|
County Championship Plate Group 1
2nd round
Saturday 9th May 2009
Staffordshire 12 Durham 34
Staffs only home game in this year's county championship ended in defeat at Lichfield RFC after they were outplayed in the 2nd half by a determined Durham outfit which now goes on to play the group decider against East Midlands at Darlington next Saturday.
As against East Midlands last week, Staffs started strongly and on 7 minutes, following a 5 metre scrum, Staffs no.8 Ali Muldowney picked up, fed scrum half Dan Needham who quickly sent Joe Carpenter a pass that saw the young flanker go under the posts for a try. Russell Clarke converted and Staffs led 7-0.
A minute later and Durham had scored a try when from the kick off, Staffs didn't control the ball and scrum half Gareth Foreman darted by the ruck to score his try. Against the strong wind, the conversion was missed. Staffs 7 - 5 Durham.
On 21 minutes with Durham pressing, Staffs were penalised and full back Simon Moore stepped up to convert the penalty and take Durham into am 8-7 lead. Staffs came back strongly and scrum half Dan Needham was unlucky not to score after Staffs won a Durham lineout and his dive at the corner saw the ball drop from his grasp.
However on 34 minutes, good play by backs and forwards gave full back Gareth Brear the opening to score a well worked try. Clarke's conversion hit the post and missed, but Staffs had given themselves a slender 12-8 half time lead.
With the 2nd half only 7 minutes old, Ali Muldowney was yellow carded for stamping and Durham took advantage as prop Joe Oselton forced his way over the line 2 minutes later after driving pressure from the Durham forwards.
14 minutes later and Gareth Foreman scored his 2nd try after sprinting clear following a dropped ball in the Staffs backs. Moore converted and Durham led 20-12.
England students No.8 Ben Maidment was next on the score sheet as he drove over the Staffs line on 71 minutes and Moore converted.
Finally with the game in added time, flank Aaron Myers was in the act of scoring a try when a high tackle prevented the touch down and referee Dave Procter awarded a penalty try. Moore converted and so completed a miserable 2nd half for Staffs.
Team:
Gareth Brear (Halifax), Luke Fowles (Harrogate), Josh Fowles (Macclesfield), Rob McDermott (Macclesfield), Dan Archer (Burton); Russell Clarke (Kenilworth), Dan Needham (Leek);
Dave Bassett (Lichfield), Liam Wordley (Blackheath), Paul Ensor (Unattached); Tim Lee (Stoke), Rich Kelly (Stoke); Joe Carpenter (Willenhall), Adam Nettell (Leek), Ali Muldowney (Moseley).
Reps: George Glenn (Stoke), James Hamilton (Leicester Lions), Mark Deaville (Leicester), Jim Morris (Burton), Scott Rawlings (Longton), Ollie Pointon (Longton), Andy Green (Longton)
|
RFU.com 
Search
