MATCH REPORT

LICHFIELD 22 WEST BRIDGFORD (‘’WB’’) 28 PTS
MEN’S 1st XV – REGIONAL 2 MIDLANDS NORTH (rearranged ROUND 11)

Whilst Lichfield tasted defeat for the first time this season at home, both sides contributed to an interesting and enjoyable afternoon of rugby played in the right spirit and at a pace lacking in a number of games in this league so far. The pitch had thawed out and was in great nick, as always.
West Bridgford were well organised, disciplined and had a more clinical edge to their game and seemed to be able to score just when they needed to keep Lichfield at arm’s length. It helped that they scored early (inside ten minutes) and protected their lead throughout. Their half time lead of 12 to 5 was stretched very quickly to 20-5 against the breeze and later it went to 25-12 before a lateish Lichfield rally, which earned them two bonus points. A Houdini escape never looked likely.
Lichfield, who fielded close to the strongest available line up, played well, but could not quite discover their ‘A’ game and found the visitor’s scrambling defence difficult to break down for long periods. Bits of their performance were a bit clunky, whereas Bridgford’s was smoother throughout – their WD40 had obviously worked. To be truly reflective and honest, the home side’s one on one tackling was not good enough when playing against a team in form – with six straight wins before this game – this was their biggest downfall on the day.
There were no stars in the WB side, however, their centre partnership of Ryan O’Connor and Euan Murray caused Lichfield problems throughout. The former had that ‘’je ne sais quoi’’ quality to do the right things at the right moment and Murray was the beneficiary with three tries. The first of these came on 9 minutes when O’Connor’s beautifully timed pass put Murray clear 35 metres out and he went over untouched, with Calum Gunn converting. His boot was not perfect off the tee, but was most useful in open play.
Lichfield responded well and most of their forward play went as planned. They had a couple of forward drives stopped close to the WB line – legally? – before they opened their account. Ironically, the visitors stole a Lichfield line out throw, but untidily, and captain, Charlie Milner, gobbled it up and scored with ease after 23 minutes. The 7-5 score line stayed in situ until just before half time and captain and full back, Jay Heath, scored in the corner when WB reacted quicker than Lichfield’s D to a penalty award five metres out. Lichfield could have replied right on 40 minutes, however, the chance went begging with Milner’s pass going to ground.
At the start of the second half, Lichfield were soon on the attack, but were repelled. Bridgford (aka O’Connor) were quickly testing Lichfield and they (Gunn) gratefully accepted three points when Lichfield were offside. Two minutes later, Murray was put through a gap 30 metres out and he finished with aplomb. Lichfield took their punishment well enough and within ten minutes, they worked David Mott clear and he scored for the third consecutive game, as usual, right by the corner flag (12-20).
WB once again did enough good things and, yes it was Murray, who exploited a gap to score wide out with fifteen minutes to go. Whether it was all desire, or whether there were signs of the visitors starting to tire, Lichfield managed to keep themselves in the game with Paul Maxwell-Keys finding a gap in a slightly disorganised WB defence.
When Bridgford launched their next attack, they were granted another penalty in front of the posts and Gunn put the game to bed. There was still time for the home side to score from a quick penalty with Ollie Green plunging over for his first of the campaign, after a Ditch Burton drive, for try number 4, which also brought them to within 7 points for the second bonus point.
That was the final meaningful action, so Lichfield now move on to another home game this coming Saturday against Wolverhampton at 2:15pm. They remain second in the league with Long Eaton not playing and Paviors losing by one point at Tamworth, so both Bridgford and Tamworth are just nine point from top spot with seven games to go, although Long Eaton do have a game in hand on the other four.
The only other men’s action featured the colts winning away 24-17 against second placed Stafford and they move up to fourth with a 50/50 playing record. Bournville cried off the 2s game at Cooke Fields. On Sunday, the U16s continued their good season with a home victory (20-12) against Kenilworth.
The women’s Green team (2s) kept their unbeaten record intact with a 25-15 away win at top side, Old Silhillians, on Sunday afternoon. They remain third in the league, one point behind ‘’Sills’’, however, with two games in hand; Rugby Lionesses are second on equal points to ‘’Lich’’ having played one game more and with a visit to Cooke Fields still to come. So, there are still positive vibes in the women’s camp of both the Red and Green team going one place better in the league than last season in year 150.

Finally, please view the great action shots from the WB game on our social media, thank you to Jim Wall as ever. https://www.lichfieldrufc.com/photos

In addition, a few clubhouse comments last Saturday evening – ‘’better to play in a good game like that, even if we lose’’ – ‘’need to find a way to play better when we have gone a long way to emptying the tank the week before’’ – ‘’at least he now won’t have to do the run around the pitch at the players’ dinner’’ !!

WEEKEND RESULTS
SATURDAY 20th JANUARY
LICHFIELD 1XV | LICHFIELD 1XV V WEST BRIDGFORD 1XV (ROUND 11) 22 | 28
SUNDAY 21ST JANUARY
LADIES 2XV | SILHILIANS LADIES V LICHFIELD LADIES 2XV 15 | 25
COLTS | STAFFORD V LICHFIELD 17 | 24
UNDER 13 BOYS | LICHFIELD V BARTON UNDER NEEDWOOD 20 | 10
UNDER 16 BOYS | LICHFIELD V KENILWORTH 22 | 14