STAFFORDSHIRE 24 ESSEX 21

With thanks to  Mike Bowen

Another near perfect Saturday for rugby witnessed Staffordshire’s first win in their second game in this season’s campaign. The match at Lichfield RFC was full of excitement and the closeness of the competition was reflected in the lead changing hands no less than five times and seeing the hosts finally win it in the first minute of time added on.

Staffs took the lead after eleven minutes when right wing Luke Fowles (Waterloo) fielded a speculative kick ahead by Essex. He fed brother Josh (Broad Street) at full back who exchanged a couple of passes with fellow backs before scoring under the posts. Centre Mike Swetman (Longton) added the extra points. From the resultant restart Staffs allowed the ball to go loose and Essex collected possession and No. 8 Tom Alexander (Barking) ran through a couple of tackles to score a simple try. Ben Montgomery (Romford and Gidea Park) evened the score with a straightforward conversion.

After 18 minutes loose head prop Sean Mullins (Barking) romped over when fly half Ian Rudgley (Barking) skipped through two would-be tacklers. Ben Montgomery again being successful with the kick to give Essex a 7 – 14 lead. Staffs pressured well and should have scored two tries but the lack of finishing skills after making clean breaks meant that the home side failed to capitalise. Just before half time Staffs succeeded when, from an Essex scrum five metres out, they won the ball against the head. The forwards completed two rolling mauls and drives and put in Matt Aston (Nuneaton) in the right hand corner. The conversion went wide and half time arrived with Staffs trailing by two points; 12 – 14.

Staffs scored again nine minutes after the restart. From a line out near the visitors’ line, Richard Kelly (Longton) collected the ball and his forwards added the muscle to drive him over – again the kick was unsuccessful, but Staffs had regained the lead. Unfortunately it was short lived as Essex centre Jamie Reid (Barking) ran, dodged and broke tackles almost from the half-way line to score near the posts making the conversion by Ben Montgomery a formality. With only fifteen minutes left of normal time things looked to have swung Essex’s way at a crucial point in the game.

The hosts refused to accept the prospect of defeat and mounted several counters particularly with blockbusting runs by Mike Swetman. Indeed, Staffs even had a try refused when the referee noticed an indistinct knock on by Staffs. However, they were not going to be undone and with one minute of extra time played and only one more remaining they eventually scored legitimately. The fresh legs of replacement Liam Wordley (Henley) added impetus to a rolling maul which moved a full fifteen metres before he touched the ball down in the right hand corner. Replacement centre Scott Rawlings (Manchester) kicked the goal to make the final score 24-21.

Staffordshire's next game is on Saturday 10 May at Stafford RFC where they play Notts, Lincs and Derbys – KO 3pm.