This was very much a game of two halves. The first half belonged to Walsall,who produced some of their best rugby of the season so far. The hosts found themselves defending desperately almost from the kick off. They conceded an early penalty, which Tom Archer converted. But the home team got themselves in front within two minutes,when Walsall failed to clear a speculative kick. This gave the hosts the opportunity to drive over the line. But Walsall continued to press at every opportunity, and after sixteen minutes they scored a superb try. No 8 Adam Parr burst through from thirty meters after the ball had been moved across the field on several occasions. Archer’s conversion gave the visitors a 10 – 5 lead. They could, and maybe should, have added to their score during the first thirty minutes of the game. But, as so often this season, they failed to take their chances, and it was their opponents who gained the next score. Another strong lineout drive securing them their second try. The visitors, to their credit, continued to move the ball at every opportunity, and just before half time they were deservedly rewarded for their efforts.The Walsall backs combined together to give space to centre Johan Schalkwyke. The young South African cut through in spectacular fashion to score a fine try. Archer put over the conversion to give his team a 17 – 12 lead at the interval.
Although the visitors showed their attacking intent early in the half, they were soon greatly disadvantaged as injuries to Parr and lock forward Woodward meant that they were forced into making a major re-organisation of their team.
Walsall still created chances, but they were unable to maintain any great momentum. This allowed the hosts to gain greater control of the game. The game was still very evenly poised, when an already unpopular referee decided to sinbin scrum half Bishop for some minor misdemeanour. This was a referee who had already taken no action when Woodward was savagely assaulted in a ruck, and was forced to leave the field! Whitchurch reduced the deficit with a penalty, and then during the final fifteen minutes they scored two tries, which were both converted to secure a 29 – 17 victory.