Fred Rowley Cup Semi-Final
Walsall 34 Vs 47 Stafford

This game, this beautifully ridiculous game that we all love, sometimes provides a game that is just, well beyond anyone’s expectation. It was like a Shakespearean play, plot and counter plot, desire (to win) , villains, protagonists and unlike Williams best work, a whole lot of four letter words, that cannot be repeated in this write up.
So, to the game and a semi final in the cup would see us over at hosts Walsall. The other semi final provided a 31-31 penalty shoot-out, our game certainly promised a good game, and boy did we get one. With lightning in the air, it was crackling on the pitch as well as in the clouds around it. Stafford started well and good defence put the hosts on the back foot and having to clear, Finn took it well and with good support from Freddie and Jonah, Stafford got on the front foot. Jack R got the ball moving and Kayden picked up, went blind and scored in the corner. (0-7 Harry W conv).
Despite the threat from the Walsall back row and centres, Stafford turned the ball over and Morgan put boot to ball and got Stafford back up the pitch, making good use of his left foot. Despite good tackling from Jonah, Fred and Ashton, the hosts would get a try a back (5-7).
From the restart a flurry of penalties went against the colts and the pressure told with Walsall scoring again. (12-7)
From the kick off, Stafford put a hanging ball up that Jack R and Finn got after, between them they recycled the ball and within moments Kayden was under the posts to take the lead (12-14 Harry conv).
Stafford were again showing up in defence with Jack shutting down the midfield and Danail coming up big in the tight. After a long kick to touch, Danail and James carried big in the midfield and with the ball getting up close to the try line , Finn powered over to put the Colts further into the lead. (12-19).
We knew what would come before the half ended and in an ideal world the defence would have withstood the barrage , however penalties again would go against us and a try on half time would see the hosts reduce the lead to 2pts (17-19)
It had been I suppose a fitting end (not quite a tragedy) to end the first half which had turned into a real physical battle on the pitch.
As the second half began Ethan, Oli and Farai all carried big meaning that both Freddie and Marley got a bit of space out wide. Despite the good play and against the run of play, Walsall turned the ball over and took the lead (24-19).
The Colts seemed a bit eager to get the next score when they just needed to settle things, it would come thought and started with Farai putting a big hit in and although the next scrum was loose , the ball sat up for Jude who stepped two and curved his run to the outside, fending off two and scoring to put the Colts up again (24-26 Elijah conv)
With the ball back in play , a high tackle would lead to a Walsall penalty which they kicked successfully at goal (27-26) , despite the set back, right away Stafford had the opportunity to take it back after a high tackle on Jack, unfortunately Elijah just pushed it right. It was going to be a close game to the end.
Now from then in, my notes are sketchy at best, it really was one of those games. From the resulting 22 a loose ball sat up for Jack to get space, he set his man and played Finn in for a second try and Elijah nudged over the extras for a Stafford lead (27-33).
Walsall pressed and after a succession of penalties, the referee awarded Connor a yellow card and the Colts would be down to 14. Despite the best efforts in defence a try soon came and the hosts were up by 1. (34-33).
Stafford despite the man down, still played some great rugby, a 50-22 was roared into touch by the subs and coaches and celebrated almost as much as a try which soon came as Walsall cleared, Freddie took it clean and space was created for Jack to go through and again put Stafford ahead. (34-40)
Stafford were briefly back to 15, only for the freekick and penalty bug to bite again, as Walsall went to go quick, James took one for the team, to far out for a penalty try but certainly stopping the momentum of the hosts and Stafford would be back to 14.
Then the moment that finished the game, Stafford up by 6 points, Walsall pushing deep in the 22 on the left corner, all lined up to the right, their big players ready to carry forward and regain the lead, however the ball popped out to Kayden after a quick counter by the forwards. The back row fended two and put his foot down, the chase was on, as he passed halfway the Walsall winger pulled out and the covering 13 and 11 couldn’t get close enough to stop the try, the visitors bench going wild. Elijah knocked over the two and with 12 seconds left, the hosts would need two scores. (34-47)
At kick off, Logan took it clean and the leg drive was on to get the ball out of play with two Walsall players dragged along. The clean recycle and the ball was kicked out I believe by Dylan for a memorable win.
I apologise now for not mentioning every player in the squad as this was a squad effort, big plays and tries don’t always happen on their own , normally it takes the phases before to get the space. Danail in the first half asked the ref if the ball was out, the ref agreed and that put us deep in the 22 (much to the disagreement of the Walsall coach who got a red card for his protests). Will in the lineout caused problems all game long and it was by far the best game I have seen from Jack in the second row, while Dylan and Elijah provided good ball for the backs to get on the front foot.
So, we march on, forget the results from previous games against Sutton , their coaches watched tonight and will know what’s coming, their academy players will be back. But, its one game, its 70 minutes, if every player reaches deep for each other and goes to the well (again) and plays as a team, then there is every chance of silverware. Rest well, this one will live in the memory for a while. It wasn’t a midsummer nights dream, it was real.