Stafford Colts travelled the long journey to Birmingham Mosley for a 1 st vs 2 nd faceoff in the league, hoping to bounce back after a frustrating result last time out.
Knowing the gravity of the fixture, Stafford wanted to get off to a strong and powerful start.
However, this was not the case. They struggled to maintain possession or field position in the first few minutes with Mosley kicking smartly, and effectively pinning Stafford in their own half. Unable to get rid of the pressure, Mosley were able to kick multiple penalties to pull ahead and extend their lead.
As the half wore on, Stafford managed to break the grasp of the opposition a few times but too many errors with handling or decisions allowed any momentum to be squandered with only 3 points to show for it. From an opposition scrum on their own 15, Mosley could react to a loose ball and weave through for their first try of the game. Despite now playing a stronger and more characteristic style of rugby, the Stafford boys still struggled to build any semblance of a complete performance; allowing Mosley to score another unanswered try.
However, knowing half time was looming and the importance a score would hold before the break, Stafford pushed on. Leaders on the team stepped up and Stafford led a long, vigorous set of 20+ phases of play beginning on the halfway line. Eventually after a high tackle on Colton McLaughlin, a penalty was awarded around 5 metres out from the lin. Stafford ran a pre-planned penalty move, sucking in the Mosley forwards and allowing Gurman Seera to dive over relatively unopposed under the sticks. Seb Conaghan slotting the windy conversion before the break. The score reading 23-10.

With the wind now behind them and knowing they can penetrate the oppositions defences Stafford began the 2 nd half rejuvenated. The collisions were stronger, and the team fell into its structure much more successfully, putting the opposition under lots of pressure. Stafford altered their kicking game to make the most of the conditions, finding grass in the backfield and culminating in some much-needed field position. They found the most success in their dominant lineout mauls, with the likes of Oliver Downe and Harry Woolman leading the way. Knowing this, they kicked to the corner from a midfield penalty and Stafford were able to get right up to the opposition line, winning the penalty advantage. The ball was slung wide to Seb Conaghan when after some juggling from both teams, somehow Ollie Croft managed to dive over for the converted try. 23-17. The comeback seemed on.
The resulting story was the same, multiple 30+ metre rolling mauls netted Stafford some dangerous field position and when they got their 10-metre lineout, the outcome seemed inevitable. A perfect, dominant maul saw the Stafford forwards rumble forward and hooker Harry Woolman slotting the ball down in the corner. A one-point deficit and a tricky conversion in the wind to put the team ahead. The conversion flew just wide of the posts leaving the score 22-23 to the home team.
Going forward Stafford tried their best to continue their momentum with 5 minutes to go, but a midfield penalty which was slotted superbly by the home side pushed the score to 22-26 and cleverly ate a minute off the ticking clock. Stafford tried their best to get back into a winning
position, but Birmingham ran down the clock off the kick-off not giving the ball up and kicked the ball out for the well fought victory.

Stafford did very well to climb back into the second half for the losing bonus point, but they gave themselves too much work to be done after an uncharacteristically slow start against a fired-up opposition. A shame to not get a victory but a very tense, quality game of rugby.

A big cup game next week against Litchfield, and some work to do to be where we need to be. Keep working hard – Archie.