Stafford Colts v Shrewsbury Colts 20/03/2022

Shrewsbury colts arrived at the county ground for the return league fixture on a perfect sunny dry and warm Sunday afternoon.

Being aware of the threat posed by the Shrewsbury backs Stafford played to their strengths and kept the ball in the forwards and were able to keep Shrewsbury on the back foot and in their own 22. However, it was Shrewsbury that scored first when a mistake from the Stafford forwards gifted the ball to the Shrewsbury winger who ran 90 meters to score under the posts. Going behind unexpectedly did not put Stafford off their game plan as the forwards marched the ball down field forcing Shrewsbury into conceding penalties and from the resulting lineout maul Tom Kirby was able to burst over in the corner. Stafford kept the pressure up and when the ball broke loose in the Shrewsbury 22 they move the ball wide to exploit the space and winger Owen Smith dove over to give Stafford the lead. Billy Jones added a superb conversion from out wide. As time in the first half was running out Shrewsbury had some possession of their own and struck with a flowing backs try in the left hand corner. Half time score was 12 – 12.

The second half started and the Stafford side seemed to forget their successful game plan from the first half. A missed kick to touch saw the Shrewsbury backs attack from half way and score in the right and corner. Another Stafford clearance kick into centre field was also ran back for a try and then a missed tackle at the re-start saw Shrewsbury again attack from deep and scored a third try in the opening 10 minutes of the half. Stafford scored two more tries of their own via Ben Dodd and a quick thinking scrum half try from Seb Conaghan with Billy adding the conversions but they could not wrestle control of the game back from Shrewsbury who scored 2 more tries of their own late on. Stafford did secure a loosing bonus point for scoring 4 tries but they were ultimately undone by the talented Shrewsbury back line. Final score being 24 – 45 to Shrewsbury

Next time out it’s a double header, cup semi-final and away league fixture, at Wolverhampton so fingers crossed the team can replicate the performance from the Lichfield game and come away with a win.

See you all at training
Mark