Stafford Colts travelled to neighbours Walsall to play in the quarter finals of the Staffordshire colts cup having been given a bye in the first round.

Stafford wanted to get off to a quick start knowing that Walsall are a tough proposition when playing at home and they did. With 3 minutes on the clock Walsall conceded a penalty in their 22 and taking advantage of the free play stand-off Seb Conaghan kicked to the corner for Full-back Henry Ralphs who gathered the ball and passed to Aiden Barker to score in the corner. After that opening score the game slowed down and there followed a period of stop start play with both sides conceding penalties but failing to capitalise on them. Stafford were urged to up the tempo and they did, the backs broke from their own half and the forwards joined in on the wide outside. When the ball came back into the middle of the pitch scrum half Archie Bent switched the play down the blind side and strong running back rower Hugo Sutton spotted a hole in the Walsall defence and dove over for the second score. However, the stop start nature of the first half continued and Walsall eventually got some territory in the Stafford half following a string of soft penalties conceded. The big Walsall forwards eventually forcing their way over the Stafford line from close range. That concluded the scoring in the first half with a frustrated Stafford side leading 5 – 10.

After the break Stafford were determined to up the tempo and started to get strong running centers Fin Osmant and Ollie Croft more into the game. Fin had a strong carry down the middle of the park and when the ball was fed wide Stafford nearly scored in the left hand corner but were held up, however Walsall came off their feet at the breakdown and conceded a penalty. Stafford went to their close rang penalty move and Hugo Sutton dove over unopposed for his second score of the game 12 minutes into the second half. After that score the game reverted to its stop start nature but Walsall players were starting to tire and you could sense that Stafford were getting on top. Walsall were now kicking at every opportunity to try and get out of their own half but Stafford kept running it back at them. Then with 15 minutes of the game remaining Seb Conaghan kicked a penalty from in front of the posts and there was clear daylight now on the score board. Stafford could sense that Walsall were tired and started to take quick penalty taps rather than kicking for the lineouts. That paid off when Fin Osmant stormed through the Walsall defence from half way and dotted down under the posts. This time Seb Conaghan added the conversion. With time running out and Walsall looking like a beaten side Fin Osmant nearly scored a second try when he beat 6 Walsall defenders with a fleet footed determined charge down the middle of the field only to be held up over the line, he should have passed to his winger though if truth should be told. The game finished with Stafford worthy winners 5 – 25.

It was a beautifully sunny day for a game of flowing rugby on the Walsall AGP pitch but the game was not allowed to flow and as a result the players grew more and more frustrated. However, the result was all that mattered in this cup tie and Stafford moved on in the competition. They will now play Lichfield away in the semi-final on the 19th March.

See you all at training
Mark