NEWENT 24 LICHFIELD 1ST XV 14 PTS
ROUND 21 – REGIONAL 1 MIDLANDS
As with every other team in this league this season, plus league opponents stretching back to January 2024, Lichfield could not find a way to defeat Newent on their own patch. The pitch is not that big and has slopes and borrows on it that would be more suited to Augusta National GC, but the home side know how to exploit them and to play some energetic and purposeful rugby. An unbeaten home record, along with a few wins away from the Forest of Dean, have helped Newent into fourth place and a promotion play off game is not out of the reckoning.

As for Lichfield, a key issue was resolved on Saturday in that they are guaranteed level 5 rugby again next season and a round 22 victory could (or should) help them into sixth place – a top half position is a credit to the squad and coaches Paul Hurst and Joe Glover.

The game remained scoreless for thirty minutes with neither side able to dig a proper foothold for themselves, but there were signs that the Newent back line was starting to cause defensive issues for the Lichfield opposite numbers. So, it was not a total surprise when Newent converted one of their raids into the away ‘’22’’ and Kyle Towers came off the blindside wing to squeeze through a small gap for the lead. A second try came very soon afterwards, as Leo Oakey was first to react to a charged down kick, Doug Long converted for a half time lead of 12-0.

Newent were not able to pin Lichfield down in the clubhouse corner, but their backs continued to look dangerous on a number of occasions and Towers scored his second on an overlap in the right hand corner, which was added to by Long. Lichfield responded well to this situation with some red zone pressure of their own and eventually Ditch Burton drove over, Charlie Milner converted it.

The penalty count did not help Lichfield’s cause and Chris Bennett was yellow carded following a quick penalty, which gave Newent the position to have a 5m scrum under the Lichfield posts. Wing, Finlay Mellis, was given a gap to exploit and his pace took him to a bonus point try. Newent looked comfortable and ‘’Lich’’ found the home defence tough to crack, but with the game almost over, Rory Davis barged his way past the last line of green and yellow shirts and Milner’s successful kick was the last rites.

THE PLOUGH AT HUDDLESFORD MAN OF THE MATCH – to be selected on 11 April

There is no men’s rugby this Saturday (Easter), the next game is Dudley K at home on 11 April with the 2s away at Rugeley – KO 3pm.

LICHFIELD 2nd XV 47 OSWESTRY 1ST XV 39 PTS
COUNTIES 3 MIDLANDS WEST (NORTH)
This game had plenty of interesting tries and a few changes of lead and eventually Lichfield were able to pull away from their visitors, who they had beaten a fortnight previously, in the latter stages, although Oswestry claimed the final try right at the end. This was the home side’s twelfth success of the campaign and keeps them in third place with games against Rugeley, Uttoxeter and Stone to come after Easter.

This win earned Lichfield another five points and, with nineteen, they have registered the most bonus points in this league. This seven try victory helped them past 800 points for the season – with 1,000 being a very tough ask, but an unbeaten end to the season should be achievable.

Tries came from Harry Bateman (3), fit again Dave Mott (2) and one each for Ben Miles and Fraser Eadie with Kai Lucas-Dumolo converting six of them.

COLTS:-
BROMSGROVE COLTS 19 LICHFIELD 20 PTS
LEAGUE

They left it late !
An Ethan Gallagher try under the sticks with only seconds to spare, which captain, George Butler converted, afforded Lichfield a hard fought victory at Bromsgrove and, more importantly, the four points to seal the Division 1 North Midlands colts league title with two games still to be played. Massive credit goes to the whole squad and the coaches on remaining unbeaten in the league with only two cup defeats all season. The recent ill timed defeat against Wolverhampton in the county cup has been translated into a real positive and they have an away tie in the county cup plate competition after Easter to test their motivation.

They have a week off over Easter.

WOMEN/GIRLS:-
It was the girls’ county cup finals day at Burton on Sunday and, despite the inclement weather, there were three absorbing games for the healthy crowd to enjoy.

The Lichfield U14s started proceedings and were beaten 17-7 by a strong, physical and well coached Burton outfit. There were two first half tries for the ‘’home’’ team, to which they added a third before Lichfield were able to respond with a super solo effort from Eveie.

The last game was always going to be a tight match up – Stafford and Lichfield U18s – with the season’s tally at one apiece. Crucially, Stafford started the stronger and were 12-0 up in less than even time, although Lichfield had brought it back to equality by half time with two excellent tries where support of the ball carrier was key. A long range try put the city side in front and they looked comfortable in attack and defence. With ten minutes to go, the momentum suddenly changed and Stafford were able to take the lead with two quick tries. However, there was sufficient character in the Lichfield squad to seek a fourth try and with seconds to go, it came in the right hand corner. The conversion, across the strong diagonal breeze, just dropped under the cross bar. The game ended 24 apiece and Stafford earned the trophy from scoring the first try of the final.

The game in the middle was a belter with Lichfield holding out some late Burton pressure to win 33-29 in a topsy turvy game of to and fro. Erin, the Lichfield captain, opened the scoring very early on with a forty metre interception try, which was converted. The Burton pack started to get on top, as the first half moved along, and they were able to score from close range to bring it to 7-5 to ‘’Lich’’. However, the away team found a way to introduce their wingers into the game and Angelina and Jas scored long range tries where pace alone was needed to take them to the try line.

Burton scored straight after half time and from there onwards, it was fraught with a mixture of good tries and ‘’coach killers’’ from both sides. The latter kept the score tight. Erin added her second score as she fended off a number of Burton defenders and Angelina scored a wonder try from her own ‘’22’’ with a combination of pace and balanced running. Burton had some late pressure, but the strong Lichfield rearguard kept them out for a deserved – yet very close – cup win.

WEST PARK LEEDS 1ST XV 45 LICHFIELD RED (1s) 0 PTS
CHAMP 1 NORTH
The Red team’s season ended on a disappointing note, as they were comfortably beaten by the much improved Leeds side by over forty points. Having had to rebuild the side yet again during last summer, head coach, Tim Westwood, will consider fifth place in the final league table as a better outcome than he was originally expecting. They have been able to defeat all nine sides in this level 2 league, but they will no doubt reexamine some of the seven defeats they have suffered.

The Green team are at home on Easter Sunday at 2pm with a league game against Coalville.

Reports c/o Dave Lewis