Sat 16 Sep 2023
Bridgnorth welcomed Bromsgrove to the Edgar Davies Ground and their travelling support joined approximately 250 Bridgnorth supporters for the ex-players lunch in the marquee. This is a stellar occasion in the club calendar, very well organised by Simon Pennington and gave many old friends the opportunity to reunite over lunch, during the game and afterwards watching Wales v Portugal.
Both sides started the game well, new fullback Matt Needham giving Bridgnorth good ‘exits’ with fine clearing kicks. After the early exchanges, the home side earned a penalty at the scrum and kicked for a ten-metre lineout. Several strong forward drives followed and their patience was rewarded with number eight Loti Molitika crashing over for the opening try, converted by Elliot Murphy.
Bromsgrove worked their way into the game and their inside centre kicked two penalties after Bridgnorth quickly conceded at the restarts. The away side followed this up with their own try from a set piece, their left wing showing real pace to round the Bridgnorth defence and then pass inside for their captain and full-back to score a converted try.
The restart was well taken by Bridgnorth and Murphy took the ball on himself and then converted a penalty to bring the scores back to a three-point difference. The home side and support were then frustrated for the rest of the first half as they failed to convert their chances into scores. The referee penalised both sides for scrum offences and when Bridgnorth kicked a penalty for a fifteen-metre lineout, the referee ruled it not straight. The Bridgnorth front row of captain Jonah Boyce, hooker Nick Selway and George Newman had a real battle with the opposing front row but also seemed to fall foul of the referee’s judgement of scrum offences. This battle overheated at one flashpoint and Selway and the Bromsgrove prop were sent to the bin for ten minutes.
Bromsgrove then missed a penalty goal attempt from inside their own half, Elliot Murphy struck the ball well from the restart twenty-two dropout and the first half ended with Bridgnorth on the offensive but wing Jordan Burgess being tackled into touch. The score at half time was 10-16.
The home side started the second half well; however, a good series of forwards drives were ended first by a knock-on and then a penalty to Bromsgrove after they turned over the ball. The penalty was taken quickly by the away side and the ball was quickly passed to their right winger who raced through under the posts for a converted try and thirteen-point lead.
The home side continued to be on the wrong side of some of the referee’s decisions, a penalty was kicked to the line for a twenty-two-metre lineout and Bridgnorth established a good drive towards the line, the drive appeared to be collapsed by the opposition but they were awarded the scrum. Undeterred, the home side attacked again and Luis Evitt broke through for an unconverted try to bring Bridgnorth right back into the game.
Bromsgrove certainly had their kicking boots on and after a good restart, the away side’s fullback picked up the Bridgnorth clearance and put in a long kick for a ‘50:22’ lineout. The home side defended the lineout well and the ball came to Jordan Burgess who broke away and seemed to be heading towards the line but was hauled down with an excellent cover tackle. Bridgnorth then put in their own 50:22 kick and attacked towards their vocal home support, however, the referee again awarded a scrum to the away side.
The home side’s scrum began to assert dominance and a scrum near the opposition line was reset three times, when they were awarded the penalty Bridgnorth opted to scrum again but the referee then penalised the home side at the next collapse. The home side did not let this dampen their enthusiasm and they again drove towards the opposition line; George Newman received the ball and with an arcing run, outpaced the away defence to score a wonderful try which was very well converted by Murphy.
After the restart, the home side again had a lineout on the opposition twenty-two metre line, and this was followed by another penalty kick to the line, however the away side were able to turnover the ball for a penalty. Bromsgrove then controlled the ball well and wound the clock down, they kicked the ball into touch as the referee blew the final whistle (also deciding not to play any injury time in the second half.) The final score was Bridgnorth 22-23 Bromsgrove.
Congratulations must go to Bromsgrove for their victory, they managed the game (and the referee) very well. For Bridgnorth, it was a case of what might have been. They will hope to pick up a win on the road next week against Broadstreet who have yet to win this season.
