Colts
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Tue 19 Apr 2022
Sutton Coldfield (At Walsall)
52
38
Stafford RUFC
Colts
Stafford Colts v Sutton Coldfield - Fred Rowley Trophy 19/04/2022

Stafford Colts v Sutton Coldfield - Fred Rowley Trophy 19/04/2022

Mark Bent20 Apr 2022 - 10:08
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A spirited performance from the Stafford side not quite good enough against a much changed Sutton Coldfield side

Stafford played Sutton Coldfield on a Tuesday evening at Walsall under the lights in the Frank Rowley trophy.

A much changed Sutton Coldfield side took to the pitch at Walsall, very different from the 10 players that turned up to play the league fixture earlier on in the year and with Stafford fielding seven u16 players in the side it looked like it was going to be a tough evening for the Stafford side. Sutton opened the scoring after just 45 seconds with a flowing back move finished off under the posts. Suttons second try came after 12 minutes following some loose play by Stafford in centre field ending up with Sutton backs again running in the try. After that however, the Stafford side started to drive the ball through the Sutton pack keeping the ball tight and forcing Sutton into conceding penalties. Rather than taking the points on offer Stafford chose to push for the try from close range and Gurman Seehra eventually diving over for the first Stafford try. Owen Smith, standing in as place kicker added the conversion. Sutton restored their two try lead with a further score but Stafford came roaring back. Alfie O’Brien scored from close range after another Stafford short range penalty move and then Ben Dodd scored the first of his three tries by catching a loose lineout throw from Sutton in their 22 and strolled over untouched. Bed Dodd then scored his second try forcing his way over directly under the Sutton posts and Owen Smith added the simple conversion to take Stafford into the lead for the first time. As time ran out in the first half a missed kick to touch enabled Sutton to escape the shackles that the Stafford forwards had put on them and they finished the half with a fourth try of their own under the posts. Half time score was 24 – 26 to Sutton.

The second half was a similar story to the first with Stafford forwards putting Sutton under pressure and Sutton trying to get their excellent backs into the game. Sutton scored a converted try but Stafford replied with a try of their own when Ben Dodd crashed over for his third try of the evening, converted by Owen Smith. Sutton forwards then put pressure on the Stafford line but where held up. However, from the resulting goal line dropout, the Sutton backs fielded the ball and evaded the Stafford tacklers to score another flowing try. The determined Stafford side did not let their heads drop and scored a sixth try of their own when Lucas Till ran a had line and crashed over under the Sutton posts, Owen Smith added the conversion. Pushing to take the lead for the second time Spencer Latham was held up in the act of scoring when there were men outside him. The goal line dropout allowed Sutton to clear their lines and from the resulting lineout a handling error in mid field allowed Sutton to kick the ball through and score in the corner. A break from center field by Archie Bent threatened to get a try back for Stafford but the support runners could not get to him in time and the opportunity was lost. With time running out Sutton scored their eighth try against a tiring Stafford side who had run themselves ragged trying to stay with the excellent Sutton side. The final score was 38 – 52 to Sutton.

This was a fantastic performance from the Stafford side given the mix of players across the u18’s, u17’s and u16’s age ranges. They played tight, forward dominated, rugby against a Sutton side that had some very exciting, big and skillful backs. It nearly worked but a couple of errors from Stafford resulted in points for Sutton and we were left with a sense of what might have been. There were some stand out performances for Stafford from Ben Dodd and Alfie O’Brien, who terrorized the Sutton forwards all evening with strong carries and numerous tries. Gurman Seehra who had his best game of the season and Owen Smith standing in at scrum half for the first time. Some great contributions also from Lochlan Stewart, Rhys Bowen and Will Smith from the u16’s playing in the forwards making their Colts debuts and Ed Mathews and Tom Croft (u16’s backs) showed glimpses of how exciting the Colts back line could be next year even with limited opportunities with the ball.

Next up it’s the final fixture of the season away at Dudley Kingswinford so let’s finish the season in style with a win. See you all on the bus at 11.30 on Sunday.

Mark

Match details

Match date

Tue 19 Apr 2022

Kickoff

19:30

Meet time

18:30

Instructions

The Fred Rowley Colts Tournament
at Walsall RFC
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Shirt Sponsor - Stafford Railway Building Society
Club Sponsor - Marston's Brewery
Club Sponsor - Mayflower Control
Club Sponsor - Churchill China
Ball Sponsor - Asset Solutions
Club Sponsor - O2 Touch Rugby
Club Sponsor - Thane Dispersions  Ltd
Club Sponsor - RMS
Shirt Sponsor - Lookers BMW & MINI Stafford
Shirt Sponsor - Gatehouse Theatre
Club Sponsor - Stafford Superbowl UK
Shirt Sponsor - OBI Home Improvements
Shirt Sponsor - Castle Way Dental Care
Club Sponsor - W R Davies Motor Group
Club Sponsor - STAFFORDSHIRE MECHANICAL SOLUTIONS