BILL BEAUMONT CUP SEMI FINAL
Senior Mens County Championship Division 2 Semi Final 2025
Devon 27 – 20 Staffordshire
Staffordshire bowed out of the county championship at the semi final stage after a tremendous tussle with Devon at Ivybridge on Saturday June 7th.
This was the first occasion the two counties had met in the championship.
The result reflected the match with one score between the sides as the players of both sides gave everything to their cause with Staffs just falling short in the final outcome.
The weather forecast predicted heavy rain and on cue, the heavens opened on the early kick time of 1pm. It didn’t stop Staffs racing into a 7-point lead though in the opening 2 minutes. An early penalty and Staffs had a lineout deep in the Devon 22 on the left and the powerful maul by the forwards allowed hooker James Davies to score the opening try. Benny Elliott converted, and the visitors led 0-7.
Devon scored a penalty on 11 minutes to reduce the lead to 3-7 but Benny Elliott kicked a penalty on 27 minutes to regain the 7 point margin at 3-10.
The opening quarter had seen Staffs defend aggressively and with discipline as the home side probed but couldn’t find a way through the resolute defence until the 29th minute when Staffs lost their own lineout on the left on halfway. The break on the narrow side opened the defence up and a couple of phases later allowed Deven to score their first try on their right. The conversion was good, and Devon led 13-10. The home side then took advantage of their new found confidence and on 33 minutes had scored their 2nd try on the left after Staffs defence couldn’t retain the ball in the conditions. The try was converted and Devon led 20-10. Staffs then regained their composure and won penalties to give themselves a chance to lineout in the Devon 22 but lost the ball twice before a 44th minute penalty was awarded for a high tackle and the decision to kick for goal with the first half ending was duly endorsed as Benny Elliott successfully reduced the deficit to 20-13.
Half time was welcomed by the Staffs management as they sought to find a way back into the game and the 3rd quarter proved fruitful for Staffs as they drew level through a try from captain Chaz Bunting after good offloads on the Devon 22. He went in under the posts and Benny Elliott converted on 53 minutes to draw the teams level at 20-20.
4 minutes later however, Devon scored what would be the critical and final try on the left after Staffs failed to clear and were pegged back in their 22. The Devon forwards created good ruck phases and eventually crashed over. The conversion was good and on 57 minutes Devon led 27-20.
Staffs still had chances, particularly after a Devon yellow on 72 minutes, but eschewed kicks for goal in pursuit of the try that would bring them level. The final chance was a 5 metre scrum after great pressure in the Devon 22, but one final surge from the Devon pack won them a penalty and the kick for touch ended the game desperately for the Staffs team which had given everything in a game worthy of a semi-final between unbeaten sides.
Despite the defeat, the improvement in organisation and coaching that DOR Andy Appleyard had brought to the county set up is a great foundation for players in the county to aspire to. The competition at representative level for Division 2 of the Championship pitches players from Level 5 clubs and below against each other and any player with ambition to test themselves at this level will find the new organisation operating very professionally and rewarding.
Well done to all the players involved in the squad this year and plenty to look forward to for the 2026 season.
The Staffs squad for the semi-final was:
15 Ben Pitt (Walsall), 14 Alex Nesbitt (Burton), 13 Jamie Loska (Stoke on Trent), 12 Alex Nunney (Walsall), 11 Josh Humphreys (Cannock), 10 Benny Elliott (Newport), 9 Chaz Bunting (Burton on Trent), 1 Ollie Powell (Leek), 2 James Davies (Burton on Trent), 3 Simon Weaver (Walsall), 4 Jack Ward (Veseyans), 5 Josh Bailey (Stoke on Trent), 6 Keifer Laxton (Burton on Trent), 7 Macauley green (Burton on Trent), 8 Adam Ellis (Bridgnorth), 16 Tom Hughes (Newcastle), 17Carl Williams (Longton), 18 Jack Dace (Lichfield), 19 Jack Neal (Stoke on Trent), 20 James Milan (Burton on Trent), 21 Alex Fitzmaurice James (Newcastle), 23 Ollie Rowbury (Moseley Oak)