Sat 18 Mar 2023, 15:00
Bridgnorth welcomed old rivals Dudley Kingswinford to the Edgar Davies Ground for a hotly anticipated local derby which potentially had more riding on it than local bragging rights. Dudley, having spent most of the season on top of the table were eyeing promotion to National League 2 West but Bridgnorth were the only team left in the league who could overtake them for the title. The EDG had the largest crowd of the season and credit must go to Dudley for bringing a coach of supporters to the pre-match lunch. Supporters from both clubs filled the ground to add to the atmosphere.
The game started well for the home side; a penalty was kicked to the twenty-two-metre line but the lineout was overthrown. Dudley responded and kicked their own penalty for a ten-metre-lineout, the ball was distributed to their talented backs and a missed tackle in the Bridgnorth centres allowed the away side to cross for an unconverted try.
Bridgnorth restarted the game well and fine play by second row Morgan French regained the kick off for the home side. Dudley then came offside in the backs and Bridgnorth kicked for the five-metre lineout when some supporters were calling for the three-point penalty to be kicked. The problems with the Bridgnorth lineout persisted as two successive lineouts were lost. A knock-on by Dudley allowed Bridgnorth back into the game and with their scrum on top, the home side went through the phases and flanker Loti Molitika rounded off the move to score the try under a pile of bodies. Elliot Murphy with the conversion.
The game continued at pace, and with the Bridgnorth scrum dominating their supporters were mystified when the referee penalised the home scrum. Dudley’s backs again worked a good overlap but the ball was kicked straight into touch, Elliot Murphy then stepped forward to kick a penalty for Bridgnorth from near his own halfway line. Dudley responded and kicked a penalty for a five-metre lineout, again their backs spread the ball and their left winger crossed for a converted try. The first half remained an evenly matched battle between the sides, the home side defence being led by scrum-half Gareth Bladen with some fierce tackles. The deadlock was broken by the home side’s second row Tom Foster who showed extraordinary pace to break through the Dudley line and run almost half the length of the field while handing off a would-be tackler for a try converted by Murphy.
Bridgnorth maintained their good defence, with full-back Will Biddell clearing the ball well to keep out the visitors. Another scrum penalty to Dudley when the home side was advancing (albeit wheeling) still had supporters scratching their heads. The away side’s cause was not helped when a penalty kick to the corner went the wrong side of the corner flag for a dead ball. A turnover penalty to Bridgnorth allowed them to close out the first half with the score 17-12.
The second half got underway with the Bridgnorth team showing admirable focus and intent, after a series of set piece penalties to both sides, the home side were able to kick a penalty for the five-metre lineout when again a penalty kick would have given them an eight-point lead. The lineout was won and then Bridgnorth hooker Nick Selway showed great power and pace to drive over for a try with the Dudley tacklers unable to stop him. The conversion was missed but the home side now had a ten-point lead.
Bridgnorth kept up their intensity and with their scrum in control, Dudley were reduced to fourteen men with a yellow card. Another scrum allowed Gareth Bladen to show calm authority to distribute the ball to Adam Ellis on the right wing who crossed for the bonus point try, this was converted by Murphy to almost put the home side out of sight.
The home side continued to dominate the exchanges and looked to be closing out the game, however Dudley managed to kick the ball through for an unconverted try in the corner and when Connor Nicholls was sent to the sin-bin the away side were chasing the losing bonus point. The home side retained their control of the game and contained the away side with excellent defence. When the ball was kicked into touch for the final whistle the Bridgnorth players, staff and supporters rejoiced in victory.
This was perhaps Bridgnorth’s finest home performance of the season, the outstanding commitment of the players in the second half nullified the threat of a Dudley team who had beaten Bridgnorth 44-10 in October. Massive congratulations must go to the squad and management for winning every home league game of the season and maintaining ‘the fortress’ at the EDG.
Dudley Kingswinford now require three points to guarantee promotion and a home game next week versus tenth placed Broadstreet should see them over the line. Bridgnorth travel to Kenilworth for a difficult game against talented opponents. It will be very interesting to see the positions of Bridgnorth and Dudley Kingswinford in the league table at the end of the afternoon.
Match Photos taken by Robert Nicholls - BRFC Facebook Page - CLICK HERE!
