SATURDAY 14TH FEBRUARY
LICHFIELD 1XV | BRIDGNORTH 31-24 LICHFIELD
LICHFIELD 2XV | LICHFIELD 43-27 ECCLESHALL
SUNDAY 15TH FEBRUARY
LADIES
LICHFIELD LADIES L1XV | LICHFIELD 29-22 SALE FC 1861
LICHFIELD LADIES L2XV | LICHFIELD 29-24 BOURNVILLE
COLTS / U18
LICHFIELD COLTS XV | LICHFIELD 22-17 STOKE
JUNIOR BOYS
UNDER 16 BOYS | WALSALL 27-19 LICHFIELD

REPORTS co Dave Lewis
BRIDGNORTH 31 LICHFIELD 24 PTS
ROUND 17 REGIONAL 1 MIDLANDS

Bridgnorth, who missed out on victory with the last kick of the match in October in the reverse fixture, took the spoils on Saturday with the very last play of the game – via a penalty try. Whether you agree or not, the man that matters decided it was to be. To be fair, he had been hard all afternoon on any offences, which were borderline and/or in yellow card territory. Thus, the home side took five points and Lichfield one, which was the least they deserved.

The pitch, which was covered in water on Friday afternoon, stood up well, but the players on both sides found it hard playing on a cloying surface. Consequently, it was very much a forwards battle and there were numerous sorties with players employing ‘’pick and go’’ repeatedly to make those hard yards.

Lichfield started well and after three minutes were 3-0 up thanks to a Henry Nevitt penalty. They continued to look comfortable with or without the ball for the opening twenty minutes. A misread in the midfield defence, however, left them with an overlap to deal with – flanker, Adam Ellis, was able to run in from 30 metres as the drift defence shuffled too far across. Elliot Murphy converted.

Lichfield’s response was immediate, as they pinned down the hosts in their red zone and Ollie Green scored near the posts, Nevitt added the first of his three conversions. Bridgnorth were competing better as the half wore on and their forwards drove and drove to give Haloti Molitika their second try, which Murphy again converted. As half time approached, the home side tried the same tactics, but after several minutes of stern defending, Lichfield escaped and reached half time 14-10 down.

The visitors again started the half well and it was they who repeated those forward driving tactics and it was eventually Harry Hitchen, who crossed from short distance. There was almost an expectation that Lichfield would start to dominate at 17-14 in the lead, unfortunately that did not occur. Two quick fire tries went the way of the Shropshire side, Firstly, Jake Francis was driven over from a line out and then full back, Jack Cole, exploited some disappointing blind side defence to score with ease.

By now, Lichfield needed to raise their game and they did. Even more bombardment of the Bridgnorth line followed and, with the home side down to 13, Kieran Higgins was able to ‘’walk’’ his try in. Nevitt’s touchline conversion brought the sides level at 24 apiece and with over ten minutes to go it was anyone’s call, who would win. Both teams had opportunities, which went begging, and just as the game seemed to be heading for stalemate, an errant hand in a cover tackle was deemed to have prevented a try ….. home victory !

Lichfield remain sixth.

THE PLOUGH AT HUDDLESFORD MAN OF THE MATCH – ADAM SPINNER

The rearranged Staffs cup semi final against Burton will now be played on Friday evening at 7.45pm at Cooke Fields, which is likely to attract a sizeable crowd. Bar opens at 6pm & there will be hot food available outside and in with the club shop also open.

The 2nd XV are away on Saturday at Barton u Needwood, KO 2.15pm, which will be an acid test of the side’s progress, as the hosts are unbeaten this season.

LICHFIELD 2ND XV 43 ECCLESHALL 27 PTS

COUNTIES 3 MIDLANDS WEST (NORTH)

The Lichfield second string produced one of their best efforts for the season on Saturday afternoon, as they overcame second placed Eccleshall 1s in an entertaining game at Cooke Fields.

The home side quickly raced into a 17 point lead, but by half time the visitors had sneaked in front by three. The half time oranges had the right effect and Lichfield controlled the second period for long periods through their forwards, although all but one of their tries came from the backs, as they wisely stretched their opponents whenever they could.

Try scorers were: Harrison Stratford (2), Michael Turner (2), Seb Smith, Reiss Tew and David Williams. Colts captain, George Butler, added four conversions on his senior league debut. Lichfield remain third.

LICHFIELD COLTS 22 STOKE 17 PTS

In horrible conditions, the colts continued their campaign with another victory and, at the same time, were able to rotate their squad somewhat to give airtime to some of the younger members of the squad. This Sunday they are at home to Stourbridge in the league, KO 2pm, which is likely to be one of their biggest remaining league challenges.

WOMEN:-

LICHFIELD RED TEAM (1s) 29 SALE (1861) 22 PTS

CHAMPIONSHIP NORTH 1 ROUND 17

In December, Lichfield women defeated the then league leaders, Cheltenham, and on Sunday they repeated the trick by beating the current ones, Sale, at Walsall RFC – playing on their 4G surface to beat the weather. Lichfield are now in 4th spot with 47 points and face Kenilworth away this coming Sunday at 2pm.

In the reverse fixture, ‘’Lich’’ had failed to register a point on the scoreboard, however, they engineered four tries this time in far from ideal conditions to earn themselves all available five points and took their winning run to seven on the trot.

Ella Brierley and Zoe Evans, on her return from Leicester Tigers, crossed the whitewash in the opening half and half time was reached at 15 all. Abi Bowes and Lauren Bird posted the next two and Issy McGuire’s kicking (3 convs and a penalty) proved very important in the final reckoning.

BOURNVILLE 1ST XV 24 LICHFIELD GREENS (2s) 29 PTS

NC 1 MIDLANDS WEST – round 12

After two narrow home league defeats in recent weeks, Lichfield 2s went over to Bournville – again to beat the adverse weather/conditions – and returned with a satisfying win, which takes them back to fourth place in a congested middle section of this league. Again, the section were able to give senior experience to girls from the successful U18s team and they outscored the hosts by five tries to four in the wet of south Birmingham.

The Lichfield try scorers were Nell Mills, Rose Baugh, Kira Hutton, the evergreen Roz Jermine and AN Other, with a couple of conversions from Izzy Davies.

On 1 March, the girls U18s and 16s are both in their respective National Cup Regional Finals, the latter are at home to Northern and the former at Old Northamptonians, both 2pm. All three girls sides are hopeful of contesting the county finals at the end of March.

On Sunday morning, the U16 boys were unable to take enough of their opportunities to overcome Walsall in the semi final of the county cup and so lost 27-19 at Delves Road. It’s been a tough campaign for this squad, yet they got so close to reaching the final with their three well worked tries. The remainder of the mini/junior games were badly affected by the returning bad weather.

Good Luck to all those representing this weekend - Please check venues and KO times with your Team Managers
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Lichfield Rugby Union Football Club, Cooke Fields, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS14 9JE