Tamworth travelled to Handsworth to open their season in The Staffordshire Intermediate cup first round a little under strength due to injury and unavailability. For this reason they took the opportunity to give debuts to three young players yet to reach their 18th birthdays with Macaulay Green starting in the back row and Adam Clemons and Cameron Lang starting on the bench.
Tamworth kicked off down the steep slope but the stiff breeze in their faces was nullifying any advantage this may have brought. The home side fielded the kick off and ran it straight back at Tamworth who appeared to have dealt with the threat but illegally so according to the referee who awarded Handsworth a kickable penalty within the first 2 minutes of the game which they dispatched between the posts to take an early 3-0 lead.
In the fifteenth minute Tamworth got back on level terms with a penalty of their own when the home defence strayed offside Kieren Jackson slotting the ball over from an awkward angle 3-3.
The Tamworth pack just had the edge over their hosts and it was some barnstorming work from them that brought the next score trundling towards the posts drawing in more defenders to stop them but it was some great hands from the backs that took advantage of the overlap with last season’s try machine Jon Arnold scoring in the corner 3-8.
As the half drew to a close Tamworth were punished for their indiscipline at the breakdown Handsworth kicked the 3 points and Tamworth went into half time with the narrowest of leads 6-8
Tamworth started the second period well and had a good 15 minute spell where the forwards were on top Green Impressing with some fine tackles Martin Dearne, Liam McGreevy and Martyn Bowden all making strong runs but all attempts were repelled by a solid Handsworth defence. They did extend their lead in the 56th minute with another Jackson penalty 6-11.
Tamworth made changes with Tom Scott coming into the front row and debutants Clemons and Lang joining at second row and centre respectively.
Handsworth got back on level terms when their winger eventually broke a hole in Tamworth’s defences to score in the corner 11-11.
Just 1 minute later things got worse for Tamworth when they went behind when a misdemeanour on the floor gave Handsworth a penalty which they had no trouble converting 14-11.
To their credit they came right back at the home team and were awarded a kickable penalty to level the game but could only watch in dismay as the kick squirmed wide of the upright and as the final whistle blew they had lost the tightest of games and headed for the changing rooms with plenty to think about before their league campaign gets under way next week.