Heartbreak For Tamworth

Walsall snatch victory in dying seconds

Tamworth took on third placed Walsall full of confidence after good showings in their previous two outings and started well going ahead with a penalty after just 2 minutes. Walsall got back on level terms in the 17th minute with a long distance penalty. The visitors took the lead in the 22nd minute against the run of play with another penalty. 3-6
Tamworth came straight back and scored next when Jon Arnold made the most of some indifferent tackling from the visitors and somehow found his way through to score. Danny Norton added the extras and Tamworth led 10-6.
Tamworth’s discipline was letting them down and Walsall narrowed the gap in the 35th minute with yet another penalty. 10-9
The second half started much as the first had ended with Tamworth conceding a penalty and the Walsall fly half punishing them and re-taking the lead 10-12.
As the half wore on both sides were looking tired on a heavy pitch and the penalty count was rising for both teams and Tamworth were to be the next recipient of a penalty duly dispatched by Norton to regain the lead in this end to end fixture. 13-12
Walsall went back in front from the tee after yet another misdemeanour on the floor by Tamworth and is was becoming clear that this tie was going to be settled by the narrowest of margins as the visitors now led 15-13
As the game entered its final stages it seemed that Tamworth had done enough as Norton slotted another penalty putting them 1 point in front 16-15.
In a really tight game and with the clock running out there was just time for 1 more heartbreaking twist and it came the way of the visitors when it looked like all Tamworth had to do was hold on to the ball and see the clock out they were penalised for not releasing and Walsall slipped the kick over to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Final Score
Tamworth 16
Walsall 18