Tamworth Veteran Rich Morris led a Tamworth 3rd team on the short journey across to Barton-Under-Needwood. With a squad full of both youth and experience, Tamworth arrived to find a Barton Team ready and warming up in anticipation of their first home game for the best part of 2 years.

Tamworth’s forwards made a statement in an early scrum with a convincing shove to push Barton back and over the ball. The vast majority of the rugby took place in the middle of the field with each team giving as good as they got in both attack and defence. Morris and King found success in the lineout all afternoon, repeatedly winning clean ball from Clive to give the backs the chance to build the attack. Andrews tried to control the game using Dearne, King and Hamlet to run the ball and make good but hard yards as well as using his boot to pin Barton back.

With the first half finishing 0-0 both teams took stock and Morris asked for more of the same for the second 40 as Tamworth had been having the better of the attacking exchanges. Tamworth started the second half on top and after regaining position marched the ball up field to within touching distance of the Barton line. Barton held firm and managed to steal the ball only to knock on while trying to push away from their line. Hamlet picked up from the back of the resulting scrum and charged through everyone to open the scoring. Andrews, forced to rush the kick after tee issues saw his drop goal attempt fall short.

Barton had the benefit of a wider bench of fresh legs to start to build pressure on the Tamworth defence but Whittington, King and Dyer made some big tackles to hold them off. Resolute but scramble defending saw a Barton break held up over the line. However, the resulting goal line drop out found a pair of fresh Barton legs who, with some pace and power forced his way back and over the Tamworth line to score under the posts. The conversion was somehow put wide to leave the game tied with only minutes to go. Barton started to throw everything and everyone at Tamworth but Morris led his defensive line from the front, held strong and the game ended 5-5 but rugby was the absolute winner for all involved.