Stafford 47 Vs 26 Burton

During warm up with light rain and a strong cross wind, you would have thought this was going to be a low scoring affair, however the wind lightened slightly, and the sun came out for a bright, warm Saturday afternoon.
It was definitely a bright start with Stafford scoring almost from kick off. With a long deep kick, the chase was good and from the breakdown, Jack shot up and blocked the clearing kick. The ball sat up in the try area and Jack tapped down for a 7-0 start (Dylan S conv).
At the restart Kayden took the ball clean and Stafford recycled the ball quickly. Morgan moved the ball to Jake who put a burst in and passed out the tackle to Jack, the centre went through untouched and Stafford were two scores up within the first 5 minutes. (14-0 Dylan S conv)
It was all Stafford, Jake from the next kick off made ground to the 30, 2 phases and a penalty saw Kayden and then Jude carry into the opposite 22. Two more phases through the forwards and the gap arose again for Jack to get his hat trick. (21-0 Dylan S)
Burton were trying to get a foothold in the game but Stafford were all over the breakdown with Jake turning the ball over and Ethan carrying in the loose. Morgan then kept the visitors pinned back with a lovely kick into the corner. The pressure at the lineout was good and turned the ball over. Finn hit the ball in short and although the ball was turned over, Burton were caught in the try area and a 5m scrum awarded to the home team. A pick and go from Kayden saw the no.8 power over and the score extended to 28-0 (Dylan S conv).
Burton would get into the game when from the deep restart Stafford were loose in the carry and despite good tackles from Ellis, Mason and Jonah, the phases and penalties continued and Burton eventually got on the score sheet. (28-7)
It was becoming end to end with kick chasing being effective from Stafford and Burton carrying back through the pack in close. Stafford though started to give away penalties and were soon back defending in the 22. Another penalty for offside and the visitors went through the phases and scored again to reduce the score just before half time. (28-14)
As the second half started Burton looked to close the gap as a knock on gave them good field position but for a good tackle by Jolame and the a follow up by Ed , meant that the threat was snuffed out and cleared. Burton would look for territory and the kick was fielded by Freddie, who took the ball back , the pod saw Ethan offload to Jake, then Kayden and hands out to Jolame on the wing, the winger getting tackled to touch in the opposition 22. At the subsequent lineout Jake won the ball, Danail settled everything with a carry and hands long and deep to Marley who set his man and popped to Jack to score again (35-14 Dylan S conv).
Stafford were trying to move the ball and although under pressure in their own 22, Jolame, Jack, Morgan and Jake again moved the ball and Marley again found room and went down the touchline into the opposite half, however penalties again were conceded. Burton went on the attack but good Stafford defence saw a knock on as Burton looked to build.
From the resulting scrum, Dyllan S switched sides , passed out to Morgan and as Jack ran the dummy line, the ball was popped in behind to the looping Dylan who took the ball on and his break was ended by the covering fullback but Stafford were in the visitors, Jolame continued the go forward and through hands the ball was moved to the other wing , eventually popping up to Marley and the winger hit a good line and went in from 30 yards out . (42-14 Dylan S conv)
A mistake from the next kick off presented the visitors with a good field position, and despite the initial strong defence , they would crash through on the fifth phase to score. (42-19)
The second half was following the same script of the first half, the visitors would get up a head of steam and despite tackling from Harry C, they would gain good territory. Eventually a scrum 5 metres out would see another Harry C tackle snuff out the pick and go, only for three phases, a bit of patience and a good drive, Burton scored again (42-26)
Stafford needed to put this tye to bed and at the restart the ball hung well in the wind and Jack managed to win the ball. Danail and Jake then carried and the ball went wide, however it became loose and Burton broke. As the winger kicked through, Freddie blocked the kick and at the lineout a tackle from Harry saw a scrum in the 22, a loose ball and in the ensuing chaos saw the ball out to Jack who hit the gap and the gas to score his 5th try and the teams final one to see out the game 47-26 (missed conv).
It as a good performance from the colts that sees them progress to the semi-final and a match vs Wolverhampton, it was pleasing to see the running rugby and at times some sensible team rugby, however with our foot on a teams throat we need to put them away. Enjoy the win, and we go again.