League points and cup progress on same afternoon for Stafford...

STAFFORD ground out a 24-17 victory at LONGTON in a match which doubled up as a Counties Two Midlands West (West) clash and also an Intermediate Cup quarterfinal tie.

- Chris Travers

LANDMARK: Stafford Rugby Club are celebrating reaching 150 years. Pic: Paul Milgate-Scarrott

(Paul Milgate-Scarrott)

The teams last met in the 2023/24 season when a visiting County Town team found themselves on the wrong side of a 40-0 pounding.

Trentham Fields had remained a sparse hunting ground over the years and it was way back in the 2019/20 season that Stafford last managed a victory by a single point. Stafford were also looking to break a hex which saw their last league away win back in the annals of the 2023/24 season.

The game opened with minor errors from both teams making the first 10 minutes a stuttering affair. Stafford made the first inroads when they ran the ball out of their own half and only a last-gasp tackle crashed the ball into touch.

Flapping Longton hands couldn't secure their lineout and the loose ball was swept up. Swift passing created space and Marley Thomas cruised across the line for a try.

A belligerent Longton response smashed the ball back down the pitch and the hosts marched across the line to equalise the points.