Sat 11 Nov 2023
Bridgnorth welcomed Old Halesonians to the Edgar Davies Ground with the sides not having met in the leagues for a number of seasons. The volunteers’ lunch was a well-attended event in the marquee with the Old Hales committee enjoying the hospitality.
Bridgnorth kicked the game off with the same side from the previous weekend and the supporters looking for a different result. The home side won an early penalty and kicked for a fifteen-metre lineout however the throw-in was not straight. The away side failed to clear effectively from the scrum and after a series of drives George Newman scored the game’s opening try with a barnstorming run and hand-off. The conversion was missed.
The home side continued to attack and Luis Evitt broke through and kicked ahead for a promising position however Connor Nicholls was penalised for not releasing. Bridgnorth then forfeited another two penalties in a row and allowed Old Hales a kick at goal but the attempt was missed. The home side gave away another penalty and the away side kicked for an attacking lineout but their throw-in was then not straight. In a repeat of the Derby game, the penalty count was growing against Bridgnorth. Newman was then penalised for holding on and the home side were then marched back another ten-metres for backchat.
Bridgnorth then re-established themselves in the game as captain Jonah Boyce made a good break but the ball was lost forward. Matt Needham put in a good clearance to keep the home side on the front foot and the home side put some good phases together, after a penalty, Luis Evitt with his trademark quick ‘pick & go’ from the ruck then scored Bridgnorth’s second try (unconverted.)
Needham put in another good exit from the restart and after the away side’s lineout was not straight the home side continued to attack, the away side responded well and it took a ‘50:22’ kick from Needham to relieve the pressure. After winning a ten-metre lineout, Bridgnorth charged towards the opposition line with Newman to the fore before they were (harshly?) penalised for not releasing. The home side then allowed Old Halesonians back into the game, either through knock-ons or penalties. They seemed in danger of ‘losing the referee’ as he penalised the home scrum for not driving straight. A further penalty to Old Hales gave them a five-metre lineout but the throw-in was again not straight. The half-time whistle went with the score 10-0.
The second half got underway with close play between the sides in the middle of the park. Both sides conceded penalties but Bridgnorth made the mistake of not finding touch with one of their kicks. An Old Hales attack and penalty gave them a ten-metre lineout and after further penalties and phases, the ball was passed to their right wing and the away side scored a good unconverted try. This phase of play also included Callum Bradbury being sent to the sin-bin.
Old Hales looked to keep the pressure on from the restart and a ‘50:22’ took them deep into Bridgnorth territory. Bridgnorth survived and put together an excellent attack but this ended when Newman failed to hold a difficult pass. The Bridgnorth scrum then suffered the embarrassment of being pushed back and penalised. The second half continued to have echoes of the previous week as the turnovers and penalties mounted up. Then, however, the home side put together their best attack of the second half and after winning a penalty, wisely opted for the penalty kick, Will Bishop with the three points to make it a significant ‘eight-point game.’
The home side continued to attack but the turnovers and penalties continued as the referee freely punished the men in black. This punishment became more severe as Loti Molitika was shown a straight red card for a clumsy (but not malicious) ‘clothes line’ high tackle. Despite being down a man, Bridgnorth and Old Hales fought a well contested period of the game which included a turnover penalty against the visitors.
It was at this point that Bridgnorth remembered they had the powerful figure of James Barham on the left wing and with almost his first touch of the game he broke through several defenders to set up a great offensive move, this was continued with a fine break by Elliot Murphy and ended with an unconverted try for Connor Nicholls.
Bridgnorth now had their tails up and with ambitious, accurate passing to the outside backs, the ball was transferred from wing to wing. With Nicholls and Barham again leading the way their play had an intensity and freedom to it that had previously been absent. As the game neared its conclusion and with the pressure off, the home side were roared on by their supporters. This brilliant play produced a try for James Barham with the last play of the game to the delight of all involved and giving Bridgnorth the four-try bonus point. Will Bishop stepped up to kick a very good conversion to make the final score 25-5.
Bridgnorth will have been pleased with the result if not the overall performance. The five points and points difference moved them up into the top half of the table before another home game next week against Stoke on Trent.
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