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LEICESTERSHIRE 43 STAFFORDSHIRE 16
by Mike Bowen
On a day made for rugby the County Senior team never seemed to get into top gear for the opening encounter to this season’s Plate Competition. The pitch at Syston was perfect and with the weather fair the Staffs supporters were expecting a repeat of last year’s close but successful game at Burton. However, it was clear from the start that Leicestershire were not only in top gear but were often allowed to get into overdrive. Their bigger forwards soon out-muscled Staffs and began with winning quality possession whilst progressively starving Staffs out of theirs.
The game was only 7 minutes old and after a short period of pressure Craig Hewitt (Syston) picked up from the base of a scrum and forced his way over. Straight from the restart Leicestershire gained ground and although Staffs exerted some good pressure they remained in their own half. On their first charge into enemy territory Staffs won a penalty and Mike Swetman (Longton) added the three points.
Immediately the host team countered when full back Warren Coles (Syston) collected a loose kick from Staffs and ran a full 60 metres before handing on to Mark Lord (South Leicester) to score under the posts. The fly half converted his own try. The home side continued to control the game and following a loose tap back from a Staffs line out Craig Hewitt grabbed the ball and dived over – Mark Lord converting.
Staffs attempted to get back into the game and briefly moved into Leicestershire’s half but only returned with a second penalty by Mike Swetman. Just before the whistle went for half time the hosts broke through midfield and centre Richard Ife (South Leicester) scored near the left hand corner flag. The conversion attempt went wide and the half time score was 24 – 6.
The second half started with a continuation of the first’s pattern. After only five minutes Warren Coles went on another one of his long-distance runs – this time finishing it off himself. Staffordshire at last raised their game and for fifteen minutes things began to look as if they could mount some serious opposition to the dominant Leicestershire side. Firstly Mike Swetman added another penalty and then Matt Aston (Nuneaton) forced his way over in the corner, Mike Swetman converted.
At 29 – 16 suddenly things looked promising for the Staffs team. Then Leicestershire got their second wind. They regained both control and ground and after persistent pressure left wing Keiron Collins (South Leicester) ran in unopposed for Mark Lord to convert. At 36 – 16 and, with the end of the game fast approaching, the score appeared to reflect the game’s balance but Leicestershire added insult to injury for Staffs when centre Brendan Coles (Syston) scored and Mark Lord converted from the widest of angles.
This 43 -16 defeat is a blow to Staffordshire's aspirations. They must consolidate for next week’s home game at Lichfield against Essex a side they beat convincingly 34 20 last season.
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