STAFFORD 1ST XV vs WALSALL 1ST XV. 29TH FEBRUARY 2020. LEAGUE MATCH.

Stafford returned to the haven of Coopers Park for the last game of a saturated February. They welcomed a travelling Walsall who were having a decent season which had seen the Delves Road team recover from a five points deduction to establish a firm mid table position. The teams had last met in November with Stafford taking a four-point win in a very tight game.

A lull in the weather heralded the start of the game with Walsall starting strongly as the visitors put early points on the board through a penalty kick. The Stafford response was instantaneous with a period of possession ending in Dan Mills ripping through the defenders and a supporting Jerry Qasenivalu crossing to take a try, converted by Christian Ureche. The home side established a relentless pressure which slowly propelled a defiant Walsall down the pitch assisted by a few incurred penalties. A Stafford kick for territory set up an attacking line out which Callum Hoy erupted from, carrying the ball and a couple of defenders across the line for the second try of the afternoon, converted by Christian Ureche. The visitors tried to react but any momentum was undone by minor lapses and errors. Stafford feasted on the opportunities, using them to dominate the territory across the field. A subsequent penalty was quickly taken by Christian Ureche which tore apart the hard-working defence. Jerry Qasenivalu continued the attack making the hard-final yards before Dan Mills took the try. The Walsall afternoon then sparked into life, with the Delves Road XV battering their way deep into home side territory. Stafford survived a couple of vigorous attacks before the referee reduced the county town team to fourteen courtesy of a yellow card. Storm Walsall swept across the field as the travellers threw everything at the depleted opposition. The visitors came close on a couple of occasions but Stafford managed to endure everything sent their way until they were restored to a full compliment on the pitch. With the weather sweeping in the remainder of the half dwindled to a tiring close. Stafford went into half time leading 19-3 but having to be wary of a hard-working Walsall squad threatening to exploit any opening.

The second half opened with Stafford swooping back into the fray, plunging Walsall back into a fighting defence. The forwards crashed against each other through a couple of phases before slick passing smuggled the ball into the hands of Jerry Qasenivalu who span past three defenders to take the bonus point try, converted by Christian Ureche. The visitors settled back into some periods of good attacking rugby and eventually found their reward through a well worked try in the corner of the pitch. Stafford responded with brutal charging runs to put large dents in a sturdy Walsall defence. With the forwards engaged the waiting Stafford backs paced restlessly waiting for any opportunity. As the ball squirted backwards the runners snapped into a fluid attacking line. A drifting Walsall defence matched the attack before a Louis Dewsbury run created a huge hole and a final pass found Christian Ureche for the try. A howling wind started to whip across the pitch and created minor havoc for both teams. The game became slightly disjointed as the sides both suffered from minor mistakes and lapses of concentration. A late Stafford yellow reduced the hosts to fourteen on the field for the remainder of the game and the referee’s whistle signalled the end of a testing encounter.