Lichfield U15’s v Rugeley U15’s – Friendly Match – 24th October 2021

Chief Reporter: Will Parker

KO 11:10am – Playing on the 2nd Team pitch the ground was soft under foot, and Lichfield played towards the Club House in the first half into a headwind

As with last week against Wolverhampton it was a fairly quiet start to the game until…

6 mins – Try to Rugeley, after some sustained pressure in the 22, and with Lichfield unable to clear their lines, Rugeley had a 5m scrum which the number 8 picked up and crashed over to the right of the posts
Conversion successful

13 mins – Try to Lichfield, a penalty awarded was quickly taken and ‘trucked up’ by Fin Freeman, ball was recycled from a ruck in centre field and Charlie Semple broke tackles in midfield to run in from 60m to score under the posts
Conversion successful by Kyran Wiles (who was on £2 a point from his Dad this week as an incentive!!)

25 mins – Lichfield try after sustained pressure in the Rugeley 22 the ball was again recycled by the Lichfield pack where Zach Parker took the ball 10m out to crash over for the score
Conversion off the post but successful by Kyran Wiles

27 mins – Rugeley try, from the kick off after Lichfield’s 2nd score they ran back into traffic and lost the ball, after 2 phases of play Rugeley 2nd Row scored in the far right hand corner
Conversion unsuccessful

Half time Lichfield 14 - 12 Rugeley

31 mins – The ball was recycled by Lichfield from the restart and fed wide to Ollie Nicholl who was just bundled into touch a few metres short of the try line after a determined run

34 mins – Try to Lichfield, lineout was secured by Lichfield and the ball moved along the backs where again it was recycled from the ruck and moved back along the backs (great continuity and rucking!), the ball was picked up by Fin Freeman at this ruck and driven back into the Rugeley defence where it was secured by Josh Burton who dived over from 5m out, Josh’s first score for Lichfield, first of many hopefully – well done mate, a reward for your consistent hard work!
Conversion unsuccessful

45 mins – Lichfield try, good strong running from the team, with great ball retention and the ball was moved out into the centre where Charlie Semple ran in from 22m out to score under the posts
Conversion successful by Kyran Wiles

48 mins – Lichfield try, after 2 x quick tap penalties and some strong running by Fin Freeman, Fynn Ward secured the ball and scored to the right hand side of the posts

Conversion successful by Kyran Wiles

50 mins – Lichfield try, another fantastic team try with the ball going through several pairs of hands from the scrum, from the subsequent ruck Lichfield recycled the ball quickly and Leni Payne showing great strength, broke several tackles from the Rugeley 22m line to force his way over to the right hand side of the posts.
Conversion successful by Kyran Wiles

55 mins – Lichfield try, after a scrum to the left hand side of the field, and a no 8 pick-up, the ball was recycled in centre field and moved back out along the backs for Will Fox to score 5m’s in from the touch line
Conversion unsuccessful
Final score Lichfield 43 – 12 Rugeley

Great performance from the lads today, a really good team effort with some quality Rugby on display, this performance was in stark contrast to last week against Wolverhampton so well done all involved in switching it on. Today saw 7 tries scored by 6 different players which is evidence of the teamwork that was shown, and equally as satisfying was the second half Rugeley shut out, whilst the attack was great, we were only able to be so dominant because of our defence – it wins games, so well done lads!

Oh, and by my reckoning you owe Kyran a tenner Pete!