Staffordshire vs Durham - 9th May 2009

Durham played their second County Championship Plate match against Staffordshire at Lichfield RFC's ground on Saturday 9th May.

The pitch was very hard underfoot and the weather conditions were sunny with a strong wind blowing away from the clubhouse. Durham kicked off and played into the wind in the first half. Staffordshire opened the scoring with a try by flank forward Carpenter which was converted by Clarke their fly half.

Durham immediately responded, scoring try by scum half Foreman, but full back Moore missed the conversion. A few minutes later, Durham were awarded a penalty which Moore coolly slotted home to give Durham the lead 8 - 7.

Staffordshire added a second try through full back Brear, who has played for the England Counties XV, but Clarke missed the conversion.

Both scrummages were solid and the line-outs were closely contested. Durham made very effective use of the driving maul, especially in the second half, with some neat handling by the backs.

Staffordshire, despite having the wind advantage, did not exploit it as Durham expected them to and their handling was wayward in the first half, a number of passes were dropped and there were numerous knock-ons, Durham defended well and worked hard, so that at half time the scored was 12 - 8 to the home side.

After the re-start, Durham used the wind conditions to the full, kicking for the corners, repeatedly making the opposition turn and chase back. A driving maul to the Staffordshire line, resulted in prop forward Oselton scoring Durham's second try, Moore failed with his kick.

Durham, raised the pressure on Staffordshire, and were hardly out of their territory for the rest of the second half. Going ahead, when Foreman broke blind to score his second try in the corner. Moore kicking his first conversion of the afternoon.

No. 8 Maidment added a forth try, Moore adding the further two points. Gateshead's Stuart Findlay, on his debut, intercepted a Staffordshire pass and raced away to score under the posts, only for the referee to rule him offside.

Replacement Calder wrapped up the win , breaking away and scoring the fifth try, despite being high-tackled over the try line, which Moore converted, to make the final score 34 - 12 to Durham.

It was a fine performance, and Durham now face East Midlands, (who beat Notts, Lincs & Derbys 29 - 21), at Darlington RFC's Blackwell Meadows Ground, next Saturday 16th May.