Under 20’s
Team Information
FIXTURES
Season 2024
Sunday 10th March – Staffordshire v North Mids @ Stafford
Sunday 5th May- Warwicshire v Staffordshire Away
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Management Team
Team Manager
Mike Bezus
M: 07831 848153 | E: mtb@scsgroup.com
Head Coach – Steve Harris
Forwards Coach – Luke Granger
Backs Coach – Chaz Bunting
Assistant Coach – Russ Troman
2023
Staffordshire U20
Staffordshire welcomed local rivals Warwickshire to Lilleshall Road on a very damp Sunday lunchtime. Warwickshire arrived early and were soon out on the pitch checking the conditions. The warm-up was a very wet affair as the heavy showers doused the players and the pitch turning the surface into a very slippery one ahead of the game.
As the spectators braved the weather to line both sides of the pitch the teams came out and thankfully the rain abated. The refereeing team from NLD got the game underway with the hosts kicking off into a slight crosswind deep into the visitor’s half. An early penalty against staffs saw Warwickshire clear their lines early and the stage was set. Both teams showed strong early carries met with strong defence for the next few minutes with little breakthrough from either side. Then, following a scrum on the hosts 10m line, centre Sam Clarke found a gap, stepped and took a diagonal line to outsprint the defence and score in the right-hand corner. Fly half Ollie Rowbery added the extras.
From there Staffordshire continued to dominate the play with the visiting side having to defend for much of the next 10 minutes. On the 15-minute mark Warwickshire were penalised and received a yellow card in their 22 for not releasing. The hosts kicked to the corner for the line out. From the catch and drive Tom Gibson broke down the right side of the maul and popped the ball to hooker Ben Clay who crashed over in the corner, Rowbery again adding the conversion.
The home side spent much of the 2nd quarter in the Warwickshire half and the red and whites were finding it difficult to retain any ball to play with. The next try came from a Staffordshire scrum 10m from the visitor’s line after a prolonged period of pressure. Number 8 Tom Gibson picked up the ball and broke right, the ball recycled for two quick phases before Will Bailey switched the play left and quick hands saw Tobe Okolo unmarked on the left wing to dive in at the corner. The conversion drifted wide.
Warwickshire were struggling to get a foothold in the game and another catch and drive from the line out saw the home pack go over the try line with Rhys Williams emerging with the ball for the try. Rowbery once again added the conversion.
The visitors then began to claw their way back into the game with some basic errors by the home side and far too many penalties Warwickshire started to dominate field position and possession. Spending much of the last 10 minutes of the first period in Staffordshire’s half of the pitch and following a yellow card for Staffs centre Ben Ashmore they finally, on the stroke of half-time, kicked a penalty to the corner. Then followed some great pick and go work from the forwards who were patient until they finally got themselves over the line. The conversion drifted wide. Half Time Staffordshire 26 Warwickshire 5
Warwickshire made several changes at half time to freshen up their side and it certainly appeared to have the desired effect as they dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half. Staffs Winger Tobe Okolo was struggling with his hamstring so was replaced by Bob Clews on 45 minutes.
The visitors were first to strike in the second half when after Prop Edgar Brown received a yellow card for hands in the ruck they kicked to the corner. Staffordshire were caught napping, and the ball was caught cleanly by the Warwickshire 2nd Row who powered over the line unchallenged. The conversion was good bringing Warwickshire up to 12 points.
Cameron Maughan replaced Danny griffin and Joe Murfin came on for Joel Finnemore on the wing around the 70th minute with Hooker Ben Clay replaced by Alex Macdonald shortly after and Tom Coton moving to hooker.
Staffs closed the game out on the 73rd minute after the Warwickshire winger was bundled into touch in his own 22, they took the lineout and set up a catch and drive which saw Prop Rhys Williams claim his second try of the game and Ollie Rowbery his 4th Conversion.
The last 7 minutes saw the remainder of the bench rolled. On came Davison, Hayes and Milan and off went Gibson, Shacklock and Bailey but neither side could breach the others defence and the game ended without further score. Full Time – Staffordshire 33 Warwickshire 12.
Tries; Clarke, Clay, Okolo and Williams (2) Conversions; Rowbery (4)
1 Edgar Brown Burton RFC
2 Ben Clay Burton RFC
3 Rhys Williams Burton RFC
4 Joseph Shacklock Burton RFC
5 Callum Oakden Sandbach RFC
6 Danny Griffin Burton RFC
7 Tom Coton Lichfield RFC
8 Tom Gibson Stoke RFC
9 Will Bailey Newcastle RFC
10 Oliver Rowbery Wolverhampton RFC
11 Tobe Okolo Newcastle RFC
12 Samuel Clarke Stoke RFC
13 Ben Ashmore Lichfield RFC
14 Joel Finnemore Lichfield RFC
15 Alexander Goodyear Newcastle RFC
16 Gregor Hayes Uttoxeter RFC
17 Alexander Macdonald Newcastle RFC
18 Cameron Maughan Burton RFC
19 Anton Davidson Burton RFC
20 James Milan Stafford RFC
21 Joesph Murfin Newcastle RFC
22 Bob Clews Crewe and Nantwich RFC
TR Ollie Platt Stafford RFC
21 Jay Haydock Trentham RFC
Staffordshire U20s v North Midlands U20s
Staffordshire travelled down to Dudley Kingswinford RFC on Sunday 9th April 2023 for their first Jason Leonard U20s Championship Game of the season. Old rivals North Midlands had already won their first game against Warwickshire so were looking forward to playing Staffs as the two have not met in the championship for a few seasons. The day was breezy and cool with a few periods of spring sunshine with everything set for a good afternoon of Rugby.
Preparations over, Referee Chris Mulroy and his team from NLD got the game underway in front of a sizeable crowd eager to be entertained. The visitors kicked off and the ball was fielded by the powerful looking North Mids forward who went through the phases moving the ball into the staffs half and putting the boys in green and white under pressure. The first 5 minutes were honours even until the home side spilled the ball which Staffs moved quickly to Centre Ben Ashmore who scythed through the midfield breaking the final tackle to scamper in to the left of the uprights. Fly Half Ollie Rowberry added the extras to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.
A prolonged period of Staffordshire pressure followed which the hosts defended valiantly until some quick footwork from scrum half Will Bailey released Jay Haydock down the right wing to score in the corner. The conversion hit the uprights taking the visitors to a 12-0 lead.
NM hit back at the end of the first quarter when staffs defence had got too narrow and the hosts right winger went outside his opposite number to acrobatically dot the ball down in the right corner, the conversion fell short, 12-5.
The second quarter of the game was all Staffs with constant pressure and many turnovers Jay Haydock scored his second down the right wing and first Prop Eddie Brown and then flanker Tom Coton both showing that forwards can score to with some great pick and go and support play. All 3 tries were converted by Ollie Rowberry to bring the half time score to North Mids 5 – Staffordshire 33,
The second half started much as the first had ended with Staffordshire in control and the forwards led by captain Tom Gibson taking control and working the way back up the pitch. Following an infringement by the host the visitors opted for field position kicking to the corner. From good ball at the lineout Staffs drove for the line with hooker Ben Clay finally securing the Try from the ensuing maul. The conversion was good Staffs lead 40 -5.
At this point the Staffs coaching team decided to start rolling the bench replacing Captain Tom Gibson with Alex McDonald and 2nd Row Joe Shacklock with Cam Maughan. Unfortunately this appeared to upset the balance and the home side started to get themselves back in the game scoring 3 unanswered tries in the next 10 minutes 2 from their wingers an one from their No 8 one of which was converted to bring the score back to 40-24 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
On the 60 minute mark further replacements were made with Gregor Hayes replacing Danny Griffen and Bob Clews coming on for Joel Finnemore on the wing. Gregor Hayes ws straight into with some strong carrying in the midfield forcing NM to concede a penalty for tackler not releasing, A quick tap from scrum half Will Bailey saw him dart through the retiring players then accelerate away to score under the posts, giving Rowberry an easy conversion.
Jay Haydock saw his Hat Trick come up shortly afterwards as he found room out on the right wing to finish in the corner, the conversion sliding just wide.
North Mids were not done yet however and some poor communication from the kick off saw the ball find grass and the home sides winger beating all the Staffs players to the bounce and weaving through the defence to score just left of the uprights. The conversion was good.
Staffs rolled the rest of their subs on with Ollie Platt coming in at prop for Eddie Brown, Anton Davidson coming in on the flank with Tom Coton moving to hooker, Ben Clay leaving the field. As play restarted the hosts were reduced to 14 when their No 8 was shown a Yellow card for deliberately slowing the ball down.
The visiting forwards took this as their cue to again rampage up the pitch giving scrum half Will Bailey the platform to dart over for his second try before he retired from the game for James Milan to take over at Scrum Half.
Replacement Prop Ollie Platt caught the ball from the re-start and set off down the pitch but was adjudged to have used his forearm against the opposition tackers neck and saw a Yellow card which he would not return from.
Both sides finished the last few minutes of the game defending resolutely but the visitors finally running out deserved winners at North Midlands U20 31 – Staffordshire U20 57.
Staffordshire next face Warwickshire on Sunday 23rd April 2023 at Newcastle (Staffs) RFC 2.30pm kick off.
Final Score North Midlands U20 31 – Staffordshire U20 57.
Scorers – Tries:- Jay Haydock (3), Will Bailey (2), Ben Ashmore, Eddie Brown, Tom Coton, Ben Clay. Conversions:- Ollie Rowberry (6)
Staffordshire Under 20s
A Friendly game against Cheshire U20s has been arranged in preparation for The Jason Leonard National Under 20 Cup
The game is being held at:
Stockport RFC, The Memorial Ground, Headlands Road, Bramhall, Stockport. SK7 3AN.
Kick Off is at 2.00pm
Please come and support your U20s – everyone welcome.
1 Edgar Brown Burton RFC
2 Ben Clay Burton RFC/Hartpury University
3 Rhys Williams Burton RFC
4 Callum Oakden Sandbach RFC
5 Joseph Shacklock Burton RFC
6 Anton Davidson Burton RFC
7 Danny Griffin Burton RFC/Harper Adams University
8 Tom Gibson Stoke RFC/Nottingham Trent University
9 Will Bailey Newcastle (Staffs) RFC/Nottingham University
10 Oliver Rowbery Wolverhampton RFC/Hartpury University
11 Tobe Okolo Newcastle (Staffs) RFC
12 Samuel Clarke Stoke RFC/Nottingham Trent University
13 Ben Ashmore Lichfield RFC
14 Joesph Murfin Newcastle (Staffs) RFC
15 Joel Finnemore Lichfield RFC
16 Alex Richardson Keele University
17 Gregor Hayes Uttoxeter RFC
18 Ollie Platt Stafford RUFC
19 Harry Hodder Burton RFC
20 Alex Macdonald Newcastle (Staffs) RFC
21 Cameron Maughan Burton RFC
22 James Christopherson Stocksbridge RFC/Hartpury University
23 Peter Ascroft Stoke RFC
24 Cameron DeBeer St Leonards RFC
25 Joseph Byrne Leek RUFC
Staffordshire Under 20
We would like to invite nominations for players for Staffordshire U20s. (Players must be over 18 and under 20 at midnight on 31st August 2022). Please can you forward this email to the Head Coach/DOR/Team Manager of your club if it is not you.
Players should be physically fit, show above average standards in the core skills required for their position and have excellent game understanding and tactical awareness. Players of eligible age who have represented Staffordshire at U18 level will be contacted directly so should not need to be nominated by the clubs but if there is any doubt please contact me for advice.
In making the nominations coaches should only put forward players who possess these attributes at the highest level as it is unlikely that those who do not will be successful. Nominations are initially limited to 4 per club. If anyone feels they have more than 4 players, then please contact me to discuss.
Nominations must be made by emailing me directly at mtb@scsgroup.com on or before 6.00pm on Tuesday 3rd Jan 2023 giving the Players Name, Date of Birth, Position, Club/University/College and email contact details.
The players will then be invited to one of two assessment days currently scheduled for Sunday 8th Jan and Sunday 23rd Jan 2023.
If you have any queries please email me and I will try and answer them.”
Regards
Mike Bezus
U20 Team Manager
Staffordshire Rugby Union
M 07831 848153 Email mtb@scsgroup.com