MATCH REPORT | LICHFIELD 17 | 12 LONG EATON

MATCH REPORT | MEN’S 1st XV | SATURDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2023
REGIONAL 2 MIDLANDS NORTH (ROUND 8)
LICHFIELD 17 | 12 LONG EATON

Wow ! This was a proper game of rugby……………and a proper contest between two closely matched, well drilled and very competent sides and any of the three possible results could have occurred, with Long Eaton’s last desperate attack failing with a loose pass to touch. Lichfield, whose defence and breakdown work had been top drawer all afternoon, held out after a late rally from the visitors to claim four points to Long Eaton’s one and I believe anyone present on Saturday at a very damp Cooke Fields will look forward to the return match on 17 February.
The visitors had long periods of dominance – territorial and possession – in the first half, the orchestra was admirably conducted by the influential Murray McConnell – ex Glasgow Warriors and Nottingham - at scrum half (head coach as well), who directed play effortlessly and helped them to a 12-0 interval lead. It really should have been more, but Lichfield scrambled well in their red zone when it mattered. The home side had limited ball to play with and when they did, they kicked hurriedly and with little purpose, Long Eaton just ran it back to the danger zone. For 38 minutes, Lichfield did not venture into the ‘’virgin’’ territory beyond the 10 metre line at the scoreboard end.
Whatever was exactly said at half time, and I understand it was kept simple, it worked. Injuries removed Danny Griffin and Sam Benson from the field, replaced by Cal Hagyard and Ollie Green respectively, and the whole dynamics of the side were different. Lichfield slowly tightened their grip on the game and the key period was between minutes 50 and 65. In that space, the home side claimed three tries, as the weather worsened and players had to limit their ambitions.
Just as it looked like the city side were going to struggle to find a way through the Long Eaton rearguard, Harvey Wootton picked a perfect line as he strode through their midfield and under the posts for the first try, Kai Lucas-Dumolo converting. Game on !
Lichfield continued to control the contest. The backs were not excluded from the attacks and Long Eaton were getting stretched and the next try came from Tom Day in his favourite corner by the clubhouse. Soon after, try number three was being scored in that same corner by Josh Butler, who had come through a testing first half with his head held high, appearing outside Day and finishing with a neat step inside.
Inevitably, Long Eaton were not going to lie down and that green area – the pitch was in great nick after all the rain - at the scoreboard end was visited more regularly. By now, the rain was teeming down, but credit to all the players as the handing remained secure. A few penalties went the Long Eaton way, with the inevitable kick to the corner, but Lichfield marshalled themselves for one big effort, successfully, to hold out for a key victory that leaves them 8 points clear of the visitors, who have a game in hand.
Earlier, Long Eaton’s opening try inevitably had McConnell’s stamp on it, a quick penalty and then a lofted pass to the unmarked #6, Matt Sanderson. Guess what? McConnell converted it from the touch line. Ten minutes later, the Long Eaton pack had just too much ball and momentum and hooker, Matt Freer, proved unstoppable from short range, but they were then scoreless for the last hour of this entertaining match.
A full set of results from the weekend will appear shortly on our social media. The men’s 2s won at Nuneaton for a first league success by 33-26, the ladies’ Red and Green teams maintained their winning starts to the season with respective victories over Sutton by 45-5 and Burton 69-0. The colts, however, lost at Bridgnorth by one score in their latest league fixture.
On this coming Saturday, which is Past Players’ day, the men’s 1st XV are at home again, facing Melbourne with a 2:15pm KO. The 2s are also at home to Syston.

WEEKEND RESULTS
FRIDAY 3RD NOVEMBER
SUTTON COLDFIELD LADIES 05 | 45 LICHFIELD LADIES 1XV
SATURDAY 4TH NOVEMBER
LICHFIELD 1XV 17 | 12 LONG EATON 1XV
NUNEATON 2XV 26 | 33 LICHFIELD 2XV

SUNDAY 5TH NOVEMBER
LADIES 2XV LICHFIELD LADIES 00 | 69 BURTON LADIES 2XV
COLTS - BRIDGNORTH COLTS 26 | 19 LICHFIELD COLTS
U16 - HINKLEY V LICHFIELD P-P
U15 - LICHFIELD V NEWPORT P-P
U14 - LICHFIELD 15 | 10 SUTTON COLDFIELD
U13 - LONGTON 05 | 35 V LICHFIELD