Stafford 57 Vs Tamworth 14

From a Friday night under the lights last week to a Saturday morning on a dry slightly breezy morning on the back pitch this week, but the consistency and work rate from last week would be required again this week as it would be a step up in opposition.
Stafford started with gaining early yards and despite conceding a scrum, they managed to take it against the head. Danail then picked and went with the power and footwork to go in from 22 yards out to open the scoring (7-0 Harry W conv).
The early yards were definitely being made by the home team, good hands from the restart got Stafford again on the front foot with Jake and Leon making good ground with ball in hand, and even though the ball was turned over, Danail was big in defence to make sure that Stafford stayed tight.
Tamworth then cleared and Stafford worked the ball back up the field with Finn and Oli carrying tight, Leon made a half break and linked with Marley who went over using his pace to score in the corner. (14-0 Harry W conv).
This was definitely not one way traffic, Tamworth looked to push and probe , attacking the centre field, one semi break was snubbed out by Finn H covering over from his wing, others were repelled by Jonah and Ed S.
As Tamworth pushed, Stafford bent but didn’t initially break, however James would receive a yellow card for a deliberate knock on and the home team would be down to 14. Shortly after and good patience by the visitors, narrowed the score to 14-7.
From the kick-off , Harry C got after the ball and the pressure saw Tamworth kick to clear, Finn took it back with interest and the recycle was taken on by Connor , Marley and Jake. Eventually Tamworth running backwards started to concede penalties and after two phases Farai went through to extend the lead.As the first half came to an end, the score could have been extended but the Colts would have to settle for the lead. (19-7)
The second half restart was kicked straight out by the visitors and Stafford restarted with a scrum on halfway, with all options in front of them, Harry W kicked deep and a great chase by Marley and Finn would push Tamworth deeper still, eventually with a turnover, Stafford through Jonah, Connor and Leon all threatened the line, eventually the latter being held up over the whitewash.
From the goal line restart, Connor returned with power and made good ground, a further kick from Harry W in behind put Finn into a foot race and the winger dotted down in the try area. (24-7)
Stafford were starting to find gaps and were being stingy in defence. Carter, Jake and Marley continued to carry hard and another kick into space saw Connor (now on the wing) chase and his physicality caused enough problems for him to get the ball and score out wide. (31-7 Harry W conv)
Then came possibly the try certainly of the week, if not the month. A high kick-off was taken clean by Jonah who pivoted and passed early to a hard running Jake, who took the ball at pace, outside was Finn H and simple hands put the winger away from 60 out to get another try. It was simple but pleasing to see. (38-7 Harry W conv).
It looked as if it might happen again this time going the other way after Ed C and Marley combined, only this time Farai went clean off his feet and the penalty was conceded.
The penalties continued to be given away by the home team and eventually it would tell with Tamworth scoring their second try of the day. (38-14).
Stafford came straight back, and with Jake now in the back line at inside centre, posed more than enough threat with a dummy scissors that the gap opened for Leon to sprint through and beat three further players with a swerve and the centre went in from 60 out. (45-14)
Some of the players were playing with a real swagger, off loads out the back were sticking, one handed flicks made gaps bigger with Farai, Will R, Connor and Leon all making it look easy.
From a scrum just inside the Tamworth half, Stafford won it clean and the ball was popped out right, Harry W moved the ball, Leon kicked into space and the pressure caused the visitors to kick out the back of the try area. From the 5 metre scrum restart , Danail, picked went and powered over for a simple try (50-14).
There would be time for one more try, Connor searching for work off his wing carried , offloaded to James who drove his way into the 22, although a phase later Tamworth turned the ball over , as they looked to clear, Harry C got a partial block on it, the loopy ball was taken on the run by Connor who caught it on the full and powered through four to score the last try of the day. (57-14 Harry W conv)
Credit to Tamworth , they are really struggling with numbers and it was great that they managed to come over to Stafford, also their heads never dropped and they kept competing.
From a Colts point of view, after a slow start, the front foot ball allowed more chances for the backs to express themselves and with pace out wide, the chase and cover caused the Tamworth back three trouble all game.
Nine tries, three players getting a double and 20 lads getting game time.
So, on we go, and a big step up to Lichfield.
MOTM , Finn H , great work rate, covering in defence and being a nuisance in attack all game, rewarded with some tries.