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 Under 20 NEWS
We have been notified by Buckinghamshire that they are unable to raise a side for Sunday so the game at Burton is Cancelled. We plan to have a training session instead.
I assume that we will get the points and therefore qualify for the knockout stages, the quarter final of which is on 20th March.
In the interim to try and get the lads some game time I am speaking with Cheshire about a game on 13th Feb 2022. I will update you once finalised.
Kind Regards
Mike Bezus
Staffordshire U20 v Warwickshire
Staffordshire travelled down to Broadstreet RFC on a grey Sunday afternoon to take on Warwickshire U20s. Arriving in plenty of time for the game the preparations and warm-up went well and with no issues or injuries the travelling reserves were not required.
Warwickshire started the game strongly and following a penalty for not releasing and then another for offside in the backs kicked to the corner to give them a lineout 5m out from the visitor’s goal line. The ball was caught cleanly, and the home sides big forwards drove to the line to claim their first try which was duly converted.
Minutes later Staffordshire were again caught off-side in the backs and Warwickshire added another 3 points from the boot of their Full Back to put them 10-0 up after only 12 minutes.
Staffordshire re-grouped and started to but some pressure on the opposition creating field position and from a lineout in the hosts 22 after they had kicked out on the full the forwards recycled the ball and the backs moved it down the line. Forwards and backs linked up nicely and when they were held up just short, Scrum Half Will Bailey picked up the ball to dive over in the corner for the visitors first try. The conversion was added by Fly Half Joel Bezus.
The packs then traded tries with Warwickshire scoring first after another misunderstanding in the Staffordshire lineout. The home side quickly moved the ball wide with the winger being tackled just short before the supporting forwards collected the ball and muscled their way over to score a converted try. Staffordshire then started to increase the pressure and were awarded a number of penalties culminating in the Warwickshire prop receiving a yellow card for hands in the ruck. From a lineout 5 metres out, Staffordshire recycled the ball and No 8 Joel Hine crashed over for a try. The Conversion was good. Score 17-14 to Warwickshire.
On the cusp of half time with last play called the visitors retained good ball from a Warwickshire kick off and elected not to end the half but attacked with swift hands down the backs. Full Back Joe Byrne came into the line, outpaced his opposition, and scored in the left-hand corner. The conversion bounced over off the top of the cross bar to give Staffordshire a half time lead of 17-21.
Staffordshire made a few replacements at half time with Segundo Del Olmos coming on in the front row, Sam Lloyd on the flank and Noah Lancelot on the wing.
Both sides struggled to break down the others defence early in the second half, but Warwickshire were first to strike again through some powerful running from the forwards forcing the Staffordshire defence to transgress and receive a yellow card with their fly half adjudged to be not rolling away. They withstood the initial flurry but could only clear up to their 22. From the ensuing lineout Warwickshire dominated the phases before going over for another converted try. Score 24-21.
The arm wrestle continued with both defences working well and preventing the other from breaking through. On the 60-minute mark with Staffordshire on the attack fly-half Joel Bezus put in a cross-field kick which was fumbled by the defence and pounced upon by speedster Noah Lancelot. The referee was unsure but after consulting with his AR awarded Staffordshire the try and the conversion was good. Score 24-28.
In this See-Saw game Warwickshire were next to score when failure to deal with the restart allowed them to recollect their own kick and attack deep into the 22. The visitors defence held strong against the barrage of forward runners but on the 65th minute the hosts were again too powerful around the fringes and powered over the line to score. The full back added the extras. Score 31-28.
Staffordshire were not done yet though. They started to regain dominance in attack but their problems in the line out returned and Warwickshire turned possession over only to kick the ball straight back to the Staffs winger who linked with the full back to take the game back beyond half-way. The forwards secured quick ball at the breakdown, and it was delivered to the Staffordshire fly half to put in a spiral bomb that found grass. Left wing Will Derry was first there to collect the ball and he offloaded to captain Joe Shacklock to charge in at the corner. The conversion slipped wide. Score 31-33.
Warwickshire had the last word however with only minutes to go, after some good phase play in the Staffs 22, one of their big forwards found himself in space on the wing and crashed through the defence to score in the corner. The conversion was missed. Final Score Warwickshire 36-Staffordshire 33.
A great, evenly matched game showing the true spirit of County Rugby and a real credit to all involved. Staffordshire face Buckinghamshire next at Burton RFC on 6th February.
Tries : Will Bailey, Joel Hine, Joe Byrne, Noah Lancelot, Joseph Shacklock Conversions : Joel Bezus (4)
Staffordshire U20 County Programme announced
The Bill Beaumont County Under 20’s fixtures have been announced.
Staffordshire Fixtures are as follows:
Sunday 23rd January 2022 – AWAY to Warwickshire (Broadstreet RFC)
Sunday 6th February 2022 – HOME to Buckinghamshire (Venue Burton RFC)
Sunday 27th February – AWAY to Oxfordshire (Venue TBA)
The full details of the programme and training dates can be found via this link
Nominations for Staffordshire Under 20s
We would like to invite nominations for players for Staffordshire U20s. (Players must be over 18 and under 20 at midnight on 31st August 2021). 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 have been 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 Friday 1st October 2021 giving the Players Name, Date of Birth, Position, Club/University/College and email contact details.
The players will then be invited to an assessment day currently scheduled for the weekend of 24th & 25th October 2021.
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