WALSALL 1ST XV vs STAFFORD 1ST XV. 23RD NOVEMBER 2019. LEAGUE MATCH.

Stafford took the short journey down the motorway for the last November league fixture of the season. The previous couple of meetings between the teams saw Walsall holding the upper hand with three wins out of four. Both sides were sitting comfortably in the top half of the table and the home side only prevented from being around top spot due to a points deduction for a technicality earlier in the season.

The opening five minutes was led by a bludgeoning attack through the Walsall forwards, which was met by a ferocious Stafford defence. The teams tussled around the middle of the pitch until a Callum Hoy tackle folded an opponent in half. The loose ball was scooped up and carried across the line for a try. But the referee’s whistle called play back for a knock on. Walsall responded with what would become the familiar play of the forwards crashing the ball up the field. With the Stafford line in sight, the home side battered hard against a solid defence but couldn’t find a way through, eventually having to settle for points from a penalty. Stafford stepped up the tempo and Walsall struggled to defend as the forwards and backs combined in a running attack. A couple of forays loosened up the home side line until a Sefanaia Bulumakau charge tore gaping holes in the defence and free flowing passes released Dan Mills for a try. With their tails up, Stafford’s next chance came when Taraiasi Wara broke through a couple of players to launch Ted Dinning across the line for a try, the referee’s whistle calling play back for forward pass. The Walsall forwards settled back into a brutish attacking play smashing against a determined defence until a set of phases eventually earned an exhausting try to retake the lead. In an end to end game Stafford again stretched the Walsall line with running the ball to carry the game deep into opposition territory. The home side was rocked back by some hard carries from the Stafford forwards until the referee awarded a penalty for repeated infringements. Slick hands gave Sam Egerton the room to ghost past a few defenders and claim the next try, converted by Christian Ureche. A subsequent Walsall penalty retook the lead for the home side. In the moment of the match Christian Ureche delivered a pinpoint restart kick. A racing Callum Jones rose athletically into the air, snatched the ball out of Walsall hands and landed into a sprint. The home side could only stand and stare as the Stafford player crossed the line to take a third try, converted by Christian Ureche. Stafford went into half time leading 13-19 but having to compete hard in a very close encounter.

A penalty early in the second half could have closed the gap for the home side, but it dropped short of the posts. Minor infringements by Stafford provided Walsall with all of the opportunities they needed for the marauding forwards to crash through for a try to make it a one-point encounter. Stafford again found success through some bruising running play which opened up large hole in the scrambling defence. Walsall repelled several assaults but couldn’t prevent Sam Egerton from taking his second try of the afternoon securing the bonus point, converted by Christian Ureche. The home side came tearing back into the game, pinning the visitors on their own line. A penalty could have narrowed the score line for the hosts but the ball couldn’t find the posts. In an exhausting session the Walsall XV threw themselves against the defending county town side. The home side eventually managed to ground the ball in the corner to close the gap back to one point. The game was balanced on a knife edge as the possession drifted back and forth. A surge by Stafford nearly drove the ball across the line but a furious Walsall defence scrapped the ball back into their hands. Both sides had their opportunities, threatening each other’s lines. Christian Ureche extended the Stafford lead through an incidental penalty. Walsall finished strongly but couldn’t find their way past a competitive Stafford defence who eventually turned over the ball to end the game.