STAFFORD 1ST XV vs LONGTON 1ST XV. 23RD APRIL 2022. LEAGUE.

Stafford hosted the final league game of the season welcoming Longton to Blackberry Lane. The two teams closed off a long campaign in which they had swapped mid table league positions on several occasions. The county town team were looking to avenge the opening game loss which the visitors had inflicted under Friday night floodlights earlier in the season.

Longton opened the game by crashing around the Stafford half trying to force some early holes in home side defence. The county town team absorbed all of the weight thrown at them and slowly turned the momentum. With the ball in hand Stafford started to carve out some decent territory and stretch the visitors. A Sam Chatfield break ruptured the defence, Dan Mills took up the charge and Stu Lewis crashed across for the try. The visitors responded with typical meaty forwards play which positioned the attack just short of the try line. Defending the club house end Stafford dug in deep, Longton managed to bully their way across twice, but both were held up. Eventually the ball was turned over and kicked clear to relieve the pressure. Moving the ball at pace released Nick Oxley, who carved huge holes in a scrambling defence. The pack swarmed through to rip open more space and Jerry Qasenivalu found his way through for the second try of the afternoon. Longton clawed their way back into the encounter and as time was running out a penalty spiralled between the posts to put the first points of the afternoon on the board for the visitors. Stafford went into half time leading 10-3, but having to work hard against a heavy Longton assault.

The second half opened with a Longton try as the visitors rumbled around the pitch to tie the scores. Stafford continued to scrap hard but the game was becoming slightly disjointed which appeared to benefit the visitors more. As the teams wrestled around Blackberry Lane both teams were fairly equally matched. A ripped ball gave the opportunity to Stafford and Stu Lewis took full advantage to burst through into space. Jerry Qasenivalu carried hard but was hauled down just short but quick hands relocated the ball to Fin Jenkinson who crashed across the line for a try, converted by Louis Dewsbury. An exhausting period of play ended with a Longton try which bought the score to within two points. A tiring Stafford fought valiantly and as full time approached it looked as if they may have done enough to hold out. But an infringement earned the visitors a penalty in front of the posts, the ball flew straight to close the season and take the win for a travelling Longton.

Next 1st XV Match; None End of Season