Lichfield’s unbeaten run came to a halt on Saturday at Paviors’ ground in Arnold on a dark and damp afternoon, mainly because the home side had too much firepower and experience for the understrength Lichfield pack. Like Lichfield, Paviors were relegated last season from level 5 and seem to have maintained their side intact, which showed ever increasingly as they controlled possession and territory and presented the city side with several humps in the road to negotiate. The result was decided by five tries to three, two of which were scored out wide to prove they were not just a one trick pony.
The Paviors scrum is, by reputation, the best in this league and they slowly gained the upper hand (without total domination) and they successfully put pressure on the Lichfield line out, which has been so very steady all season. The Lichfield backs consequently were on limited rations and quite often they could not generate front foot ball, yet they still played with enough pace to cause problems to the home defence, which featured in all three scores.
Both sides eyed each other very carefully for the first ten minutes with no hint of a score and thereafter, even with more possession, Paviors did not pose too much of a threat for 25 minutes. Pressure mounted, however, and George Billam – a wily and competitive number 10 with bags of experience – finally crept through a gap in midfield to open the scoring, which he converted.
Lichfield responded very positively for the rest of the half, with more ball, testing the home defence with the ruck speed they were generating. David Mott squeezed in the corner to open their account and Adam Spinner converted this and then kicked a straighforward penalty. Phil Eggleshaw, another of the effective carriers in the Paviors pack, restored the home lead after a Lichfield line out went awry, Billam adding the extras, but back came Lichfield for the remainder of the half. Unfortunately, there was no tangible gain for some serious pressure, so the half ended 14-10.
The opening ten minutes of the second half were all good news for Paviors and effectively decided the match. Lichfield lost possession 40 metres out and Paviors quickly worked the ball out to the wing and Will Taylor, now playing on the left wing, scored in the corner. Soon after, Paviors were on the attack again and forward pressure created a 2nd try for Eggleshaw in the same corner, the extras came from Billam to take it to 26-10.
There was now a danger that the home side were going to run away with the game, but Lichfield found some much needed momentum and a series of quick rucks granted Cal Turner the chance to score by the posts, Spinner converting. There was then a period of stalemate, as the two sides eyed each other up again - very carefully, trying to get the crucial upper hand.
A disappointing defensive read granted Paviors their fifth try with Morgan Jones benefiting from a simple inside pass, yet Lichfield still went searching for a bonus point and, in the last few seconds, Kieran Higgins grabbed another try. Spinner’s conversion got lost in the driving rain, which had now descended on a dank afternoon in Nottingham, so there was no losing nor try bonus.
Hemo and his coaching team now have a fortnight to realign the troops and find some fit players, the next game being a HOME one against West Bridgford on 2 December at 2:15pm.
The women’s 1st XV maintained top spot in their league by defeating 2nd placed Hitchin by 39-7 with a splendid performance in the last 20 minutes of the game, Lucrezia Lavarone scored two tries and won the player of the match from the home side. Next Sunday, the women face Sheffield at home at 2:15 in the next round of the national Intermediate cup. The colts defeated Tamworth 28-12 in a friendly, also on Sunday afternoon.

Match Report c/o Dave Lewis
WEEKEND RESULTS
SATURDAY 18TH NOVEMBER
PAVIORS 1XV V LICHFIELD 1XV 31 | 22

Match details

Match date

Sat 18 Nov 2023

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

Regional 2 Midlands North

League position

Lichfield

Paviors

Team overview

MATCH REPORT | MEN’S 1ST XV | SATURDAY 18TH NOVEMBER 2023

PAVIORS 31 | 22 LICHFIELD

Match details

Match date

Kickoff

Competition

League position

Team Sponsors