Lions 5 - 25 Stafford

Match date	Saturday September 27, 2008
Match time	15:00
Match location	Away
Team	Lions
Opponent	Stafford

A fine day over at Castlefields, and superb conditions promised a game of open running rugby. Stourbridge Lions with a number of players injured, fielded a young side, with a number of Colts playing against a heavier, more experienced Stafford team.

Stafford applied the early pressure, which the Lions resisted with a strong defence, and with a number of good tackles from Tom Dews. This pressure eventually told after 10 minutes with Stafford winning a Lions lineout on the Lions 22. A maul was formed, and Stafford scored from close range through the Stafford No 11, but the conversion was missed.

The Lions continued to soak up the Stafford pressure, but were unable to get the ball out of their own half, and on 25 minutes Stafford managed to breach the Lions line again. This time from a dubious looking pass, and a missed tackle the No 5 scored in the corner, and again the conversion was missed.

Then it was the Lions turn to apply pressure to the Stafford line, turning Stafford ball over time and time again. From a Lions scrum on the Stafford 22, a miss pass to Danny Cox, and Coxy shimmying around 2 defenders and scoring with a great finish, the conversion was missed, but the Lions were back into the game.

All the Lions needed to do was to hold on until half time, but again a number of missed tackles allowed Stafford to score in the corner. This was quickly followed by a successful penalty kick for a Lions player speaking out of turn.

Half time

Stafford 18 - Stourbridge Lions 5

With the hot conditions, and Stafford tiring, the Lions started the second half stronger, trying to open up the game, and with back row players Tom Richmond and Adam Smith prominent. Unfortunately the Lions were unable to force themselves over the Stafford line, and were unable to convert this pressure.

The Lions then made a number of substitutions. The big Stafford pack became more dominant in the scrum and this resulted in a number of scrums on the Lions line, and eventually the Stafford No 10 scored under the posts, and the try was successfully converted.

The Lions continued to apply pressure on Stafford, and throw everything at them, with strong running from Ben Perks, and Nick Biddlecombe. Even with Stafford being temporarily reduced to 14 men due to a high tackle, the Lions were unable to break Stafford down.