Stafford Colts welcomed Walsall colts to the county ground for the return league fixture following their close game earlier on in the season.
Stafford started the match determined to get off to a fast start and they did.

Walsall conceded a penalty and from the subsequent lineout on half way a strong rolling maul put Walsall on the back foot. The ball was then passed into the centers where Dan Poultney brushed off two tacklers and touched down under the posts after only 2 minutes of the game. Archie Bent added the simple conversion. Stafford kept the pressure on and Walsall were struggling to contain the strong running Stafford forwards. After 10 minutes Stafford scored their second try when Daniel Clements picked up a loose ball from a ruck close to the Walsall line and dived over. That try was quickly followed by Stafford third when after 15 minutes Stafford turned over possession in the Walsall half and the ball was passed wide to strong running centre Fin Osmant who ran it in under the posts. Simple conversion again added by Archie Bent. Stafford kept the pressure on Walsall who were struggling to spend anytime in the Stafford half. After 22 minutes Dan Poultney scored his second try of the match when he kicked a loose ball behind the Walsall defenders then jackled the ball on the line to score a fine individual try. First half scoring was completed when Charlie Kirby touched down from a driving maul off a lineout on the Walsall 10m line. Stafford reaching the break 29 – 0 up.

Wholesale changes were made at half time and with Stafford starting the second half with 14 men after winger Aiden Barker had been shown yellow at the very end of the first half for a deliberate knock on. This man advantage gave some hope to Walsall and they scored a converted try after 7 minutes. Stafford were struggling to get back into their rhythm and structured play that they had shown in the first half. But then after 20 minutes Ollie Croft was put through a big hole in the Walsall back line and he cruised over for Stafford’s 6th try. Henry Ralphs, now playing at 10, added the conversion. That try seemed to knock any resistance out of the Walsall side and Joben Corcoran dived over from close range following a fluent Stafford attacking move involving backs and forwards, Ralphs adding the conversion. Then strong running Gurman Seehra brushed off several Walsall tacklers to score Stafford’s 8th try under the posts. The final play of the match saw Stafford break from their own half and get the ball out wide to speedster Alex Sheard who dived in at the left hand corner to score his first try for the colts. The match ended with a final score for 55 – 7 to Stafford.

It was a very good performance from Stafford Colts against a Walsall side that seemed to be lacking a few key players and did not seem up for the fight against a very physical Stafford side. New boy Oscar Hall-Davies had an outstanding game both in the tight and in the loose backed up by some strong backs play from the likes of Fin Osmant, Dan Poultney, Oliver Croft and Archie Bent. Loose forwards Hugo Sutton and Daniel Clements also had strong games and Harry Woolman made some very strong carries coming off the bench for the second half.

It was another 50 point plus win for the Colts who look to be in a good vein of scoring form which bodes well for the tough league and cup challenges in the remainder of the season. Well done boys keep playing and training hard and you will reap the benefits at the end of the season.

Mark