Sat 18 Nov 2023, 14:15
Bridgnorth welcomed Stoke on Trent to the EDG with the knowledge that the previous season had produced two very close scoring games between the two teams and victory had gone to the home side. The relatively small number of supporters who gathered for the pre-match lunch were treated to two excellent curries from the catering team and a very good jam roly-poly produced by chair Kaz Sawbridge. Bridgnorth were without captain Jonah Boyce who had suffered an ankle injury and so young Jacob Tomkinson stepped up to anchor the scrum.
The pre-match build up included the celebration of 100 first team appearances for Luis Evitt, congratulations to him on this achievement. The game got off to the worst possible start for Bridgnorth as they allowed the Stoke kick-off to bounce and the away team’s left winger gathered the ball and broke through to score an unconverted try after fifteen seconds. The away side followed this up with a good return into Bridgnorth territory and good phases after a twenty-two-metre lineout gave them a three-point penalty in front of the posts.
Bridgnorth established themselves in to the game and the set-piece was working well for the home side, however, after Stoke were given offside in midfield, the penalty kick missed touch and the attacking chance was lost. Bridgnorth raised their game, although inaccuracy with the pass stopped opportunities for Will Bishop and Luke Brough. The home side continued to play well and kicked a penalty for a seven-metre lineout, Connor Nicholls won the ball but the referee penalised Bridgnorth. More good play and a penalty resulted in Bridgnorth having a ten-metre lineout and this time great driving play by the forwards took them over the line and a try for George Newman converted by Elliot Murphy.
The away side were also playing well and a speculative kick ahead was not dealt with by the Bridgnorth outside backs and Stoke broke away for a converted try. Both sides kept up a good standard of play for the remainder of the half and the whistle went with the score 7-15.
Bridgnorth regrouped during the half-time interval and came out of the traps well, a charged down clearance followed by another penalty took them up to five-metres for a lineout, the chance was lost however with an overthrown lineout. Bridgnorth did not let their heads drop and a great break by the pacy Adam Ellis was continued with a fine overhead downward pass to Brough on the wing. The winger showed his quality to crash over for an unconverted try and give the home side some much needed momentum.
The home side gathered the restart but made the mistake of kicking the ball out after it had been carried back into their ’22,’ Bridgnorth thankfully managed to turn over the Stoke lineout. Another Stoke attack was stopped by a good jackal by Evitt and after a twenty-two-metre lineout, the home side were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and they wisely took the three points on offer to level the scores.
The restart was well ‘exited’ by Murphy and then the away side had a man sent to the sin-bin. Bridgnorth drove the ensuing seven-metre lineout but were held up over the line. The home side returned the goal line dropout well and only a high tackle on Newman stopped their progress. The home side kicked for the fifteen-metre lineout and this time there were no mistakes as a great drive ended with Evitt grounding the ball for the try converted by Murphy.
Stoke immediately attacked from the restart, they entered the home ‘22’ and the ball appeared to go forward from their possession, however the referee waved play on and the away side grounded the ball for a converted try to level the scores. The high scoring second-half continued as another good Bridgnorth lineout was driven towards the line and this time the ball came to Brough on the wing who scored his second try and gave Bridgnorth the four try bonus point. (The touchline conversion was missed.)
The Stoke restart was well cleared (despite Gareth Bladen and Evitt colliding to take the catch) and play resumed in the away team’s half. The away team drove forward from the and poor tackling in the home side’s backs allowed their centre to run through to score under the posts, the conversion made the score 27-29.
Bridgnorth again rose to the challenge of trying to rescue the game, Bladen took a quick tap & go from a penalty to take play into the Stoke half but Callum Madden was penalised for rucking beyond the point of the ball. Stoke kicked the penalty for a five-metre lineout but the home side held the maul up and were awarded the scrum. Bridgnorth ran from deep and were awarded a penalty, Murphy attempted the kick but it was wide and the away side took the twenty-two drop-out. In a tense finish to the game, the home side again returned the ball and won another penalty, Murphy again stepped up for the three-point attempt but again the kick was wide of its target.
The final whistle went with the score 27-29. Bridgnorth had to settle for two bonus points from the game and they will be disappointed with the manner of the four tries they conceded. However, their overall play and reduced penalty count was an improvement on their two most recent performances and they must take credit for this as they rest next week before travelling to Kenilworth on the 2nd December.
