Stone Rugby Club are the champions of Merit Division 1 after a great victory at Walsall.
They took the trip down the M6 last weekend eager to right the wrongs of last weekend’s heavy defeat, with the knowledge that victory would secure them the league championship.
Stone kicked off what would be a cagey first 20 minutes in which handling errors and a large number of scrums dominated play, the constant stopping and starting preventing either side from settling into a decent rhythm. As the first quarter wore on Stone finally began to come to life and began to up the pressure with two probing attacks that were foiled by a scrambling defence.
Stone finally broke the stubborn home defence with captain John Bekalo cutting through the midfield to dot down between the posts, the simple conversion added to make the score 7-0. Walsall began to come to life after the score and the next 10 minutes saw both teams take turns to attack one another with little success, until a Walsall infringement during a dangerous looking Stone attack presented a shot at goal for Stone. Sadly the penalty from John Bekalo sailed wide and the scores remained. With the half wearing on and Stone pressure once again mounting, a second try finally came for the visitors, with Danny Cutler taking route one and crashing straight through midfield to dot down under the posts again, John Bekalo adding the extras to take the score to 14-0 at half time.
The second half started with both teams once again testing each other with no joy until halfway through the third quarter, when a penalty in kicking range gave Walsall the chance to open their account, the Walsall 10 doing just that to take the score to 14-3. This score reminded Stone they weren’t safe yet, this sparked a period of almost constant attacks by the visitors who made repeated visits to the Walsall 22-yard line. But every time they were denied by a combination of poor handling and determined Walsall counter rucking, and every time they were forced back down the pitch to start again.
With the game entering the final 20 Stone were rewarded eventually for their determined attacking. Having recovered the ball from a Walsall clearance they spun the ball wide to the right wing before cutting it back inside to John Bekalo who scored his second of the afternoon. Once again the kick was good, taking the score to 21-3. Walsall would not be denied their try however and after applying some pressure of their own in the final five minutes they were finally rewarded at the death, crossing the line after phase ball on the right wing, with the conversion missed the final whistle sounded with the scores at 21-8.
The result sees Stone at the top of Merit Division 1, mathematically untouchable by second place Newport, however Stone have no time to enjoy their inevitable league championship, as they prepare for their first Rubery Owen Cup pool fixture away to Whittington who currently play above them in Midlands 5.
