It was a match were opposition fans would rally under the same banner. Where Crusade supports would be sitting next to Phoenix fans without a punch-up and yet it was a very different banner to the Australian one you might be expecting. It was a match to honour a EIRL legend in Steve Prescott who would play his last game on home soil in Wolverhampton against ASRL opponents the Fairfield Stallions.


Wolverhampton Badgers -------------------- Fairfield Stallions
1 Paul Atcheson ------------------------------ 1 Adrian Vowles
2 Steve Maden --------------------------------- 2 Stuart Kelly
3 Adam Hughes ------------------------------- 3 Junior Pelesasa
4 Jason Demetriou --------------------------- 4 Seamus O'Grady
5 Julian Bailey -------------------------------- 5 David Hodgson
6 Steve Prescott © ------------------------- 6 Slick Cupples
7 Jamie Rooney ------------------------------- 7 Dominik Bush
8 Stuart Dickens ------------------------------ 8 Andy Lynch
9 Ian Watson ----------------------------------- 9 Mick Higham
10 Richard Moore ---------------------------- 10 Terry O'Connor
11 Steve McCurrie --------------------------- 11 Tony Price ©
12 Gray Viane --------------------------------- 12 Rocky Elsom
13 Logan Swann ------------------------------ 13 Scott Magro

Interchange
14 Oliver Wilkes ------------------------------- 14 Danny Sculthorpe
15 Steve Trindall ------------------------------- 15 Robert Salvatori
16 Luke Robinson ----------------------------- 16 Sean Ireland
17 Jamie Bloem -------------------------------- 17 Ryan Lawton

The game began with a Dominik Bush kick off that went wrong. Badgers hooker Watson too the ball to the chest on the 20metre line and broke the line to run 60metres with a final rush of defence lead by Scott Magro stopped the rampaging hooker. The Badgers kept on the attack and the attack was disfused after Stuart Kelly collected a Rooney grubber and took it out of goal safely.

Fairfield gained some easy metres when McCurrie was penalised for a head-high shot and Fairfield were out of danger. Fairfield's forwards worked hard hitting the ball up and forcing the Badgers into their own territory, however; Fairfield finally got a break when Logan Swann knocked the ball on in the Badgers 15 metre line. A quick play the ball and Fairfield were attacking the line. Cupples throws a long cut out pass to Hodgson who finds a gap and scores on the line; however the try was called disallowed due to a forward pass.

The battle continues in the middle of the field, where the next 8 sets find no real victor. The Badgers found themselves in enemy terrirtory in the 16th and with numbers on the right they were looking to score. That was until Stuart Kelly took an intercept pass and ran 70 metres, offloaded it to a chasing Dominik Bush to avoid Badgers fullback Atcheson and went on to score. Scott Magro was unable to convert in windy conditions and Fairfield were up 0-4.

Wolverhampton made a forward change, bring on Oliver Wilkes for a tired McCurrie, however; Mick Higham dashed from dummy-half looking to exploit an offside player and it was rewarded. Scott Magro slotted the ball between the posts and Fairfield were up 0-6. The Badgers kicked the ball off and Stallions halfback Dominik Bush knocked the ball on from the kick off. The scum was packed and some tireless efforts by the Stallions pack and the ball was won against the feed and the Stallions were on the attack again. A long pass to Elsom and the ball was again knocked on. The Stallions weren't seeming to be paying attention as they were penalised twice for being offside in the same set. Steve Prescott took the kick on the 2nd penality and put it between the posts and finally the Badgers had points on the board. 2-6.

Fairfield replaced a tired Mick Higham with Ryan Lawton and kicked off. Wilkes ran at the line and was taken head-high by a charging Adrian Vowles which found another penality, Adam Hughes kicks for touch and Vowles was sent to the sinbin. The 25th minute was a sloppy one with each side knocking the ball on including the Badgers loosing the ball over the Stallions line. It seemed both sides were frustrated that the scoreline was so close and in the 33rd Swann was penalised for a high tackle and Scott Magro put it between the posts and increased the lead to 2-8. Adrian Vowles returned from the sinbin but the game still continued to be sloppy one. In the 39th minute the Badgers once again found themselves attacking on the Stallions line and finally their efforts would be rewarded as Swann attacked the line, created a gap and offloaded it to Adam Hughes. Prescott was unable to convert and the score became dead close for the break

Half-Time: Wolverhampton Badgers 6 - Fairfield Stallions 8

No one is sure what was said at half time, but the Badgers came out more composed while Fairfield remained as fired up as they were when they left as the Badgers kicked off and Fairfield replace Elsom with Danny Sculthorpe. It seemed Danny Sculthorpe was too eager as his first tackle was a swinging arm which found another penality against the Stallions. Prescott kicked the ball between the post to level the score to 8-8 and Fairfield brought on Robert Salvatori for O'Connor. The Badgers were in the zone as they displayed some amazing kick-chase moments while Fairfield continued to struggle under the leadership of Tony Price. Things continued to get worse for the Stallions when Robert Salvatori knocked the ball on in th 44th and Seamus O'Grady began to limp. The Badgers took advantage of the injured O'Grady and attacked on his side of the field where Ian Watson was able to dance his way around O'Grady and put the ball down. Prescott nailed the ball and the Badgers for the first time were in the lead of the match, 14-8.

The Badgers continued the assult with some spectacular kicking from Adam Hughes and it was evident that the Stallions forward pack was begining to tire, with more penalities being giving to the Bagers and several interchanges. It looked like Adam Hughes was being to get cocky as he began to kick early in the tackle count. Finally it was a darting Stuart Kelly who broke the Badgers line again as he collected a grubbed from Hughes and ran 70 metres before being taken down. The Stallions too a quick play the ball to Terry O'Connor who broke over the line and scored. Magro easily converted and the score was again level at 14-14.

It was now the Badgers who were getting frustrated and giving out silly penalities and making a few replacements including Jamie Bloem for Logan Swann. The Badgers still continued to be the dominate side in the match with yet another assult on the Stallions line but Adrian Vowles safely took the kick and brought it back to the Stallions 20metre line. Andy Lynch took the first hit up of the set and was greeted by a Stuart Dickens swinging arm and was penalised and Slick Cupples kicked a monterous kick for touch. The Stallions took another quick play the ball as Dominik Bush spred the ball from left to right of the field who again found Stuart Kelly who was able to dart around Julian Bailey and finally put Junior Pelesasa over the line. Scott Magro who seemed used to the English conditions nailed the ball through the post despite the wind and the Stallions went back into the lead 14-20.

If the Stallions could hold the Badgers for another 12 minutes they would come out victors. Badgers coach Theo didn't think they were down and out yet and made another replacement of Luke Robinson for Ian Watson whilst Magro did a complete reshuffle by bringing on Rocky Elsom, who moved into the centres, Junior Pelesasa onto the wing and David Hodgson moved into fullback for the interchanged Adrian Vowles. Scott Magro who was stamping his name into this game took on the line and was able step around defender Richard Moore. With a legion of chasers, Magro ran as fast as he could and saw a chasing Stuart Kelly on the wing. In a creative or stupid move, Magro kicked a short ball to Kelly who took the ball to the chest and crossed the line. The video ref saw the ball actually hit the floor before it was kicked and ruled a disallowed try as the Badgers returned to their 20.

The Stallions were running out of fuel in their tank and still had another 10 mins remainding. Jamie Rooney pushed the Stallions to their own 10 metre line with a brilliant kick-chase and the Stallions were in trouble. That was until a Scotty Magro long pass found Stuart Kelly who darted 80 metres only to be thrown over the deadball line by Paul Atcheson. Both teams had nothing left in the final minutes of the game with again an assult of interchanges and plenty of knock-on balls. Both sides remained in the middle of the field for the final minute and with one interchange left, Theo brought back Logan Swann and hoped for a miracle. The good lord opened the heavens and produced one for the Badgers as Steve Prescott took on the line, spun around and off loaded it to a charging Swann to burst though a tired Tony Price and scored. The wind seemed to have calmed down just as Prescott attempted to convert and he was successful, leveling the score back to 20-20 at fulltime and the sides went into extra time.

Fulltime: Wolverhampton Badgers 20 - Fairfield Stallions 20

As both sides came of the dressing room, the packed out Wolverhampton crowd gave a standing cheer. The Badgers won the toss and allowed Fairfield the kick off. The Badgers game plan was clear: get close enough to the post and kick a field goal. Fairfield on the other hand were looking for the Scott Magro penality kick. From the kick off, Julian Bailey took the ball to the chest and made a break down the wing. The Badgers were 30 metres out and the wind was against them. Logan Swann found Adam Hughes who kicked for the field goal but was unsuccessful. Fairfield never got close to the Badgers try line in the 10 minute half and the Badgers failed to kick another two field goals. The 10 minutes were up and the sides switched ends and the Stallions were now agains the wind.

Dominik either was looking to exercise some genious or had a brain explosion, but either way he kicked the ball after recieving it from the Badgers kick off, looking to expliot some unfocused Badgers. Unfortunately Julian Bailey had taken the ball again and ran down the sideline before being taken down by Danny Sculthorpe. Hoping to pop the ball out, Danny Sculthorpe held down Julian Bailey as he attempted to play the ball, however; wouldn't get off. The ref blew the whistle and sinbinned Danny Sculthorpe for a professional foul and the Stallions would play this time without him. Both sides never went further then each others 30 metre line and had no luck with field goal attempts. With the Stallions getting two defussed and the Badgers missing one. The clock was ticking and neither side seemed to have any other ideas.

The final minute of extra time came and Fairfield were in posession. A short ball was played from dummy-half to Slick Cupples and Slick put up a towering bomb around the Badgers 10 metre line. Prescott who played fullback for most of the season, happened to be under the ball but dropped it. A scrum was packed in the final 15 seconds and Scott Magro collected the ball from the scum and darted sideways towards the other side of the field. 3 metres to the line and Magro steps inside a defending Gray Viane and crosses the line. He converts his own try and the Stallions take home a win for the ASRL. 20-26 in a nail biters which went into 20 mintues of extra time.

Wolverhampton Badgers: Ian Watson, Adam Hughes, Logan Swann. Prescott 4/5
Fairfield Stallions: Junior Pelesasa, Dominik Bush, Terry O'Connor, Scott Magro. Magro 5/6

Man Of The Match: Stuart Kelly
2 points : Scott Magro
1 point : Terry O'Connor

Penalty Count
Wolverhampton Badgers- 9 : 7 -Fairfield Stallions

Possession (%)
Wolverhampton Badgers- 50 : 49 -Fairfield Stallions

Time in Opposition Half
Wolverhampton Badgers- 41 : 39 -Fairfield Stallions

Handling Errors
Wolverhampton Badgers- 12 : 17 -Fairfield Stallions

Completion Rate (%)
Wolverhampton Badgers- 76 : 69 -Fairfield Stallions

Tackles
Wolverhampton Badgers- 236 : 249 -Fairfield Stallions

A big congratulations to Fairfield on doing the ASRL game proud in a nail-biting victory over the Wolverhampton Badgers. The fixture may have to become an annual thing, with different ASRL sides clashing with the cream of the EIRL.

I would second Chris' idea about a cross-league fixture during the off-season - in fact, if you've heard of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge (each Big Ten university's basketball team plays an ACC university side over a period of two days), perhaps a format like that would be worth exploring....

....Chris, since you did not place a dollar value on this article, and I found it to be very, very good indeed (with complete attribution to Magro, I posted the article to the EIRL Telegraph), I would request that payment to Magro of $10,000 be approved, payable at the end of Week Three.

Regards,

Theo
Wagga Badgers
Wolverhampton Badgers

Make it $30,000 to be split between both of his clubs. Was a damn fine writeup.

It was a pleasure to write