Staffs v Northumberland Report

Staffordshire v Northumberland Bill Beaumont County Championship Division 2 Pool 1, 3^rd round.

25^th May 2024 at Lichfield RUFC

Staffordshire completed their group matches needing a 5-point win to secure best runners up spot and a place in the semi final but it was not to be.

Northumberland which had suffered two bruising defeats at home to Cheshire and away in Cumbria came to Lichfield and deservedly won with the half backs controlling most of the game.

Although Staffordshire matched their visitors for tries scored, 8 each, the difference in the end came down to a penalty and an extra conversion, but really the game was won and lost during a 2^nd half spell with 2 Staffs players in the bin with a penalty try and a converted try from which the home side just couldn’t overcome.

Northumberland scored after 4 minutes with Staffs responding on 11 minutes. 5-7.

Then Northumberland gripped the game with tries on 14 minutes, from their man of the match, fly half Evan Moir from Alnwick and on 18 minutes to increase their lead to 5-17.

Staffs hit back on 24 minutes with a converted try on 24 minutes but conceded their 4^th try on 30 minutes after a quick tap. 12-24.

Staffs closed the gap again on 35 minutes after good lineout work and eventually Jerry Qasenivalu crashed through for a try. 17-24.

In added time, Northumberland scored a driving maul try after another 50/22 from the influential 10 leaving the half time score 17-31.

Still not an insurmountable score to overcome but Staffs needed to retain ball and be patient.

The 2^nd half opened with a mistake from the kick off and a scrum back on halfway. A simple move on the wide blindside and a try scored. 17-36.

Again, Staffs hit back on 46 minutes with Tristan De Jager getting his 2^nd try. The conversion from Ben Pitt was good and the score moved to 24-36.

On 55 minutes, Moir slotted a penalty to increase the visitor’s lead to 24-39 before staffs struck again on 60 minutes with an unconverted try. 29-39.

Now was the moment to press home the advantage but the reverse happened and in two minutes, Staffs received two yellows with the 2^nd one resulting in a penalty try for a maul collapse. 29-46.

4 minutes later and Northumberland pressed home their numerical advantage with their final try and conversion. 29-53.

Improbable though it seemed from here with 66 minutes played, Staffs came within a whisker of pulling the game out of the fire.

Firstly, Northumberland received a yellow card on 73 minutes and Staffs scored immediately. The conversion crept Staffs closer at 36-53.

In the 79^th minute Staffs scored again and with the conversion there was hope at 43-53.

From the kick off, Staffs threw the ball wide and debutant Tom Scragg sprinted in for a try and although the conversion missed at 48-53, Staffs had about 5 minutes of overtime to turn the game completely around. However, Northumberland held on and in the end, deserved their win.

Skipper John Kirwan and Head Coach Andrew Appleyard will be disappointed with this final performance and know they can do better next season.

Cheshire beat Cumbria meaning Staffordshire finished 2^nd in the group but Oxfordshire overhauled Staffs for best runners up place as they beat Buckinghamshire.

In the end, not a lot between any of the teams in this group, which means the competition is fair and meaningful, home and away.

If anyone reading this is interested in sponsoring the County at representative level, please get in touch to discuss the opportunities.