Newport Colts 3 – Stafford Colts 13

After a disappointing result in last weeks opening game, Stafford Colts travelled to Newport for what would prove to be a tough game against their old rivals from Newport.

The game started at a very fast pace with the home side putting Stafford under tremendous pressure, pinning them down in their own 22 for long periods. Stafford gave away an early penalty for putting hands into a ruck, this was converted by Newport to give a 3 – 0 lead. Newport continued to pile on the pressure using the advantage of their bigger pack together with pace in the three quarters. Staffords responsive line pace in defence and aggressive tackling swatted the home side away from the try line. The visitors continued to fight, capitalising on any mistake Newport made and grinding them back into their own half. Just when it looked as if the game might be turning, Stafford incurred another penalty and a yellow card reduced them to fourteen men. With 15 minutes to half time Newport went all out to score but the Stafford defence was immense and stolen possession allowed Scott Robinson to place a great positional kick behind the home side defence. With some superb handling Captain and Prop Forward Joel Stone went over the line for an unconverted try. Stafford went into the half team with a slender lead 3 -5.

The second half started the same as the first with Stafford pinned in their own 22 from some early Newport pressure. Stafford refused to lie down, solid defending repelled the home side backwards time and again forcing handling errors from the Newport back line. Full Back Scott Robinson forcing Newport to attack from their own half with some fantastic touch kicking from turn over ball. A stolen ball and breakaway from the Stafford 22 saw Newport scrambling to defend and only conceding the penalty stopped a sure try. Scott Robinson stepped up to slot the ball between the posts and extend the lead. With 10 minutes of the second half remaining Newport had no response to a Stafford defence, which had stood defiant all through the game, coupled with the visitors aggression in contact. As the game changed it was the turn of Newport to endure the barrage in their own 22. The Stafford penetration proved more successful as they spun the ball wide to winger Ben Goulden who flew over in the corner, however the covering tackler manage to dislodge the ball before it was grounded. Stafford kept up the intensity of attack across all parts of the pitch and when No 8 Gareth Smith stole a Newport lineout ball, his pace and strength carried him from the 22 metre line to go over for the final score of the match.

The Stafford Colts should all be congratulated on what was a superb display of how to break down an opponent using a fast aggressive defence as a base.