Walsall gained their first away victory last Saturday after another roller-coaster match, this time at the Potteries. They started in a very positive fashion, with winger Turner being released on a fifty meter run that saw him being forced into touch near the corner flag. The hosts did well to repel the Walsall attacks during the first ten minutes, and then with their very first foray into their opponents half they were awarded a penalty, which Rowley put over. Only ten minutes had been played as Walsall were forced to make their first substitution. Prop forward Billy Baines was forced off by a leg injury to be replaced by Tim Hucknall.
But the visitors continued to play some enterprising rugby, and another Turner instigated attack produced a sweeping fifty meter move. Centre Richard Towe was involved on two occasions, after supporting Turner on the initial attack, he finished off the move with an excellent try when he produced a powerful blindside run. Turner,Towe and fellow centre Simpson were proving to be particularly effective, and another attack covered half the pitch before Stoke were forced to concede a penalty. Andy Hawkins put over the resulting kick to establish an 8 - 3 lead. Just before the half hour it was 11 - 3 after another Hawkins penalty punished Stoke for their indiscretions at the ruck.
The visitors should really have had more points on the board during this period of dominance, but they failed to take their chances. The hosts, in contrast, scored a try with only five minutes left of the half. A well rehearsed back move released winger Paul Ramage who crossed wide out.
The second half saw Walsall dominate the first thirty minutes, but they faded badly in the closing stages, which allowed Stoke to make a spirited fight back.
A Hawkins penalty after only seven minutes of the second half had made it 14 -8 and once again the visitors enjoyed a great deal of territorial advantage. The Walsall forwards produced several powerful drives and once again their opponents were forced to concede penalties. An inevitable yellow card reduced Stoke to seven forwards, and at the next drive, and after the next transgression, the referee awarded a penalty try.
As the game was entering the final ten minutes the team from the Potteries threw caution to the wind and attacked at every opportunity. Indeed, Walsall had to be grateful for some heroic defending by Naylor,Emes,Bishop,Halbert and Scott. They produced several crucial tackles that stopped several very threatening attacks by the hosts. The closing minutes saw Stoke get some reward for their endeavour when lock Pete Wilshaw and No 8 Jordan Grimshaw broke through a tired defence to close the gap to three points. The final try also signalled the end of the game, and although the visitors seemed to be the stronger side for most of the match, the hosts could have easily gained an unlikely victory if they had converted a few of their kicking opportunities.