Sat 16 Dec 2023
Bridgnorth travelled to their Worcestershire rivals on Saturday with the knowledge that their hosts had won five of their last six games. This, combined with the closeness of the results for this fixture in recent seasons meant the Bridgnorth team, management and supporters were all well aware of the size of the task that awaited them.
The travelling Bridgnorth aficionados (including your correspondent, Gez Callaghan and Robin & Cheryl Padgett) were royally entertained by their Bromsgrove hosts (President Welly, Robin & John plus wives) with a fine three-course Christmas lunch held in their festive function room. The two club touch judges declined lunch thinking of the active afternoon they would have.
The match started with a penalty to Bridgnorth almost from the kick-off and the away side kicked for a five-metre lineout. With their powerful pack, a driving try looked likely but excellent defence from the home side kept them out and Bromsgrove then defended several phases of play by Bridgnorth. The home side managed to regain possession and their clearing kick was allowed to bounce by the away side’s ‘backfield’ defenders, Bromsgrove again kicked ahead and pinned Bridgnorth back to their own five-metre line. The away side secured their own ball but were penalised in their own half and Bromsgrove took the three points for the first score of the game.
The away side quickly responded with their own three-point penalty by fly-half Matt Needham to level the scores, Bridgnorth had a solid period of possession but the home defence meant the away side did not advance far beyond the halfway line. Nevertheless, with both parts of the set-piece performing well, Bridgnorth kept up a good intensity of play. Their commitment to attack was eventually rewarded when number eight Connor Nicholls broke through the home defensive line to run clear for the first try of the game, he even had time to celebrate before grounding the ball. (The conversion was missed.)
The Bromsgrove response was well stopped by hooker Luis Evitt with a very good ‘jackal tackle’, the resulting penalty took Bridgnorth deep into the home side’s half, the away side’s pressure again told as they were awarded another penalty and Needham again kicked the three points. The first half ended with the score 3-11.
The second half started with both teams continuing to play the game at a high tempo. A Bromsgrove penalty was kicked for a twenty-two-metre lineout and despite good defence by the away side, they were penalised again and the home side kicked the three points to make it a ‘five-point game.’
Bridgnorth then played some of their best rugby of the season with great interplay between backs and forwards. Bromsgrove had a man sent to the bin which spurred on the away side as they battled for the next score. The Bridgnorth backs looked transformed from earlier in the season as the mis-passing and dummy runners created space for the outside runners. This was backed up with strong carries by the forwards in the middle of the park including Joe Cave, Jonah Boyce, Adam Ellis (and the tireless Cal Bradbury not taking a backward step.)
Then after great carries by Evitt and Gareth Bladen, George Newman scored a try (with the referee well positioned for the grounding) and although the conversion was missed, the away side now had a significant ten-point lead.
The home side were by no means finished however and after Bridgnorth were penalised for a high tackle, they kicked for the lineout. A good drive by their forwards almost gave them a try but good defence by the away side enabled them to hold the ball up over the line. As both sides kept up the pressure in attack and defence, Nicholls again broke through but the ball was knocked on, Bromsgrove picked up the ball and great handling in their backs saw their winger break clear and run through towards the posts. Then came the ‘champagne moment’ of the match as Bridgnorth full-back Jack Cole again showed his pace to chase him down and dislodge the ball forwards from the winger’s arms. The Bridgnorth players congratulated Cole as though he had just scored the winning try.
Bromsgrove continued to press and their impressive number-eight was then held up over the line. Unfortunately, the goal-line drop-out from Bridgnorth went straight into touch and the home side had an attacking five-metre scrum. With back-play on both sides of the park, Bromsgrove crossed on the left wing for their first try of the game, (unconverted.)
Although the home side continued to play well, strong tackling in the centres by Ollie Neill and Patrick Smallman kept them at bay. The away side managed the closing stages of the game well and when the referee indicated ‘last play’, the ball was gratefully kicked into touch.
The Bridgnorth players, management and support staff deserve huge congratulations for this fine away victory. All players from one to eighteen put in a massive shift and the young players Jacob Tomkinson, Luca Justice and Ben Morris together with veteran Russ Gauden all stepped up to the mark.
Bridgnorth now have two weeks off for the festive period before facing Broadstreet at home on the 6th January 2024.
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