever-efficient driving maul did its job again, Ben Pryce taking the try. As the clock ticked into the final minutes a County Town surge led a final charge. With some slick hands the ball flew along the line and Henry Ralphs crossed for the final consolation try of the afternoon.

Next 1st XV Match: Saturday 14th November, Ashbourne 1st XV. Home League. KO 15.00.