Walsall played an extremely good u15's fixture on a heavy but playable pitch today. The Bandits entertained Stafford on the first team pitch. Considering the conditions of the pitch, what an advert for core value rugby at its best.

Walsall started half asleep from the kick off allowing Stafford far too much space and respect. This resulted in the visitors counter rucking in midfield and stealing Walsall ball, a strong determined run from their prop forward to beat the midfield defence and crash over to score after only 5 mins. 0-7 to the visitors. After a motivational chat from James under the posts Walsall seemed to wake up and think about what was expected to get back in the game, and take control of the game. After 12 mins sleeves were rolled up and channelled aggression was clear to see. The home team used good back through several phases of good rucked ball to push close into the visitors 22. The last ruck of the play resulted in Joe Birch taking a ball at pace from the back of a ruck, breaking 3 tackles to crash over the line near the posts. Conversion put over by Lewis Hawkins, welcome back skipper after illness. 7-7. A very even game now, good contest.

Good key skills on display for all to watch from both teams. After 20 mins the heat was on Stafford's defence, Walsall's midfield grew with immense confidence taking it with pace towards Stafford's 22. Once in the visitors 22 a great run by Max Mason to beat 3 tackles was undone by the ball being spilled under pressure in the final tackle before the line. Encouraging to see though, well done lads. Then its was the turn of Stafford to squeeze the pressure screw on Walsall. Using good ball from four phases of play and place a kick into Walsall's half. Walsall counter attacked only to have a pass intercepted and Stafford powered towards Walsall's line scoring in the right corner. 7-12 Stafford.

Walsall weren't finished they went on the hunt for more points, creating good secure rucked ball Stafford lost concentration and were caught offside. Penalty to Walsall. They ran deep into Stafford's half, venturing into their 22 only to be taken into touch about 18 metres from Stafford's try line. Stafford had the line out throw in, it was sloppy and Luke Cox pounced a the unguarded ball to make great yards with the help of the forwards pushing them nearer the try line. The ball was presented back well, Joel Pepper passed it away quick fro Max Mason to use good footwork to good use and score. 12-12 .

Half Time 12-12

After a good team talk from captain Lewis, James and myself, Walsall started the second half really well. This resulted in a massive effort from Stafford stopping Walsall from scoring three times, each time holding a Walsall player up over the try line. Stafford then worked well off great defence to go down the other end and push Walsall back to score in the far corner, a great counter attack. 12-17.
Stafford then pressed again with some big kicks, only for Sam Ferguson to clean up and counter attack. Walsall seemed half way back to their best today, which was pleasing to see. Galvanised by a sturdy defence Walsall made good use again of quality ball stolen in the contact area. Making good ground up the left hand side to present the ball through quick hands for Fin to crash over near the left touch line. 17-17
It remained honours even until 3 mins from the end, there was a break in play due to an injury to a Stafford player. A team talk was given. The resulting scrum from the re-start gave Walsall the platform the backs needed, Joel pushed a quality ball out of the back of the scrum for Lewis to execute a well timed pass to Max again to use power and balance in the contact area to break 2 tackles and go over slightly to the left of the posts. 22-17.

Walsall's defence held well during the last mins of the game. A great game to watch on a heavy pitch.

Full time Walsall 22 Stafford 17

Many thanks to Stafford for a quality end to end game today.

Food for thought,

The Bandits were given "homework" last week. They all remembered what was expected from the home work, it worked today . Well done lads.

See you all next week.

James & Rob.