STOKE FORCED TO DIG DEEP TO SEE OFF WOLVERHAMPTON IN TENSE MIDLANDS ENCOUNTER
STOKE recorded their eighth successive Midlands One West victory - but were pushed by bottomof-the-table Wolverhampton.
Wolves belied their position at the foot of the standings to make Chris Rowley’s men work hard for their 15-8 success.
But Stoke found a way to maintain their unbeaten start, which leaves them in second place behind Lichfield.
Just three points were put on the board in the opening half as the home side kicked a penalty to take the lead. Both sides had chances, but Stoke were thwarted by a resolute Wolverhampton defence to keep them waiting for their first points of the afternoon.
But the visitors were up and running in the second period as they started the half strongly.
Callum Robb stole the ball at a line-out on the home 10-metre line. The resulting maul was taken twenty metres, a couple of phases later and a penalty was awarded in front of the posts drawing the scores level at 3-3.
Wolverhampton responded immediately, a kick was collected in their own half, the left winger showed excellent pace with a thirty metre break and then passing inside to the supporting player who went over for the try to lead 8-3.
As the game moved into the final quarter the home try line was put under extreme pressure from two line-outs five metres out, both being repelled by some stout defence.
At a third line-out, the pressure told with a penalty try awarded as the maul was pulled down close to the line, Stoke taking the lead for the first time in the match.
The score injected some energy into the Stoke play. Callum Robb forced a penalty on halfway which was well kicked to touch by Andy Marsh, again taking Stoke to within five metres of the home line.
The line-out was well organised and hooker Sam Yorke was driven over for the try, the conversion attempt hit the post and went wide making the score 15-8.
Wolverhampton were not finished and threatened the Stoke line with some strong carries, but the Stoke defence was well organised forcing the penalty which allowed them to clear to bring an end to proceedings.
SANDBACH suffered just their second Midlands Premier defeat of the season after losing 23-8 at Syston.
Sandbach had first use of the slope and largely dominated territory for the whole half without looking as threatening as they normally do.
It looked like they had opened the scoring after 10 minutes, when James Preston broke free to put Jack Leech away, but as Leech crossed the line the covering defence managed to dislodge the ball as he dived over, and the chance went begging.
Soon after, Sandbach did get their rewards as they ran a clearance kick back and worked the ball wide to put hooker Alex Bishop in at the corner on the half-hour mark.
Sandbach then subsequently were penalised for holding on from the ensuing kick-off, for the Syston fly-half Jones to reduce the deficit, before James Preston restored the five-point lead before the break.
Sandbach by now had lost key man Josh Brookes after 20 minutes and knew that the first 10 minutes of the new half would be critical.
Therefore, it was disappointing that they once more were penalised for holding on from the restart and a kick to the corner put them under instant pressure.
Though the line-out drive was held up, too many men had been committed to doing so, and a mistake in defence let Syston centre Rudkin under the posts.
Jones converted for Syston to take the lead as Sandbach found themselves again under pressure.
Another penalty saw a further kick to the corner and this time Syston flanker Skerritt peeled off the subsequent driving line-out to score. Jones adding a fine conversion.
Sandbach continued to try to play, opting to run from anywhere on the paddock and despite creating a couple of openings, were just not able to finish them off.
Syston sensing the threat decided to take the penalty opportunities that came their way, extending the lead midway through the half and finally a few minutes from the end with a couple of Jones penalties, to ultimately see out the game.
LONGTON secured a bonuspoint victory in Midlands Two West North with a 28-21 home win against CREWE & NANTWICH.
The expected domination of a big Longton pack did not materialise with Crewe & Nantwich being very tight in their scrummaging.
Longton did dominate in the lineout where their five options to throw to offered plenty of variation as well as threatening the visitors’ throw-ins.
Ricky Bentley, Gaz Rawlings, Pete Wilshaw, Adam Ridge and Rich Thompson all took a number of clean catches as well as challenging the opposition throw.
It took Longton only seven minutes to put the first score on the board, Joe Hall landing a penalty.
Then, only five minutes later, the first try came through newcomer Sam Dumigan who broke through the defence with a powerful surge.
It took just 12 more minutes to see the next try arrive.
The ball was moved wide at pace for a try in the corner by Josh Powell. Joe Hall’s kick from the touchline went just wide leaving ahead 13-0.
The visitors fought their way back with some fast running back play and good handling.
With quick ball from a scrum Caldwell whipped the ball out for the backs to show quick hands and a turn of pace to enable Harper to run in for the score.
The successful conversion made it 13-7. With just two minutes of the half remaining a speedy break in the backs from a scrum saw the ball spread wide to the and a cut-back saw the ball dotted down under the posts, the successful conversion took Crewe & Nantwich into the break 14-13 ahead.
Longton came out for the secondhalf with the slight wind and slope in the favour and soon took play deep into the visitors’ 22.
In desperation, Crewe & Nantwich conceded a penalty in front of the
posts which was successfully landed to give Longton a narrow lead.
The home team were now controlling most of the ball and should have added to their score on several occasions but handling errors and turnover ball prevented the inevitable scores from coming.
Then, as the Longton pack drove forward towards the 22, flanker Wilshaw, below, ran powerfully forward crashing though several would-be tacklers to score.
However, with just five minutes left the visitors ran the ball from their own half to score just to the left of the posts, which was converted.
A tense finish was in order, but Rawlings forced his way over late in the day to secure the points.
LEEK stormed to the head of Midlands Two West (North) standings after winning their top-oftable clash with Walsall 48-25.
Five minutes into the second half, Walsall had led 20-17, but a terrific second half from the Moorlanders saw them score four tries in the final 24 minutes to win the game.
It was a great game between two previously-unbeaten sides, requiring both sides to play their part and with the lead changing hands after halftime, it produced nine tries for the crowd to enjoy.
Conditions were perfect at Esterchem Park as referee Ewen Leadbetter got the game started and was soon giving Leek a penalty for handling in the ruck outside the Walsall 22 on nine minutes. Will Midwinter successfully kicked.
Six minutes later and the first Leek try came after superb handling, ruck retention and continuity including two carries by Ollie Powell, finally breached the dogged Walsall defence with Will Midwinter scoring the try. He converted as well and Leek were at 10-0.
Walsall hit back winning a penalty on 18 minutes for not rolling at the tackle and the well-struck penalty gave them their first points.
The game was being played at pace with plenty of skill and strong defence on show, but when Walsall cleared on 24 minutes, they were caught by another Leek attack starting on their own 22 as Tom Scragg fielded the ball. Rucking and passing up field with Powell again to the fore, the gaps began to appear as the slick passing proved decisive and Rob Mcdermott finished the move off by the posts. Midwinter converted and Leek were up to 17-3.
The next 17 points were all to be scored by Walsall as they started to get into the game with discipline and strong play.
A penalty on 32 minutes, easily kickable, was turned down for the kick to lineout in the Leek 22 on the left. A few rucks later and the Walsall fly half went over for a try near the posts. He converted and it was 17-10.
On 36 minutes, a high tackle with Walsall on the attack led to a penalty and the three points taken brought Walsall to 17-13.
The second half opened with Walsall receiving a penalty on 45 minutes for another high tackle and electing for a scrum in the Leek 22, the number eight picked up and drove for the line.
Repelled by a strong defence, the ball reached the line after a couple of further rucks and a try was awarded as the ball was grounded on the line. The conversion was good and the comeback from the visitors was complete as they took the lead.
The critical turning point in the game then occurred on 48 minutes. A high tackle against Walsall just inside their own half was compounded for another 10 metres with some backchat.
It allowed Will Midwinter to kick for touch near the Walsall five-metre line on the left. Leek then had a series of four penalties as Walsall dragged the maul down or for not rolling away.
This led to a yellow card on 52 minutes. The next lineout saw Billy Kidd take a brilliant catch and then the driving maul sent Ed Cheadle over for Leek’s third try in the left corner.
Midwinter’s conversion was superb and Leek regained the lead at 24-20.
The kick-off led to another try for Leek as Rob and Liam Mcdermott combined down the right to send Tom Scragg into the Walsall 22.
Walsall struggled to hold the Leek rucks and final quick ball led to a Midwinter long pass to the left and Jack Newton-taylor sprinted over for the fourth and bonus point try.
The unerring Midwinter kicked his 4th conversion as Leek extended to 31-20 on 60 minutes.
Midwinter then extended the lead with his second successful penalty as Walsall strayed offside on their own 22 on 64 minutes.
Walsall needed to throw some caution to the wind now and the lock broke through on 72 minutes with only Liam Mcdermott in his way. The brave full-back made the tackle and as the ball sped back along
the Walsall line, flanker Billy Kidd picked off the pass and sprinted in from his own half under the posts. The Midwinter conversion extended the lead now to 41-20.
Still Walsall weren’t done as they chased a point and when they scored a try on 80 minutes after a quick tap penalty, then quickly missed the conversion, they reckoned a few minutes were left to score a fourth.
However, at the next play in their own 22, a stray pass led to Leek turning over the ball and Tom Scragg was on the end of the passes in the right corner as Leek scored their sixth try. Midwinter ended the day with a magnificent 100 per cent of kicks as the long range conversion succeeded.
· STAFFORD picked up their first win at Stourbridge Lions for 10 years after sealing a 52-3 victory in Midlands Two West North.
Stourbridge came flying into the game and the visiting XV spent the first 10 minutes camped on their own line repelling some testing attacks.
In the first visit to the opposition half, Stafford started to find success and Obi Ley crashed across for the opening try, converted by Christian Stelian.
The Stafford chase and dogged competition for any ball started to earn a couple of punishing penalties.
Fast play led to Stourbridge being further penalised for not retreating, Stafford whipped the ball out along the line which sliced through the defenders and Christian Stelian crossed the line and then converted.
The Stourbridge clearance for the start of the second half fell
into the ever-steady hands of Jerry Qasenivalu.
The visiting winger carried into the heart of the home side defence, ghosting through any tackles and eventually sprinting across the line for a try, converted by Christian Stelian.
Stourbridge kept working hard for each other and eventually got their reward through a penalty to put points on the board.
The Stafford forwards responded and a couple of forays were repelled before captain Louis Dewsbury put in an audacious crossfield kick from a very flat angle which landed in the dead ball area.
The bounce eluded the defender and Jerry Qasenivalu snatched the ball for his second, converted by Christian Stelian.
The attacking threat was relentless, the next assault coming through a thundering run by Obi Ley.
The durable second row took out the Stourbridge centres leaving three Stafford players jostling on the wing against a lone defender.
The trio left the ball in the hands of Quade Boal who couldn’t keep the smile off his face as the try was taken, converted by Christian Stelian.
A promising period in the Stafford 22 ended with a clearing kick which bounced cruelly for the waiting Stourbridge hands.
Chasing hard, debutant Kevin Van Der Leest collected the ball to release Stephen Frost for a lung busting run in and a well-earned try, converted by Christian Stelian.
Then a clearance kick turned into a foot race with two Stafford players competing against a single defender to drop on a bobbling ball.
A final spurt saw Nick Oxley getting the better of the defender and fingers reaching the ball first for a try.
Stafford found time for one more assault through the dominant scrum and Phil Kay dotted down for the final score.