Walsall’s opening game in their Midlands Regional 2 campaign saw them travel into Derbyshire to face a team that had finished third in last season’s league, one place above Walsall. Last season’s matches between the two teams resulted in two close games with the home team securing the victory. This latest encounter between the two teams resulted in another close contest. The visitors, however, will be disappointed at failing to secure the win as they created scoring opportunities during the final five minutes when the deficit was only one point.
The Walsall team dominated the opening minutes when they displayed some excellent attacking skills with Quade Boal, Ben Pitt, Adam Nunney, Richard Clarke and Hansen Christoffersen all making some superb defence breaking runs. But, inevitably, after fifteen minutes, a pass was spilled, and the hosts launched a try scoring counter attack which resulted in a try near the corner flag. A similar pattern to the game continued with the visitors looking threatening with the running and close support style of play. They then had further problems, when their captain Adam Nunney was forced off with a leg injury after thirty minutes.. Soon afterwards the hosts were reduced to fourteen players as they had a player sent off because of a dangerous tackle. Ben Pitt then stepped up to put over a thirty metres penalty to open the scoring for the visitors. Final few minutes of the half saw Walsall put together more attacking plays with hooker Pete Fitzgerald, playing his first game after an injury two years ago, making a strong carry before more well-timed passes saw replacement Toby Smith going over near the corner flag.
The second half saw Walsall bring on two replacements, Rhys Gaddu and a debut for Rhys Jones. The hosts started the half in determined fashion and, urged on by their supporters, covered sixty meters resulting in a try under the Walsall posts. The visitors responded well with another flowing attack with Ben Pitt converting a thirty minute penalty after an infringement. Five minutes later the visitors put together another try scoring attack with Luke Chambers and Dan Carpenter making good runs before Quad Boal found Toby Smith with a well placed pass for another try. A sustained drive by the home pack then secured them another try. Walsall retaliated with another Pitt penalty after a Carpenter run. Two late penalties then gave the hosts a seven point lead.