Bournville consolidated their position at the top of Regional1 Midlands, following a hard earned victory, leaving Lichfield to rue their missed opportunities.

Despite the fine weather, both 1st & 2nd team pitches were deemed to be unplayable after prolonged overnight rain. The match went ahead on the 3rd team pitch, a smaller and sloping pitch, negating the host’s home advantage, against a team coming into the game as the League’s leading scorers, also meanest defence.

Lichfield had first advantage of the slope and the early phases saw both defences on top as each team probed for openings. A lost lineout and subsequent ruck infringement by Lichfield allowed the visitors to gain a foothold on the home side’s 22. Lichfield’s defence held firm against a succession of close quarter pick and drives, but the pressure eventually told as Bournville moved the ball wide, creating space, with a neat offload by the visitor’s centre sending his right wing over in the corner. The conversion was successful.

Bournville continued to press from the restart as Lichfield struggled to breakthrough their opponent’s defence. After 19 minutes Bournville, a little fortuitously, extended their lead. Lichfield, through Tyler Moseley, had cleared their lines well up to half way, resulting in a line out to the visitors. Bournville again attacked strongly up the right but Lichfield’s cover defence was good, leading to a speculative kick ahead into the host’s 22. The bounce of the ball eluded Lichfield’s players, also the first Bournville player up in support. However, their right wing was on hand to pounce on the loose ball over the line. The conversion extended the visitor’s lead to 14 points.

The second quarter saw Lichfield come into the game more. Pressure at the scrum, and in the loose led to a succession of penalties, but Lichfield were unable to translate this into points as the visitors held firm. The sides went into half-time with Bournville leading 14-0 and the benefit of the slope second half.

Lichfield started the second half powerfully, threatening Bournville’s line with a succession of pick and drives, but couldn’t breach their opponent’s defence. Despite this onslaught, it was Bournville who added to their lead totally against the run of play. A Lichfield move broke down on half way and Bournville were first to react to the loose ball. They kicked through, with Lichfield’s cover stretched from the attacking phase. Bournville’s pacy right wing was on hand to gather the ball and outstrip Lichfield’s defence to score under the posts and complete his hat-trick.

From a promising position, Lichfield found themselves 21-0 down after only 7 minutes of the second half.

Lichfield rang the changes with all three replacements coming on after 50 minutes. However, it was Bournville who maintained pressure and added to their lead on 55 minutes. Lichfield were unable to clear their lines, losing possession and resulting in a scrum to Bournville. They attacked down their favoured right side and a Lichfield infringement led to a ‘free ball’. Changing the line of attack left, Bournville’s backs created space for their left wing to round the defence and score wide out. The conversion was unsuccessful, but the visitors now led 26-0.

Lichfield dug deep and put together a series of quick ‘trademark’ phases, pushing Bournville back into scrambling defence. From inside the 22, the ball was moved wide right and replacement Michael Turner was on hand to finish off a flowing passage of play. Henry Nevitt narrowly missed the difficult conversion.

Lichfield pressed hard to narrow the gap. The penalty count against Bournville rose as the pressure increased, leading to a yellow card on 72 minutes for repeated infringements. A passage of slick passing and powerful driving ended with Lichfield being held up in a maul 5m short of the line. However, from the resultant scrum, Lichfield won a turnover as Bournville attempted to clear their lines. Lichfield moved the ball wide at pace, stretching the Bournville defence and Tyler Moseley took advantage of a well worked overlap to race over. Nevitt added the points, closing the gap to 14 points on 76 minutes.

Lichfield couldn’t add to their score and it was the League leaders who had the final say. A clever kick and follow up forced Lichfield to touch down in goal, leading to an attacking 5m scrum. Bournville held the Lichfield drive and their No. 8 picked up from the base and crashed over near the posts for the closing converted try.

Lichfield made Bournville work hard for their win and territorially the match was even. Greater composure inside their opponent’s 22 may have put a different complexion on the outcome for the Myrtle Greens.

The crowd, boosted by Lichfield’s sponsors, went home having seen an entertaining contest.

Report by Martyn Gabbitass