MATCH REPORT

MATCH REPORT
WEST BRIDGFORD 36 | 39 LICHFIELD
MEN’S 1st XV – REGIONAL 2 MIDLANDS NORTH (ROUND 21) SATURDAY 23RD MARCH 2024

The reverse fixture in January was good, this match was even better. West Bridgford and Lichfield enjoy similar philosophies on playing league rugby and are currently very evenly matched with both results being decided by less than one score. The away side in both outings has been just that bit smarter and more accurate to win the day. The two sides started on Saturday as the league’s highest scorers with, coincidentally, the meanest defences, so the two ‘’attack coaches’’ will have slept better on Saturday night with eleven tries in total scored – all five from Lichfield were scored by forwards.
The Lichfield 18 man selection was much more fresh faced than usual, with six players aged 21 and under and Ben Bourne was on debut. All fronted up well, as did the ‘’new’’ oldies in the side in an entertaining and then, ultimately, exciting game, with all three results possible right to the final whistle. As you will see below, this was a weekend of tight score lines for the club’s sides, all the key ones were in Lichfield’s favour – such an important skill to manage games late on and keep fighting.
The city side were patient throughout and did not try to over play, they knew when to kick and they kicked and they knew when to run and they ran. Keeping it simple was key, especially in the second half when they had the wind advantage, and there were some mature individual performances in this impressive team effort.
The game began ominously badly for Lichfield, as they lost early possession too easily around their ‘’22’’. Bridgford soon had a scrum close in and Rob Bell, one of their key forwards, pounded the Lichfield line almost single handed and eventually captain, Jay Heath, twisted over for try number one after two minutes. Calum Gunn converted, one of only three all afternoon, on a rare off day for him in more ways than one. Lichfield responded positively with both the line out and scrums solid and the result was a sixth minute try for Rory Davis, his first of the campaign. Kai Lucas-Dumolo added the extras, his contribution for the day included four from five conversions and two crucial second half penalties.
With possession, both sides looked threatening. So, not surprisingly, each side added to their tally before the end of the first quarter, Josh Schofield-Shaw for the hosts and Jack Dace from a very efficiently driven line out for the visitors. For the next ten minutes, Lichfield’s intensity just dropped off and as a result they conceded fourteen points with Alex Smit (scrum half) and Bell scoring from close range. Another home score up to half time could have been a match decider, but Adam Spinner regrouped his side well and they finished the half competitively, yet 26-14 down.
It only took four 2nd half minutes for Lichfield to gather momentum on the scoreboard. Cal Turner broke through the home defence on their ‘’22’’ following some quickly recycled possession and it was Freddie Wilson, at his nuggety best, who was on hand to finish it off. Game on.
Bridgford’s error count mounted, as did their penalty count, as Lichfield harried them into spending more and more time in their own half. Owen Boxall, very sound in the ‘8’ role, gobbled up a poor home line out and dodged his way over with quick feet and four minutes later on the hour mark, Turner was the spare man out wide as Lichfield exploited a 14 man defence to lead 33-26. Five minutes later, more pressure on Bridgford ensued and another soft penalty allowed Lucas-Dumolo to slot a 30 metre penalty to seemingly give comfort to the Lichfield boys, now ten points clear.
West Bridgford were not finished, however, and for the first time in the second period, they started to play again – with more possession and more variety to their attacks. So, with ten minutes to go, they scored two quick fire (crucially unconverted) tries from prop, Owen Howells, and centre, Kai Lewis, with the visitors’ defence getting too stretched on both occasions. It was now 36-36 all.
Once again, Lichfield commendably bounced back and almost immediately won themselves another penalty in an attacking position, if wide out, and Lucas-Dumolo unerringly put his side back in front. There was still time for one last sortie from Bridgford, but Lichfield robbed them of possession at a line out five metres out for a deserved victory against a side with eleven victories from the past twelve games. The men’s 1st XV now visits Leek, who preserved their level 5 status last Saturday, on Good Friday at 13:00 hrs in the county cup semi final, their ground is at Altrad Park, ST13 7BJ.
Lichfield Ladies, on the back of winning their league last week, now have a final at Twickenham to look forward to – and we hope they will be joined there by as many club supporters as possible for this wonderful occasion and day out. This was achieved by beating Liverpool St Helens away 15-12 in the semi final of the national Papa Johns’ Intermediate cup. Both sides were unbeaten this season and comfortably, as a result, top of their leagues with massively positive points differences, in LSH’s case they had only conceded two league tries so far.
Harriet Roberts and Abbie Lamb scored first half tries for the visitors and the lead was stretched further by another Roberts try around the hour mark. To their credit, LSH bounced back with around ten minutes to go with their first try, which was quickly added to, to give the Lichfield side a very uneasy last few moments. They hung on in testing times, as they had to the week before against Old Albanians 2s to win their league, and the same side will be their opponents at Twickenham on Sunday, May 12th. There is no kick off time available as yet.
Ali Gale, Abbie Lamb and Lottie Bozon received the individual accolades, the team achieved the principle one on a historic day for LRUFC in year 150. Congratulations go to Fraser Goatcher and Kai Lucas-Dumolo as the lead coaches. The girls’ 14s team added to the female good news as they reached the county cup final by defeating Tamworth by 50 points to nil. The Green team (2s) are at home on 7 April, as well as the Red team (1s), in league action against Rugby Lionesses, with the winner of the game taking the league title, KO 2:30pm.
There was other action on Sunday. The colts made the long trek to Ledbury and sneaked a 12-8 league win, they have a county cup semi final against Longton at home on 14 April. The 16 group scored a late try at Sutton to maintain their unbeaten season, winning 24-19.
Report c/o Dave Lewis
Photos c/o Nigel Lord and Sophie Grew