Rugeley beat Shropshire Rivals

Rugeley beat Telford in one of their best performances of the season

The match started with Rugely on thr front foot. Telforf seized the ball from kick off but just couldn't make any ground. They were moving further and further backwards until inevitably the knock on came. Rugeley won the resultant scrum albeit under pressure and managed to keep themselves in the Telford half for most of the next 15 minutes.

Rugeley were awarded a series of penalties which despite rotating the kicking duties they were unable to convert. Telford constantly went off their feet at the tackle area and were repeatedly penalised for it. This was in part due to good Rugeley pressure. The back row including Kurt Cameron, Matthew Williscroft and Jordan Wood were very mobile and got to each breakdwon, The penalties seemed inevitable. Unfortunately whilst Telford repeatedly infringed Rugeley repeatedly missed the kick.

One failed kick led to a good 22 drop out from Telforf which Rugeley failed to deal with and a penalty on the half way line sailed between the Rugely posts. It was a great kick 0-3 Telford.

This spurred Rugeley into action new half back combination of Keys and Cotter worked well. Both Joss and Keys kicked good territory and ensure the pressure remained on Telford. Unfortunately Rugeley lacked the execution at the line out and Telforf's defence stayed firm.

A clearing kick saw Keys elect to run up field before another well placed kick. Telford's back row had other ideas and put in a late no armed tackle. There were complaints from Telford but their player was rightly sin binned. Again Rugeley couldn't break through. Kicks were missed, an over lap went begging and the sin bin period ended with a further 3 points off the boot from Telford 0-6 which is how the half finished.

Rugeley kicked towards the power station in the second half. The ground was firmer as was the Rugeley execution. A penalty was kicked for a line out, Bobby Hastings caught the ball and the Rugeley maul rolled towards and over the try line 5-6.

Chip then stepped up and despite being a difficult angle slotted the conversion and Rugeley into a 7-6 lead.

Rugeley then pinned Telford back in their 22. Poor execution and some good Telford tackling denied them a try. By this stage the Telford scrum had just about ceased to function and began to get penalised for collapsing. Rugeley elected to take a shot at goal and extended their lead to 4 points 10-6.

Telford hit back immediately after a penalty was awarded when Rugeley failed to deal with the kick off. 10-9.

The game became a little more open but Rugeley still had the upperhand and dominted territory Telford were left to counter attack from their own half which they did on several occasions. With 15 minutes remaining another kickable penalty was hit between the posts by Chip. 13-9.

Perhaps inevitably Telford pressed and slotted their own penalty to make it a one-point game.

Telford then had their best attacking period of the game and got as close as the 5 metre line. Rugeley seemed determined that this was going to be their day with good tackling from Simon Flint and Brad Tranter.

The turnover was forced, the ball cleared and Rugeley saw out the last 5 minutes. A high tackle and a poor choice of words at the death saw Telford get a red card at the end.

The margin was tight but the victory was well deserved and for perhaps the first time this season Rugeley won a tight match.

The victory ensures Rugeley retain their 4th place status by 5 points over Telford who have played one more match. Cleobury march on and are untouchable at the top of the league but with Barton and Cannock beginging to drop points do Rugeley have an outside chance of top 3. We'll see.

Man of the Match: given his difficulties the week before was Matt Keys with Jordan Wood and Matt Joss not far behind.