1st XV
Matches
Sat 25 Jan 2020  ·  Midlands 2 West (North)
Newcastle (Staffs)
19
57
Stafford RUFC
1st XV
NEWCASTLE 1ST XV vs STAFFORD 1ST XV. 25TH JANUARY 2020. LEAGUE MATCH.

NEWCASTLE 1ST XV vs STAFFORD 1ST XV. 25TH JANUARY 2020. LEAGUE MATCH.

Steven McLuckie26 Jan 2020 - 20:12
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Three yellow cards see Stafford playing with fourteen for thirty minutes but nine tries complete the treble over a battling Newcastle.

Stafford travelled to Lilleshall Road for league action against Newcastle. The two sides were still recovering from the previous encounter in the cup. With home advantage and a tight game last week, Newcastle would always be a difficult opposition.

Stafford started the game at an exhausting pace which tested early Newcastle resolve. The home side defence was strong stopping several attacks including an elusive Rich Martin. But they couldn’t get hands to a pouncing Nick Oxley who chased a hacked through ball for a spectacular first try of the afternoon. With secure ball from the restart the visitors found the space to pile down the field as the home side were put on the back foot. Carl Williams drove across the line, but the referee signalled that the ball had been held up. Newcastle couldn’t get out of their own half and when Nick Oxley took advantage of a loose ball, the defence was split wide open for Alex Rock to take the second of the game. With ten minutes just ticking over on the clock Jerry Qasenivalu combined with Sam Egerton in a devastating run which ripped through Newcastle and released Louis Dewsbury for a try which he then converted. With their first real attack of the day, the home side worked hard to earn their first points of the match with a converted try. A subsequent Stafford yellow reduced the visitors to a temporary fourteen on the pitch and should have given the hosts the opportunity to narrow the lead. The high tempo attack wouldn’t provide any room for relief, Newcastle having to repel some testing attacks. Several assaults came close but it took a destructive run by Sam Egerton to cross the line for the bonus point try. Callum Hoy was the next to muscle his way through the defensive cover but a hard look from the referee judged the ball held up. An attacking scrum within sight of the Newcastle line allowed the referee to restore the travellers to a full fifteen on the pitch. With equal numbers Carl Williams peeled off the back and took a direct line through everyone for the final try of the period, converted by Louis Dewsbury. Stafford went into half time leading 7 – 29, but looking very much in control of the game.

Stafford used the subs bench to change things around at the start of the second half. A brutal attacking period saw the team combining slickly to reign down havoc on the defence. With prone bodies strewn across the pitch the ball found its way to Louis Dewsbury who crossed for his second of the game, which he then converted. A lull in proceedings saw the teams competing for any advantage in the middle of the field, before Rich Martin spotted some space and lofted a spiralling ball. The Newcastle players tried to gather but it was snatched from the air by Jerry Qasenivalu who eluded everyone for a try, converted by Louis Dewsbury. Injuries to Callum Hoy and Angus Lennon led to the visitors having to reshuffle some positions in the team. A subsequent yellow card increased the pressure when Stafford were temporarily back to fourteen on the pitch. Newcastle started to play some of their best rugby of the afternoon, spending long periods threatening the opposition line, but they couldn’t find a way through a stubborn defence. When Carl Williams secured the ball and burst through the opposition it only took a supporting Louis Dewsbury to tear down the pitch for his third try of the afternoon, which he then converted. With a full complement back on the pitch Stafford re-assumed their dominance. Sefanaia Bulumakau smashed aside any remaining resistance and a darting Christian Ureche flew between the posts for a try converted by Louis Dewsbury. A third yellow card of the game reduced Stafford back down to a familiar fourteen on the field. A final Newcastle flourish took advantage of the reduced numbers and tired legs to create two tries before the referee’s whistle signalled the end of a gruelling game.

Match details

Match date

Sat 25 Jan 2020

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Midlands 2 West (North)

League position

4
Stafford
9
Newcastle (Staffs)
Team overview
Further reading

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