MATCH REPORT | MEN’S 1st XV | SATURDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2023

MATCH REPORT | MEN’S 1st XV | SATURDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2023
REGIONAL 2 MIDLANDS NORTH (ROUND 2)
SUTTON COLDFIELD 26 | 33 LICHFIELD
Lichfield showed improvements on the previous week, as they earned themselves a second victory on the road at neighbours Sutton Coldfield at the weekend. With the temperature at 30 degrees C, not surprisingly there were distinct inconsistencies from both sides both in attack and defensively, but both teams tried to play positive rugby and there were nine tries in total to appreciate. Lichfield accrued 5 points for their efforts and the home side, with a try right at the death, probably deserved their four.
For the first 25 minutes, Lichfield couldn’t do anything right – individually, collectively or to keep the referee happy. Then, the tide suddenly changed (don’t know why ?!) and the visitors were going through gaps and Sutton were also falling off tackles and somehow at half time the sides were level. Lichfield’s richer vein of form continued for a large part of the second half until they reverted to former selves for the last few minutes and allowed Sutton to finish in a healthier state than seemed likely around the hour mark.
Sutton couldn’t have started better. From a very early, untidy line out, flanker Dylan Thomas neatly dodged two tackles and strode over from ten metres, with Laurie Harries converting. Nothing in the next 25 minutes suggested that the hosts would not be having a much improved day at the office than at Newark the week before. After a prolonged period of pressure, Thomas (running a clever line) was unstoppable for his second try, Harries improved it for a 14 point lead.
Whilst not improving noticeably, Lichfield were now the dominant side and Cal Turner virtually walked over the line for a simple try, Charlie Milner added the first of his four conversions. Moments later, Harvey Wootton was doing the same, but dropped the ball over the line. However, he made amends less than five minutes later as he bashed his way to the try line. Half time 14 apiece.
Lichfield were then able to start playing the style of rugby, which DOR ‘’Hemo’’ is aiming to produce. The backs, with some quicker possession, were able to produce an overlap for Kai Lucas-Dumolo and he went over from 20 metres and a few minutes later, Charlie Milner was exploiting a massive overlap on the left for another try in the corner. Lichfield were now playing and another try was chalked off for an alleged forward pass after a break out from their ‘’22’’.
The Sutton no. 8 barged his way to the try line for their third try, to interrupt the flow temporarily, however Milner was at the bottom of a driven maul for his side’s fifth score and his conversion took the lead back to 33-19 with 10 minutes to go. With a lot of stoppage time being added on, the city side took their foot off the gas and allowed Sutton the opportunity to gain two bonus points with Thomas burrowing over from a metre for his third try of a very hot afternoon, Harries converted.
This coming Saturday, Lichfield’s men 1st XV play another local derby with Tamworth being the visitors at 3pm. Tamworth, promoted to this level this season, have found the inspiration for two home wins so far and hence this will be an enticing fixture between second and third placed sides. It is also Ladies’ Day at the ‘’stade de Lichfield’’ with over 225 excited attendees arriving for an afternoon and evening of entertainment.
The men’s 2s were without their home game last Saturday when Nuneaton cried off. They are off to Syston this week for round 2 of their league programme. The colts, who lost at Newport on Sunday, go to Stourbridge on Sunday. The boys’ fixtures have already started, the 16s beat Telford and there are more games to enjoy this coming Sunday, home and away.
The women/girls rugby starts in earnest this week. The women’s Red team, still at level 3, go to Bury Foxes for their first outing, whilst the Green team face Rugby Lionesses at level 4. There are also friendlies for the girls’ age groups 12,