Sat 23 Sep 2023
Bridgnorth travelled to Broadstreet to play their familiar rivals in this league, the travelling supporters enjoying the hospitality of a pre-match buffet with their hosts in their impressive clubhouse.
Bridgnorth failed to gather the kick-off and Broadstreet were awarded the scrum, the ball was not controlled by the home side however and Gareth Bladen hacked the loose ball forwards. Broadstreet regained possession and the ball was passed to their outstanding right winger who broke through two tackles to score a converted try with two minutes on the clock leaving the Bridgnorth supporters in shock and awe.
Bridgnorth responded well and kicked a penalty to the lineout, the ball was overthrown but the away side controlled the ball and after a good series of drives, Luke Brough took the ball on well before returning wing Matt Burke showed good strength and stepping to score an unconverted try. The restart was again dropped by the away side and the home side cross-kicked to their right wing who again broke tackles before the ball went into touch.
If the Bridgnorth lineout was misfiring, the scrum was dominant (with the returning Joe Cave adding drive in the second row) and was a source of penalties all afternoon for the away side. One penalty was kicked to the corner for a five-metre lineout but the referee judged the throw-in not straight. After another attack, Matt Burke had to leave the field but Bridgnorth were fortunate to have James Barham on the subs bench for a like-for-like replacement. He immediately had his work cut out for him as the home right winger again broke through tackles for an unconverted try.
After another couple of lineout miscues, the away side earned a scrum penalty and after a series of these, James Barham broke through the home side defence and passed inside for fly-half Elliot Murphy to cross for the try on the occasion of his fiftieth cap for Bridgnorth. He was unable to convert his try however, as the Bridgnorth dugout failed to get the tee on to the pitch for the conversion, Murphy took a hurried drop goal which missed the target.
Bridgnorth again knocked on at the restart and the first half ended with a mixture of attack and defence for the away side before they knocked on at the last lineout of the first period. The score at half-time was 12-10.
Bridgnorth started the second half well and Luke Brough returned the restart for good territory, Broadstreet were awarded a penalty which they kicked for the lineout but Bridgnorth managed to turn the ball over. From the resulting scrum the ball was passed to Gareth Bladen in space who passed to James Barham cutting in from the left wing and he went on a remarkable run through the home defence to score a try under the posts converted by Murphy.
Bridgnorth now seemed more settled in their game, the opposition right winger was substituted and this, combined with a yellow card for their captain allowed the away side to score two more converted tries. The first (and also for the bonus point) was a fine deserved try for Luke Brough which was converted from the touchline by Murphy. The second was scored by Barham after a good touch kick by fullback Matt Needham, Luke Brough broke out of defence in his own twenty-two metre area and the ball was taken on by George Newman. The away side showed good continuity for Barham to score an unconverted try and make the score 12-29.
Broadstreet had not given up however, and after they turned over another Bridgnorth lineout the ball was passed to their replacement right winger who himself broke through attempted tackles to score in the corner. The home side kicked their own touchline conversion to bring the score back to a ten-point margin. The home side continued their attacks and their right winger again broke free, he kicked the ball ahead but the ball was well gathered by Bladen. The ball was well cleared to touch by Brough and the away side won a penalty at the lineout. Murphy kicked for a five-metre lineout and the ball was driven on by the pack for a try by Luis Evitt, again very well converted by Murphy.
Bridgnorth, with Brough again to the fore and having a fine game swept up field, Bladen provided good support and the ball went through a series of hands before Newman was denied a try after an adjudged double movement. The game ended after a great break by Evitt was well supported by Jacob Tomkinson, however an ambitious miss-pass failed to go to hand.
The full-time whistle blew with the score 19-36. Bridgnorth will be relieved to have got their campaign back on track with a bonus point win but they will also know that far sterner tests await with Burton next up at home and then (after a week off) a remarkable local derby at Stourton Park vs Stourbridge.
Match Photos taken by Rober Nicholls - CLICK HERE!
