MEN’S, WOMEN’S AND JUNIOR NEWS
MEN:-
PAVIORS 12 LICHFIELD 41 PTS
Round 20 of 22
As Hemo (DOR) was quick to point out to the players after the 18th win of the season, this was a banana skin in hiding, yet for the majority of the game Lichfield dealt capably with confining it to the proverbial disposal bin. No slip, a six try bonus point victory instead.
Lichfield totally bossed the first half and reached the turn round leading 29-5, it probably should have been more, but some credit must go to Paviors for lots of scrambling defence. The knock on effect, however, was the fuel/energy tank was much lower than they wanted with 40 minutes still to go and by the end they out on their feet.
There was parity in the lines out and scrums, so the visitors had enough ball to run the bigger Paviors pack around and, at times, they were really clinging on. Paul Maxwell-Keys opened the scoring after 10 minutes and the lead was extended to eight by a Kai Lucas-Dumolo penalty soon after – only the side’s tenth so far this campaign.
Lichfield were penalised at the resultant kick off and in the home side’s first visit to the red zone, they scored after Lichfield resisted a driven maul and a thrust on the left edge before back row, Tom Gladwin, dropped over the line. The result was more pressure coming in the direction of the Paviors try line. As the opening half wore on, there were further tries for the Lichfield back line with Rhys Davies proving too powerful for three defenders, Lucas-Dumolo, who also added four conversions, cutting back across the grain to score and then Maxwell-Keys ran in from 50 metres unopposed.
The second period was different, Lichfield probably dropped down a notch and the home side had better territorial positions as a consequence. They could not recycle the possession quickly enough to really stretch the Lichfield defence and the score remained unchanged for over 20 minutes. Eventually, Chris Eggleshaw managed to dive over and George Billam converted, unusual if they don’t both register points for their side (29-12).
That produced a reaction from the city side and a lot of the rest of the game was spent in the Paviors half, as they started to tire visibly, especially with the warm conditions. Towards the end there was a very rare try for Sam Craddock, even he could not remember his last league score (6+ years ?), as he ‘’raced’’ over from 10 metres out (maybe not that far), and right at the death, Kieran Higgins went over under the posts with no one at home. A satisfying job done for the myrtle greens.
Yet again, as far as the league positions are concerned, nothing has changed in the battle for top position after the weekend games. The playing records so far of Lichfield and Dronfield are so similar in most respects – with one big difference, the former has earned three more bonus points. There is another fallow Saturday coming up before the action returns on 22 March, at home to Tamworth at 3pm, while the Derbyshire side go to West Bridgford.
There was no league game for the 2s, they are back in action this Saturday at home to Lutterworth 2nd XV at 3pm. A reminder that there is a vets 15 a side tournament on Friday evening (Friday Night Lights) from 6pm with four local sides competing alongside a Lichfield squad under the stewardship of Jim Clark.

BOYS UNDER 14s
BURTON 14 LICHFIELD 20 PTS
Staffordshire cup final
Lichfield won a tight county final at Burton against the holders from 12 months prior in a compelling game of rugby played by two well coached sides. Whilst the ‘’away’’ side scored four tries to two, none of them were converted, so there were some tense moments late on as Burton threw caution to the wind to gain a converted try. It did not come, as the Lichfield defence held out with some determined tackling and chasing required from the squad, who have advanced noticeably during the 24/5 season.
With first use of the wind – neither side fully exploited it – Burton had all the early pressure and after nearly ten minutes they took the lead with a try in the left corner, which was converted. Thereafter, Lichfield controlled the half, playing sensible rugby and cutting down the Burton runners at source. Captain, Charlie Smith, scored twice to give the city side a 10-7 lead at the break.
The lead should have been extended immediately, however, amazingly Burton tapped a penalty on their line and two phases later, they were scoring by the posts at the other end. Smith ensured the lead went back to Lichfield soon after and then it was a real ding dong battle until near the end. Jack Wilkes scored in the corner for ‘’Lich’’ and the lack of two extra points meant some nervy parents and coaches had to watch their sons and players dig as deep as they ever have had to to hold on. A deserved win – just !
In two weeks’ time, the boys 16s will make the same journey to Burton to defend their title against Burton, again. It is quite likely to be as close as the 14s final and they have had the advantage of two tight games in the past fortnight, winning 31-26 at Barkers Butts on Sunday.
More junior news below.
WOMEN:-
BARNSLEY 14 LICHFIELD RED (1s) 28 PTS
LICHFIELD GREEN (2s) 81 HUCCLECOTE 7 PTS
The women’s Red team made the journey to Barnsley on Sunday afternoon, knowing there was a difficult task in front of them and they came out of it with a try bonus point win, crucially. The 4th try was scored in the closing seconds by Kaz Kacirkova, her second of the match, and that bonus point means that Lichfield are now second in the league and in with a chance of reaching the end of season play offs with two more league games to go. Why ? Buckingham Swans unexpectedly lost by 34-0 at Sale.
Kat Turner and Bryany Chalk, right on half time, had scored in the first half, so that they changed ends at 14 pts apiece. Kacirkova added two more to her season’s collection to ensure victory, firstly, and then the bonus point. Molly Draycott converted all four tries, just as importantly.
The Green team entertained Hucclecote, whose off the pitch outfits were celebrating World Book Day (some very clever ones), and they proved themselves to be far too strong for the Gloucester side. They notched up 13 tries, split almost equally across the halves, and Zoe Evans backed up her three in the Red team the week before with four more. Heidi Lantos (2), Sarah Baugh (3), Ali Gale, Alice Hodgkinson and Roz Jermine were the other scorers, whilst Emily Williams took on the kicking duties and converted eight to go with her first half try, totalling 21 points. The Greens host Birmingham Moseley on Sunday at 2pm and the Red team are at home on Saturday at 2pm against West Park Leeds.

STOKE COLTS 7 LICHFIELD COLTS (RED) 36 PTS
The colts reached the semi final of the county cup competition by defeating Stoke comfortably on Saturday lunchtime at Barlaston and will now have a home draw against Newcastle later in the month.
Rees Scoggins and Reiss Tew both crossed for two tries, George Butler and Fin Freeman contributed the others; Lucas Laing kicked three from six conversions
This Sunday, the Reds host Birmingham Moseley on Sunday at 2pm, whilst the Green team visit Walsall at the same time, both league games.
JUNIORS/MINIS:-
This Sunday is the first of the two annual Lichfield RFC tournaments at Cooke Fields, concentrated mainly on the under 7s to 9s age groups, starting at 9.30am and finishing around 2pm.
Last Sunday, the boys 15s defeated Dudley K 29-20 and the 13s made up for a cup defeat against Burton by beating them by 10 tries to 5. The girls 16 group lost to Tamworth at home, whilst the 14s won 50-0 at Old Halesonians in preparation for a return match against Barkers Butts on Friday evening and then a home cup tie against Stafford on 23rd.
c/o Dave Lewis

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