Stafford pay the penalty as Rugeley extend winning run

Stafford 2nds proved Rugeley's toughest challenge of the season so far in this friendly fixture at St Augustine's Field.

Stafford looked the part from the warm up and boasted a team of considerable first team experience mixed with promising youngsters.

This was always going to be Rugeley's toughest test which was made harder by the absence of 12 players on Chris Dynda's stag do.

The opening exchanges showed a Stafford team eager to run the ball through the middle of Rugeley's defence. Thankfully Rugeley's defence withstood the challenge. Perhaps surprisingly Rugeley aimed the upper hand in the scrums with Messrs Black, Rodgers and Jones driving the Black and Gold off the ball.

The game was focused in the middle of the pitch with neither side able to break through despite the urgency of scrum half Sam Cotter. However a well placed kick from Matthew Keys was chased by Matt Joss who charged down the Stafford kick only to see it bounce into his hands and a try was scored beneath the posts.

Rugeley had a number of substitutes and the changes made early seed to disrupt some of their flow. Stafford began to gain the edge as scored from a penalty before rumbling up the pitch and scoring an unconverted try of their own on the stroke of half time.

Half time allowed Rugeley to re-focus. They started much the brighter and after a botched kick off found themselves with a penalty kick to level up the scores which Jordan Wood duly slotted over.

Rugeley's fitness began to tell and Stafford were unable to cope with the aggressive running of Joe Payne not the sniping of Jake Graham. Time and again Rugeley bashed their way into the Stafford half only to see their opponent commit a penalty and Jordan Wood knock it over. Rugeley quickly moved into an 18-8 lead as a result of the boot of Wood.

Stafford rallied in the last ten minute of the game but aggressive tackling from the returning Sam Elwell and the rock like Matthew Connell ensures no breakthrough occurred.

FT 18-8

A number of players return this week for what will be Rugeley's final friendly against Willenhall 2 before competitive rugby returns the following week. Players are asked to meet at St Augustine's at 1pm for a 3pm kick off. The 2nds play Hanford away. Meet 1pm for 3.30 kick off