A controversial try in the ninth minute of injury time deprived Walsall of a deserved victory on their first ever visit to Wassell Grove. A fine piece of defending by hooker Jimmy Scott and flanker Steve Halbert seemed to have secured possession for Walsall when they were defending close to their own line. But referee Mr Hackett decided that Scott had infringed. He was sent to the sinbin, the hosts took a tap penalty and barged their way over the try line for the winning score, to the obvious disappointment of the visitors and their large band of supporters.
But, the Walsall team have only themselves to blame for their fourth successive away defeat. They were in control of this game for long periods and should have scored far more points as a result of the pressure that they were exerting on their opponents. Walsall created at least three clear cut try scoring opportunities. While the usually reliable boot of Andy Hawkins was off target with a couple of fairly easy penalties and a drop goal.
It was Hawkins that opened the scoring with a penalty after the hosts had infringed as a result of the kick off at the start of the game. There followed a series of promising attacks by the visitors, with a great opportunity created when No 8 Rod Dickson linked up with scrum-half Bishop, he found Paul Naylor racing up on his shoulder. The young full back, who had an impressive game, cut through the defence before finding winger Tom Emes. He was stopped just short of the line, but the supporting players failed to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
Only twelve minutes had been played when, even as they attacked, the referee was not happy with lock Alex Woodward’s body position in the tackle area, and he became the first player to see a yellow card. Halesonians took advantage of their numerical superiority with virtually their first foray into Walsall territory. They created a position for their scrum to drive back the Walsall pack, which enabled No 8 Ton Tideswell to dive over. Once again, the next twenty minutes saw Walsall continue to press forward with the backs and forwards making some really good breaks. But again, there was a lack of support, at vital moments. This resulted in further scoring opportunities being missed. Eventually however, a Dickson drive resulted in another good attacking position. This time the ball was moved quickly, with centre Daniel Simpson finding Naylor on his outside. He delivered a perfect pass to Emes. The speedy winger beat the remaining defender to score a fine try which Hawkins converted. Unfortunately, the visitors conceded another try just before half time. Early tackles were missed as Halesonians launched an attack from deep in their own half. Winger Alex Church made the initial break, he linked up well with his supporting players before the ball reached left winger Luke Smith who scored wide out.
The start of the second half proved to be a disaster for Walsall, as the hosts set up a counter attack from a Walsall kick. Once again it was Church that initiated the attack, and after another half a dozen missed tackles, it was winger Smith who scored near the posts. The visitors, to their credit, continued to play in a positive fashion and drew level after ten minutes of the second half. A powerful drive was collapsed by the hosts which resulted in a penalty try. Indeed, the Worcestershire team found it difficult to contain the Walsall forward drives, and started to concede penalties. Two kicks from thirty meters by Hawkins gave Walsall a 23 – 17 lead, with less than ten minutes left to play. During the closing minutes, however, it was the hosts that gained the field positions to launch their lineout catch and drives. There was less than five minutes left when hooker Hubbleday was driven over. A missed conversion meant that Walsall still had a slender one point lead. A long period of injury time saw Halesonians eventually get a position close to the Walsall line. The last play of the game resulted in their pack driving prop Steve Head over the line for the winning score.