Sat 1 Apr 2023
Bridgnorth welcomed Wimbledon to the Edgar Davies Ground (EDG) in the first game of the Papa Johns Mens Community Cup for Pool 3 of the Regional 1 Championship. Fine conditions after the rain in the week drew a good crowd to the EDG and there was an air of nervousness in the home support with the knowledge of the away side’s league record. Bridgnorth made a solid start to the game with a few players missing at this late stage of the season, an unfamiliar role saw Gareth Bladen start at fly-half with Michael Volaikisuva starting at scrum-half. Wimbledon made an early attack on the Bridgnorth line after kicking a penalty to five metres but the ball was knocked on. Bridgnorth’s powerful front row won the scrum after a couple of resets and full-back Will Biddell cleared the ball for a good exit.
Wimbledon continued to attack however and scored the game’s first try with a well worked overlap on the left putting their backs in for the converted try. The home side then kicked their own penalty for a five-metre lineout. Despite losing the lineout, the home side put the Wimbledon scrum under pressure and forced a knock-on. After a series of scrums, number eight Connor Nicholls managed to kick the ball over the line and ground it for the try, converted by Biddell. The high standard of play remained for the first half, Wimbledon’s attack being on top but Bridgnorth’s well-organised defence was up to the challenge. One such attack saw the away side’s talented right winger going for the line only to be stopped by Nicholls. The tackle was adjudged high and Wimbledon opted for the scrum, Bridgnorth forced the turnover and won the resulting penalty. Another good punt by Biddell cleared the lines. The lineout was again lost and this was a pattern for the match as a whole, perhaps the absence of Morgan French in the second row disrupting this part of the game for the home side.
The first half ended with Bridgnorth on the attack, Wimbledon then turned the ball over and put in a good 50:22 kick for their own lineout. Their attack was well defended with captain Jonah Boyce to the fore, his work rate and tackle count astonishing after the rigours of scrummaging. The half-time whistle went with the away side’s attack being held up over the home side’s line to the joy of the home crowd. The score at the halfway mark was 7-7.
The second half started with an early penalty to Wimbledon after a ‘no-arms’ tackle by Bridgnorth and the away side’s lively scrum half dummied his way through the home side’s defensive line and scooted over for a converted try. The restart by Bridgnorth was kicked deep into the Wimbledon half and they knocked the ball on attempting to run it out of defence. Bridgnorth attacked from the scrum and kicked the ball near to the Wimbledon line, their scrum-half was forced to carry the ball over resulting in a five-metre scrum to the home side. After more reset scrums, the forwards drove the ball towards the line and after a string of ‘pick & drives,’ captain Jonah Boyce grounded the ball for the try converted by Biddell to level the scores.
Bridgnorth renewed their attack and centre Manny Volaikisuva made a good break which was sustained by Nicholls, the home side won a penalty after the ball was illegally killed by the away side scrum-half who was sent to the sin-bin. The home side crossed the line but Jonah Boyce was unluckily held-up allowing the away side to clear with the drop-out. The ball was well returned by Biddell but a pop pass went astray and the away side then went on the attack. Bridgnorth’s defence held firm with good tackling in the centres by Ollie Neal and James Barham but the home side’s attack was frustrated by continuing problems with the line out. Wimbledon’s pressure was then turned into points after a set of pick & drives produced a converted try.
The away side’s attack was unrelenting and only a good tackle on the wing by substitute Jack Cole stopped another scoring opportunity. With Bladen back at scrum-half and Biddell playing at fly-half the Bridgnorth play had a solid look to it. Unfortunately, Wimbledon then charged down a clearing kick and their player grounded the ball for a converted try. With the score now 14-28, this could have been the death knell for the home side but this would have been to doubt their indomitable fighting spirit. The home side threw everything at their opponents and the forwards drove on towards the opposition line, the ball came to replacement prop Russ Gauden and the super-veteran gratefully dove over the line for the converted try.
The second half drew to a close with Wimbledon attacking the ‘away-end’ after stripping the ball from a spirited Bridgnorth attack. The home side were forced into defence again, fly-half Biddell now almost playing as an extra back row forward and throwing himself into tackles. The final whistle blew with the score 21-28.
Bridgnorth can take enormous pride from this performance against talented opponents. Their first defeat at the EDG since February 2022 might have been a different story had some of their normal processes worked better. The remainder of the season is uncertain for Bridgnorth with Colchester having withdrawn from the competition and Syston now not having a home game on the fixture card.
Match photos taken by Robert Nicholls on the clubs Facebook Page - CLICK HERE!!
