Tamworth Victorious as They Edge Thriller

Tamworth returned to Wiggington Park this week welcoming Stafford and were forced into some radical changes in the back line due to an ever increasing injury list with skipper Macauley Green moving from back row to the centres where he was joined by namesake Billy Green who answered the call by travelling back from London to play for his boyhood club. Gareth Pemberton also got his first start at Fly Half due to the absence of Tamworth stalwart Danny Norton.
Tamworth were soon under some pressure when an early handling error gave Stafford good field position and although the hosts repelled the initial attack they eventually ran out of defenders out wide and Stafford opened the scoring (0-7)
Tamworth settled well after this early set back and were soon back in touch as from a line out the forwards created a rolling maul that Stafford were powerless to stop. Josh Roe getting the final touch. Sid Wood’s kick fell just short but Tamworth were right back in this game (5-7)
Stafford stretched their lead once more as they scored another try from close range finally burrowing over despite some dogged defence from Tamworth (5-14)
The hosts refused to let their visitors get too far away and would score again Martin Dearne crashing over to increase his personal try tally to three in two games to keep Tamworth in touch at the break (10-14)
Tamworth started the second period the brighter and reduced the deficit to just a single point Wood slotting a penalty (13-14)
They would get their noses in front for the first time in this enthralling game when some slick hands released Jimmy Carroll to sprint clear to score. Wood converted and Tamworth led (20-14)
Stafford came right back and put Tamworth under intense pressure as they searched for a way back into this see saw fixture but a real backs to the wall defensive effort frustrated the visitors holding them at bay until a mix up with a goal line drop out resulted in a Stafford scrum 5 metres out and with the forwards tied in Stafford at last breached the brave defence. The conversion sailed over and Stafford had regained the lead by the slenderest of margins (20-21)
Tamworth refused to accept defeat and although Stafford sat four places above them in the league there really was nothing to separate the two sides on the day and the tie was still in the balance as it entered its final stages. The lead changed hands yet again as a Tamworth foray into the Stafford half saw the ball worked wide and Winger Alec Lees dived over to give the hosts the lead along with the four try bonus point (25-21)
Wood added a penalty the ball just creeping over the cross bar from the very edge of his range meaning Stafford would need a converted try to tie the match (28-21)
They threw everything they had and some at Tamworth to try to rescue something from the tie in the closing minutes but the resolute home defence held strong eventually forcing the knock on and Tamworth had edged a thriller to make it four bonus point wins in the last four games.
Nigel Hall commented after the game “ That was an amazing effort from the guys today we had so many changes and players out of position that it was always going to be a big ask. They all put their bodies on the line today and a few have some new scars to prove it. I couldn’t be more proud right now but we have another massive game against Walsall next week so they will enjoy their night tonight then the hard graft will start again preparing for that game”
Final Score Tamworth 28 Stafford 21