Stafford u16’s Roses welcomed Liverpool St.Helens (LSH) U16’s to a windy county ground for the national u16s girls cup last 16 match.

Stafford were expecting a tough game against a very experienced and hard hitting LSH side and so it proved to be. Stafford came out of the block strongly, playing with the strong wind in the first half, they had LSH pinned in there own half. Some aggressive work at the breakdown from the Stafford forwards tied in the LSH defenders and when the ball was passed wider Ava was on hand to score the opening try for Stafford. Connie added the difficult conversions on the left. Stafford then doubled their advantage when Eve picked up from 8 and ran into the wide open blind side, LSH defenders eventually brought her down but some superb support at the breakdown by Georgia W enable the move to continue and Tori rounded the LSH defenders to score under the posts, Connie added the extra 2 points.

LSH then started to come more into the game as they had got their long journey out of their legs. They scored two quick fire tries of their own but could only convert one which left the score at 14 – 12 to Stafford after 25 minutes of the first half. Stafford re-grouped and started to again apply pressure through the forwards in the LSH half, strong carries from the front 5 putting Stafford in a great position center field in the LSH half. From the base of a ruck close to the LSH try line Eve forced her way over and Connie added the conversion. Then from the re-start Tori caught the ball just outside her own 22 and set off, she outpaced several LSH defenders side stepped the full back and dotted down under the posts for a superb solo try. Connie added the extra two points and the half ended with Stafford leading 28 – 12.

Second half saw Stafford now playing into an increasing strong wind and LSH took full advantage. A long kick off saw Stafford fail to deal with the bouncing ball and a failed kick to touch saw LSH gather the ball and score a converted try after just 1 minute of the second half. Stafford were struggling to get any territorial pressure on LSH but were defending strongly. Eventually however, LSH scored a second converted try under the Stafford posts. Then when trying to play out of their own 22 because of the wind LSH intercepted a short pass and dashed over for a converted try to lead for the first time 28 – 33.

Stung by going behind the Stafford forwards decide to take matters into their own hands and marched LSH backwards down the middle of the field causing them to concede numerous penalties for high tackles. Then from a shortly taken penalty 5 meters out Izzy and then Peggy were both repelled for short range but retained possession, Olivia then fed the ball from the base of the ruck to a strong running Beth who crashed over for the score. The wind was very blustery and blew the ball off the tee when Connie was on her approach so we did not add the extra two points. The score was now 33 -33 with 15 minutes remaining.

There then followed a tense period of the match with LSH trying gain field advantage by kicking in behind Stafford whilst Stafford tried to run it back at them. Stafford then lost influential backrower Eve to a neck injury and stand-off Connie also had to leave the field. Players were going down injured on the LSH side as well and the game was reduced to 14 players a side for the last 10 minutes. With 5 minutes remaining LSH scored their 6th try of the game scoring under the posts and added the conversion. From the re-start Stafford put pressure on the LSH defenders who conceded a succession of penalties. Then Lilly had to leave the field with a rib injury but Stafford were determined to get over the line. Short penalty after short penalty was taken but LSH defence was holding, Stafford should have changed to point of attack but persisted with short crash ball rucks. With time ticking down one last push for the line saw Beth running from deep and she was given the ball to crash over to the left of the posts. With Connie off the field it was left to Evie to slot the conversion and the referee blew his whistle for the end of the game. Final score 40 – 40.

No one knew what the rules said about what to do in the event of a tie at the end of the game with both side having scored 6 tries and making 5 conversions. Luckily the referee had printed out a copy of the competition rules where it stated in the event of a draw where both sides had scored the same amount of tries and conversions then the team that scored first would be awarded the win. So Stafford had won. It was an epic match with both side playing some exciting and good rugby in front of an enthusiastic and noisy stand full of supporters from both teams. Neither team deserved to loose. Stafford will now progress to the last 8 of the national u16s cup with an away fixture at Sandals u16s on the 3rd March. So there is hopefully time for the Stafford walking wounded to recover in time to make that long trip up to Wakefield.

Take it easy girls and don’t rush your recovery, see all those that can at training on Tuesday.
Mark