STAFFORD 2ND XV vs BARTON UNDER NEEDWOOD 2ND XV. 2ND DECEMBER 2023. FRIENDLY.

With no league game Stafford 2nd XV were intending to be on the road for a last-minute friendly against Barton under Needwood. The weather interrupted the late week plans but the facilities at the County Ground were equal to the conditions and the game was moved to Blackberry Lane. Stafford took the opportunity to introduce a plethora of the senior colts into their first senior mens rugby match. Making their debut were: Charlie Kirby, Dan Clements, Finn Osmant, Henry Perks, Joseph Turnbull and Liam Quindos.

Barton came storming into the encounter and some strong early play soon had Stafford under pressure. The hosts held off a couple of attacks, but a determined foray got through the defence and the visitors were in an early lead by a solid try. Stafford started to find some success of their own as the players settled into their positions and were marshalled around the pitch by the experienced voices. Barton were soon involved in a furious defence which was fending off attacks from all sections of the field. A crashing pick up and charge by Charlie Kirby saw the debutant bouncing through the opposition across the line to take a try, converted by Will Turner to level the scores. Keeping the tempo high the home side spent long periods in the opposition half but Barton managed the game well. Stafford were benefiting from the exuberance of youth, the solid lines of experience and clever rugby of everyone in-between. Coming off a flying attack. Dan Watts shredded the defence when he set off on a superb loop to claim the next try, helped on his way with some slick hands. As the period dwindled to a close some rumbling plays from the forwards saw Barton having to mounting a robust defence of their own line. The visitors scrapped hard and took the smothered the ferocity of a couple of serious attacks. Stafford kept at the task in hand trying to prise open any opening. Eventually Alfie O’Brien forced himself across the whitewash for a try, converted by Will Turner. Stafford went into half time leading 19 – 7 against a tough Barton performance.

Players were swapped around for the second half and the first ten minutes was hotly contested with both teams having their share of opportunities. Stafford slowly settled, starting to find some space with a punishing running game. The scrambling Barton defence coped well until a searing run from Ben Adams tore through tackles and a final pass opened up the try for Josh Bayley, converted by Will Turner. The game was slightly marred when an unfortunate injury to Tom Berry saw the Stafford player being carried off the pitch. Both teams continued to play some bright rugby in the freezing conditions. Barton spent some time camped in the Stafford half, but the Blackberry Lane side absorbed the pressure and cleared their lines. With the ball secured, the hosts started to build again stretching the defenders across the pitch. Barton put in some strong hits but It wasn’t long before Alfie O’Brien crossed for his second off the afternoon. The teams continued to trade blows as the time started to dwindle out of the game. There was time for one last assault from the ever-ready Stafford side. With the ball flowing across the pitch Colton Mclaughlin showed all his pace, stepping past the tiring opposition. It was left to Ben Adams to take the ball and score the final try of an industrious afternoon.