Stafford 31 Vs 19 Longton

A fresh but dry Friday night under the home lights saw Longton visit Blackberry Lane and play in a game that was definitely a tale of two halves.
Firstly, this is what this league should be about, players in the wider squad getting minutes, other players coming back from injury and getting much needed game time rather than training against each other and tonight provided both.
So to the first half , an early knock on gave the visitors territory and possession within the Stafford 22 and after a number of phases only some resolute Stafford defence kept the score at 0-0 holding the ball up over the line. This gave Stafford the chance to clear and reset some field position.
After some neat play in the midfield, a penalty was given and Harry instead of going for touch, saw space in the backfield and cross kicked, Jude went in pursuit and his pressure caused a turnover, Ben J was on hand to pick up and despite covering Longton players, offloaded back to Jude for the centre to score the opening try. (7-0 HW conv).
Stafford’s defence was standing up well and after turning the ball over carries from Ben J , Theo and Oscar moved the ball up the field. The latter back from a long injury made a number of breaks in midfield and it was good to have him back. The forwards then took over with Ben J, Ben W and Theo all getting close to going over, eventually the teams patience got its reward and Alfie went over for a score by the posts. (14-0 HW conv).
Longton again came back into the game and different players stepped up, Harley and Alan in a big double tackle, followed up by Harry taking a forward to ground and Jude getting in over the ball to win the penalty and turnover of possession once again. This time the go forward was provided by Connor coming off his wing and both Josh H and Oli carrying on the momentum. Although a scrum was awarded following a knock on, the pressure from the pack caused extra pressure to the Longton half backs, Jude amplified the press and a kick through from a loose ball was just short , Oscar pouncing on the ball, Josh H sealing it and Theo benefitting from the recycle. (21-0 HW conv).
Stafford were continuing to play in the right parts of the field with further carries and good choices providing a scrum within the Longton 22, Ben picked and went blind, Xiggy was on hand as the middleman and Tyler went in at the corner. (26-0)
With half time fast approaching there was time for one more try. With the ball being moved well up the right-hand side, following a break from Oscar and two big carries from Theo, the defence bunched, Harry cross kicked into Connors arms and the wing had enough time and space to scamper into the corner (31-0).
The second half was a very different game, with a raft of changes for both teams (including 5 who may be playing 1st XV rugby in the Longton area today), and so did the task set to the Colts. Three tries were scored by the visitors, and there were no more points from Stafford, however the notes mentioned all of following putting in some big time tackles , with two or three being try savers, which without would have made the score a lot closer. I hope the players learnt a lot from this second half, about game management and playing the ball in the right parts of the field.
Big defence by the following ;
Ben W, covering tackle on the oppositions wing, saving a try after Oli S at 15 had done enough to slow the progress down.
Josh J double tackle, including a definite try saver, for someone not big in stature , tonight he was big in heart and put a great shift in the second half, Josh H and Josh N covering wide and in tight, the latter with some claret to finish the game.
Dara and Will in the middle of the park, stopping much big runners through the channels, and as always Jonah, the work rate , the plugging of gaps and the flowing locks of course, all meant that the Colts could walk off with another win at home and provide a good start to the weekend.
Man of the Match, there were a bunch of good performances , but Ben J was on it tonight in attack and defence , Defender of the Day , Josh J for his second half defence , stopping at least one try and getting right into the thick of it, showing that technique will often win in the size battle.
And a brief mention to Thompson and Thompson , for those who know the Tin-Tin books, there are a set of detectives who although look like twins and act the same , are not related, in the past I have nicknamed some of our players that out of respect, well the last couple of games, this moniker has definitely been passed onto Ben W and Josh H, not the biggest of back rowers but constantly a menace, getting through a lot of the dirty work and doing so with a smile on their face as the cause chaos, gentleman, please keep it up.
So next we have a home match in the league against Walsall on Sunday, lets continue the form and take it up another notch.