MATCH REPORT | MEN’S 1st XV | SATURDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2023

MATCH REPORT | MEN’S 1st XV | SATURDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2023
REGIONAL 2 MIDLANDS NORTH (ROUND 7)
LICHFIELD 33 | 10 NEWARK

As the old adage goes, this was a game of two halves. In the first, Lichfield dominated their visitors in all phases of play – backs and forwards alike – but the second period became bogged down in mediocrity with neither side able to invest the energy required to generate some momentum to take the match back to the required level. Lichfield, however, move on with a comfortable win earning them five points – job done !
After the storms of the day before, the match was played in almost ideal conditions with the pitch in wonderful condition (well done to Mr Skidmore and his team), so the scene was set for the players to entertain all the sponsors attending their annual luncheon. The meaningful action was immediate. Newark kicked out on the full, Lichfield broke blind from the resultant scrum and David Mott made ground to within 10 metres of the try line before hauled down. Two quick rucks ensued and top scorer, Rich Burton, was over, all within the first minute. Kai Lucas-Dumolo added the first of his three conversions.
On 14 minutes, Newark replied with a try from a maul 5 metres out, Mattie Ashton was at the bottom of the pile of the bodies – no conversion. Within two minutes, Lichfield were back in the ascendancy and Freddie Wilson timed his dart for the line off a ruck just right to give the visitor’s defence no chance. Shortly afterwards, Lichfield were mixing their play between forwards and backs well enough to stretch the Newark rearguard and Lucas-Dumolo finished with aplomb in the left corner. The confidence from having a lead of 19-5 gave the city side the opportunity to play some decent rugby for the rest of the half, despite being down to 14 men for ten minutes after one high tackle too many.
The final (converted) try of the half was scored by Kieran Reynolds, with a nonchalant dummy included, which bought him the room to sprint over from the ’22’ line. This sealed the game for the home side (26-5) and from the second half play, this was registered in the players’ minds seemingly.
It took a further 15 minutes for Lichfield to score their final try. Newark fancied their chances of running the ball from their own line, but stern defence stopped them in their tracks and Wilson grabbed his second of the afternoon under the posts. A further yellow card for Lichfield hindered their ability to control the next phase of the game and Newark gained some confidence from scrum half James Tarbutt sniping over from close range.
Neither side could find the ‘’necessary’’ to finish the game on a high, so proceedings petered out rather meekly in this first ever contest between the two clubs. There is no league game this coming Saturday, which leads us nicely into our top of the table clash at Long Eaton on 4 November, kick off 2.15pm. Their ground is in West Park in Long Eaton, postcode NG10 4AA – let’s get there in numbers, please.
The 2s are due to play at Stafford in a friendly this weekend. The 3s beat Walsall on Saturday and are at Rugeley (2nds) – both 3:00pm.
On Sunday, there was a double home victory to celebrate over Silhillians. The women’s Green team has become the only unbeaten side in their league with their 40 point success and the colts engineered a much needed fillip for themselves winning 31-8.

REPORT C/O Dave Lewis