It might be said that it is easy to write a match report on one half of rugby, that the emphatic score line after 30mins tells you all you need to know about a one-sided game of rugby. However, alongside the excellent Stafford play that generated the 52.0 half time score, it is important to note some excellent performances from Stafford players playing for the opposition, as well as some stand-out tackling heroics and a desire to keep playing rugby, whoever was playing with them and whatever the score, from Eccleshall players.
From the start, Jacob was a threat for Stafford, using his strength, speed and willingness to run through players of any size, to great effect. Although two early, power-driver runs demonstrated this threat while exploiting some generous space gifted by Eccleshall, the first Stafford points came from a smart interchange between Keiran and Harry. Although Eccleshall were generous in the space they left, it reflects the understanding, guile and rugby nous across the Stafford back line that these two can so effectively exploit the gaps on the field. Henry was unable to convert a difficult kick from a long way out but that didn’t remain the case for long.
In the scrum, a familiar looking (!) Eccleshall front row was a strong and effective challenge for Stafford for the whole half but a match-up for the forwards was not repeated across the pitch and a pattern for the half was set early on when Stafford backs were able to pass the ball quickly to open strong Stafford runs, on separate occasions, from Harry, Lewis, Keiran and Max. Only a forward pass prevented Harry from doubling Stafford’s score in less than five minutes, but it wasn’t long until another strong run from him, breaking from deep in the Eccleshall half and riding several attempts at tackle, resulted in the second Stafford score.
At 10.0 so quickly, the momentum and advantage were clearly with Stafford but that was not to say Eccleshall provided no challenge – their No. 11 made several excellent tackles and bold attempts by Eccleshall forwards (inspired, in no small part, by Stan) to drive play from lineouts gave some territorial advantage but they weren’t able to capitalise and score. Indeed, it was from the breakdown of an Eccleshall play that Lewis scored a third try and with Henry changing conversion kicks from ground level to drop kicks and securing an additional 2 points the score was a commanding 17.0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter Stafford started to show more of the strong, flowing movement and passing that has become such an impressive, entertaining and commanding feature of their game. Three quick tries at the start of the second quarter moved the score well beyond 30 points. And yet still Eccleshall worked hard to thwart Stafford advances; the Eccleshall no.11 again made a try saving tackle close to the try line and Adam (playing for the opposition) not only made strong tackles of his own players (at one point taking down Jacob in full try-scoring flight) but also nearly scoring a consolation try himself.
After 23 minutes, another try came from effective link play from the Stafford back line, Keiran and Harry again combining well in midfield to release Harry at full pelt and even with a committed opposition attempting to tackle him, he was able to demonstrate his Teflon-like ability to shrug off opposition players and score.
A period of Eccleshall pressure as half time approached offered hope that they could avoid the dreaded 50.0 scoreline and register a score of their own. Their strong tackling and wins at lineouts and scrums ensured a period in the Stafford half and briefly on the front foot but unfortunately possession was too easily given up to Stafford who scored two quick break-away tries (one try-scoring run from Harry appeared to cover the length of two rugby pitches!) which took the score line well into the 40’s.
Much like he had started the game, Jacob featured prominently in the final minutes of the first half, first emerging strongly from a rolling maul that had seen Stafford carry the ball for 30 metres, to carry the ball a further 10 metres, with several Eccleshall players vainly hanging onto him, unable to get him to ground, with only a forward Stafford pass a few metres from the touch line preventing a classic score. Yet, there was still time for a second moment of first-half Jacob magic with his deserved try, duly converted, to take the score to 52.0 at half time and ensure the second half was played as a training game.