The squad had a productive pre-season. Several changes to the squad from last year has seen competition within it rise and greater depth across the board.

Walsall were optimistic as they travelled on the back of a good pre-season campaign, for the first time, to Melbourne in Derbyshire for their first game of the season in their Regional Midlands Two league. Walsall started well , but within five minutes they found themselves defending against a strong attack from the green and gold but a late tackle and fracas resulted in Walsall’s Callum Hoy being reprimanded and shown a red card whilst Melbourne's captain was also shown a yellow.

Credit to the Walsall players as they confronted the situation with great determination throughout the remaining game. Walsall scored their first try as centres, Angell and Nunney combined well before, captain, George Perkins supported and broke through the Melbourne defence to score a try from fifteen meters. It was a further ten minutes before the hosts got their first score as Brown put over a twenty five meter penalty.

Good ball carries by Liam Taylor, Simon Weaver and Neil Holden resulted in flanker Conor Clarke-Selby getting the next score for the visitors with Adam Nunney adding the conversion. Just before half time both teams scored tries. A terrific break by Walsall back three Quade Boal saw him linking with Adam Tamilio for the best try of the game. Nunney again added the conversion. Melbourne then responded and produced one of their best pieces of play, spreading the ball wide and driving play from J North getting the final touchdown, with extras from Brown.

The second half saw both sides looking to add to their try tally. Walsall slowing the play to negate Melbourne's extra man. Prop forward Tarik Tin was stopped by the referee’s whistle as he broke well into the opposition’s half and was the first victim of the new contact laws. Unfortunately, the lowering of the shoulder is now not allowed. Melbourne then began to take advantage of their numerical superiority as Smith scored off their lineout drive. The Walsall players continued to ‘raise’ their game and it was outside half Toby Smith who scored his team’s bonus point try with a neat chip and chase that saw him collect and dive over for the try. The Nunney conversion completed Walsall’s scoring.

The final ten minutes saw Melbourne exert further pressure on the Walsall try line and following successive impingements at the maul the visitors suffered another yellow card as they tried to stop another driving maul. Melbourne took the numeral advantage and added two further tries. Pearce, after a quickly taken penalty and Warren after a scrum close to the Walsall line, Brown adding both conversions.

Walsall can be praised enormously for their efforts throughout the game and should have a strong campaign judging by their performance. For Melbourne it is a different tale, with a lot of promise and potential but it will take time for combinations to settle and things to bed in. This is a very young squad on the whole with huge promise and plenty of talent. Melbourne take to the road to face previous opponents Wolverhampton in Round 2 on the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup. All support is appreciated.