STAFFORD 1st XV vs CAMP HILL 1st XV. 11TH MARCH 2017. LEAGUE MATCH.

The County Town team can’t find any luck at the Shrine against a Camp Hill side chasing down second position in the league.

Camp Hill 39 – 3 Stafford

Stafford travelled to Birmingham for a game against top of the table contenders Camp Hill.

The teams came crashing into the game with a brutal opening five minutes that saw the sides fighting hard for early dominance. The home side settled quickest driving the visitors deep into their own half and early Stafford defence earning a yellow card reducing the traveling team to fourteen on the pitch. Camp Hill took full advantage to pile over for the first try of the afternoon. The home side attack was relentless but it met a stubborn defence that held out for long periods. With fifteen back on the pitch, Stafford continued to let the Camp Hill assault crash over them and attempted to hit back with some ferocious tackles. The pressure eventually told as the Haslucks Green Road team crossed the line a further three times to secure the bonus point and establish a substantial lead. Stafford went into half time trailing by 20 – 0 and fighting hard to find a foothold in a difficult game.

An early Stafford charge saw them gaining ground and playing their most successful rugby of the afternoon. A Louis Dewsbury penalty put the first points on the board for the visitors as Stafford got the reward for their hard work. The visitors continued to play some good rugby but a prowling Camp Hill defence pounced on a slight mistake to take their fifth try of the game. Stafford continued to spend long periods in the Camp Hill half but couldn’t find their way across the line for further points. Two further Camp Hill tries closed the game as the Haslucks Green Road team kept their promotion prospects very much alive.