Kings Norton U15’s v Lichfield U15’s – Friendly Match – 17th December 2021

From Chief Rugby Correspondent Will Parker.

Match under Floodlights

KO 7:32pm – Lichfield playing left to right from the Clubhouse side in the first half, Kings Norton kick off. Weather cold and quite foggy

8 mins –Lichfield Try, after a penalty was awarded to Lichfield Chaz Vernon launched a huge kick to touch which gave Lichfield a line out 5m from the Kings Norton line. A driving maul was set from the line out, ruck was then set up by Teddy Roberts, the ball recycled and passed by Matt Allen to Ruben Slack who saw a gap and darted through it to score to the right hand side of the posts. This was the first time Lichfield had possession and the first time they had been in the Kings Norton half!

Conversion unsuccessful

13 mins – Try to Kings Norton, after Lichfield had won their scrum and elected to kick into the Kings Norton half, the ball was fielded by the winger who went on an arcing run across the pitch to eventually outstrip the covering Lichfield defence and score under the posts

Conversion successful

End of first 15 minute period. Kings Norton 7 – 5 Lichfield

17 mins – Lichfield try, after some sustained pressure by Lichfield with good ball recycling and presentation the ball was moved away from the breakdown through the hands to Chaz Vernon in the centre who stepped back in off his left foot to break several tacklers and score under the posts

Conversion Successful

30 mins – Lichfield try, after great lichfield pressure in the Kings Norton 22 they were forced to kick for touch but fell short, the ball was collected by Charlie Semple who drove the ball back into the middle of the field where it was recycled by the forwards, the ball was then moved left through the hands where we recycled again at the ruck, the ball popped out of this ruck and was picked up by Will Beard who ran in strongly from 20m out to score under the posts, super continuity and another great team try!

Half Time. Kings Norton 7 – 19 Lichfield

34 mins – Lichfield try, after Kings Norton spilled the ball in the centre Lichfield regathered and moved the ball through the hands to Charlie Semple who took the ball on half way, handed 2 would be tacklers off and rounded the defence to score under the posts

Conversion successful by Lucas Laing

52 mins – Kings Norton try, the details of which escape me I’m sorry….suffice to say though, Kings Norton never gave up and were a well drill and organised team and probably deserved this try for their efforts!

Conversion successful

Final score Kings Norton 14 – 26 Lichfield

With a few exceptions this was a great squad effort by the Lichfield boys tonight. The Coaches asked the 22 boys available to each step onto the pitch fired up and to ensure intensity levels were high - which they duly did setting the tempo for the whole game.

It was a great end to the year which has been a really pleasing year, we’ve come on immeasurably Boys, but we’re still a work in progress and need the same commitment levels from you again after Christmas, you’ll get this commitment in return from the Coaches.

Tonight you were all on your game, you played as a team going through your processes at the set pieces, moving the ball from contact swiftly, were organised in doing this and you showed great continuity. The pressure you exerted every time Kings Norton had the ball was the key tonight, you forced them into mistakes, they were always looking for the tackle and you intimidated them boys, they seemed to lose confidence so we need to reproduce this in every game.

As a whole squad your togetherness and camaraderie are evident, you play for one another which is fantastic to see, you should be very proud of yourselves, I know I speak for the Coaches and Parents when I say how proud we are of you all it’s a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of this set up, roll on 2022!

Enjoy your Christmas’ one and all, and Happy New Year too