Walsall RFC Ltd

Saturday 17th February was grey and overcast but saw rugby resume at Delves Road after a week's break with Walsall entertaining an old adversary, Sutton Coldfield.

The grey conditions in some way supported a feeling of anxiety and tension with Walsall having lost their last three games and Sutton having won their last two games.  Would both teams trajectory be maintained?

On paper Walsall's team suggested this to be our strongest team since the start of the sason, with many first team players coming back off the injury list.

From the kick off we displayed form of the past, moving the ball quickly as well as supporting each other.  How delightful it was to see an early score.  Unfortunately, soon after, we gifted our visitors a try, allowing them to intercept a very flat line pass.  Fortunes continued to change and we scored two more tries to Sutton's one.  Half time score - Walsall 21 points Sutton 14 points.

The second half followed in the same vein as the first and we maintained our thirst for possession and movement.  Our try total began to increase with Hoy, Pitt, Perkins, Carpenter and Ainger adding to the final score total of Walsall 45 points, Sutton 21.  Unfortunately we gifted Sutton a third try with a speculative offlaod that fell into the hands of Sutton Winger McNamee who sped off in Usain Bolt fashion to score.

The final score was testimony to the way our players had performed but it has to be said at the centre of the action was a player I label "Walsall Whippet".  Dean Ainger's contribution to the game was outstanding, creating havoc for the Sutton players and enjoyment for the Walsall supporters.  Pleased to see you back, Dean and here's to an injury free passage to the end of the season.  Many thanks to all our players for a disciplined and memorable team performance on such a grey day.