So firstly, a quick word about Pre-season, with training over the summer gradually getting tougher and players committing to not only the philosophy set out for them, but also buying into each other’s abilities and personalities , it’s clear in training that the level set out and adhered to has gone up a level, with players encouraging and pushing each other.
The opening pre-season matches saw 46 players get game time across the 3 matches and the pre-season Burton tournament. It has been brilliant (apart from the headache of game time) that players have been training well and wanting to play, trust me when I say , it was not an easy selection process for the first league game.
So here we go, after an hour or so down the M5 to an initially dry and grey Droitwich , we arrived to somewhere I’ve never played or coached at so we didn’t know what to expect. Therefore, the message was simple, play our game, follow the plan. Play the conditions (which were now rather damp) and don’t worry about making mistakes.
With a diagonal wind, Stafford would play the first half with a slight advantage, and it was pleasing despite the rain that players, in particular Tyler H and Connor S were taking high balls cleanly and taking it back each time with interest.
Both teams were making the hard yards with good carries from Danail, Jonah and Mason, and when needed Harry and Connor S putting foot to ball and pinning the home team back in their own 22. It wasn’t long for Stafford to yet again visit the oppositions 22 and despite a turnover the clearance wasn’t far enough or into touch, Connor S took it clean beat a player and fed Finn H who took the ball on into space and shot through to open the scoring (0-5 missed conv).
It was a well-deserved score for the Colts whose pack were not giving and inch and whose defensive line was refusing to budge, causing problems in the scrum and in the loose.
Droitwich came straight back and after giving away a couple of penalties , Stafford found themselves defending their line. The next 4-5 mins would be a show of strength, dedication and mental fortitude as they began repelling every drive, withstanding further penalties , turning the tide of Droitwich attacks. The home team eventually resorted to a lineout after being shut out again. Eventually the ball was turned over and Stafford cleared well.
Stafford started to move the ball well despite the conditions and were making ground both in short and out wide with Theo and Oli carrying strongly in traffic. A couple of penalties assisted the pack moving down the field and eventually with a hammer called, Jonah hit a gap and slide over to extend the lead. (0-10 missed conv)
Droitwich wanted to score prior to the half and pushed again , this time Stafford didn’t just repel the home team , Harry struck a 50-22 and Stafford looked to extend the score. Only some stout home defence kept Evan, Tyler J and Will from crossing again before the half time whistle.
The second half message was the level cannot drop and with the wind in the home teams favour, be prepared to run things back.
The kick off couldn’t have gone any better with Harry putting a bit of height on it and Connor S taking the kick off clean.
The rain now hammering down, the players kept trying to move the ball and were having some success only for the weather to assist in turning the ball over. But the defence now led by Josh , Oli and Tyler kept the home team at nil. Not for the first time , Ben and Evan caused havoc in the lineout and Danail was mopping up anything on the ground. Then a real, ‘whose that’ moment, with the ball kicked long , Connor and the other backs chased the ball, the defence got turned and the ball was returned, from nowhere Oli popped up to take the high ball like a seasoned 15 and took the ball back with interest. After Danail continued the go forward the gaps appeared, and Will would put Tyler H through to extend the lead to 0-15 (missed conv)
The game was still up for grabs and Droitwich continued to press and eventually as bodies tired they would score to close the gap 5-15.
Credit where its due, Stafford would not let this one slip away and some good kicking and hard graft, they kept the home team back inside their own 22, as they pressed to move down field Harry and Connor kept putting it back , eventually a kick (sort of planned) led to the final try. As Stafford pushed, a cross kick was on the cards as Droitwich tried to close the Stafford backs, the kick hit the post bounced kindly for the pursuing Connor who passed inside to Will for an easy touchdown , the added two from Connor sealed the win.
Despite a late flurry from the home team, Stafford remained tight and would see the game out in the wet.
In the brief huddle afterwards, the smiles showed that the rain wasn’t a bother and that the team recognised the effort they had all put in and that they were deserving of the win.
The message apart from the congratulations, was that is now the standard ! the bar has been set and that is the minimum. We can get better, but for a starting point as coaches, parents and fans of this team, we couldn’t ask for anything more.
So back to training on Tuesday and prep for Walsall away next Sunday. Places are still up for grabs and as we said we will pick a team for each week and each opponent.
A big sad shout out to Dylan who started at 9 and looks to have suffered a dislocated shoulder , not only gutted for him as a person but as a player he has been instrumental in getting this back line going and always leaves it out on the pitch, get well soon and hopefully he will be back in a couple of months.
Finally, MOTM backs was Connor S, brilliant under the wet high ball, great in defence and attack. Danail was forward MOTM, his work , mopping up lineouts and organisation gave us go forward constantly. Oli was defender of the day for his coverage at fullback and some big hits around the break down that pushed the opposition backwards. And finally, the one no one wants , goes to Theo who had a little bit of to me to you at the end, so will see what comes from that.
That’s the start, lets keep it going. Attack score points, but defence wins games. The colts today did both.