Longton are a new team in Champ Midlands 2 after promotion, so a curious but excited Shelford arrived after a long drive to an unfamiliar ground in an industrial estate outside Stoke. The conditions were wet and slippery but Shelford were not going to be phased by the weather.

Using the full width of the pitch, Shelford were able to stretch the opposition to score 4 tries in the first half, the greasy ball preventing more points going on the scoreboard. The handling errors from both teams meant that scrums were in no short supply, but the Shelford pack consistently drove Longton back and turned several scrums despite the Longton Hooker's somewhat unorthodox methods of disrupting the scrum. Longton managed to get over Shelford’s line once in the first half, but Shelford countered with aggressive play to see the score at half time an already healthy 5-24.

In the second half the tries really started to add up, as Shelford hardly spent any time in their own half. Naomi Linklater, having already scored once in the first half, carried the ball over the try line a further 3 times in the second half, but she wasn't the only player to shine. In particular, a special mention has to go to the scrum half Kim for her excellent work throughout the game, eventually being forced to retire from the pitch after a second knock to the head. Six tries and one conversion in the second half meant that the score at full time was 5-56: another convincing away win for Shelford.

Forward of the Match: Jo Board

Back of the Match: Tia Martin