STAFFORD 2nd XV vs WILLENHALL 2nd XV. 5TH NOVEMBER 2016. LEAGUE MATCH.

Stafford 60 – 0 Willenhall

Stafford welcomed Willenhall to the County Ground for the first league game of November. Stafford were looking to continue their run of wins to establish a good league position.

The Stafford Development team started the game off very quickly exerting all of the early pressure. Slick handling releasing Brett Corcoran to cross the line in the corner for an early try. The game had barely restarted when Chris Hinchcliffe danced around the Willenhall defence and ran in from 50 metres out for the second try of the afternoon which he then converted. The visitors were finding it difficult to live with the home side assault and although they dug in couldn’t keep out Chris Hinchliffe from scoring two more tries and converting one of them. The Stafford scrum was providing a devastating platform for the attack and the next to score was Brett Corcoran, beating two defenders for his second of the afternoon. The half ended with Mitch Averis picking up from back of the ruck to score the sixth try of the afternoon, Chris Hinchliffe adding the conversion. Stafford went into half time leading 36 – 0 and having dominated for most of the match.

The second half saw Stafford coming out more sluggishly; Willenhall tried to seize the opportunity and started to take control of the game through their large set of forwards. The Stafford XV then clicked back into full attack as Brett Corcoran flew down the wing to score his third try of the afternoon. A number of injuries reduced Stafford to 14 able players on the pitch, but this didn’t seem to disrupt the continuity. A quick tap penalty from Mark Broomhall released a savage charge from Gregor Lennon which smashed through the Willenhall defence to score under the posts, Chris Hinchliffe adding the conversion. With the visitors tiring Matt Smith found the room to take Stafford’s ninth try, converted by Chris Hinchliffe. The final play of the game saw Elliot Hunter crossing the line in the corner and the referees whistle signalled the end of a scintillating afternoon of rugby.