Sat 17 Feb 2024
Bridgnorth welcomed Derby to the Edgar Davies Ground and the squad, with several familiar faces back in their ranks were keen to avenge the last-minute defeat at the away fixture in November. The home crowd was swelled by the diners from the Vice-Presidents, Patrons and Sponsors’ lunch, the 200 attendees having enjoyed an excellent occasion in the marquee. The game marked the occasion of 100 caps for Jonah Boyce and Loti Molitika, congratulations to them on this achievement.
Bridgnorth played with high intensity from the kick-off, they drove forwards before Gareth Bladen chipped ahead to keep the attack going. The ball came to Elliot Murphy who executed an excellent cross-field kick for Luke Brough to score on the right wing. The home side then stole the ball from the clearing lineout and great hands from Boyce sent Adam Ellis forwards, he chipped ahead and the ball was cleared for an attacking five-metre lineout. The ball was knocked on and Bridgnorth conceded a penalty at the first scrum but Derby were yet to play with the ball in hand.
Bridgnorth drove forwards again and more good hands saw Boyce come into the line and sell an outrageous dummy to keep the forward momentum going, the ball again came to Luke Brough and with his confidence growing, he scooted in for his second try. The home side again stole the ball from the clearing lineout and then brilliant passing and moving enabled Jordan Burgess to score a try on the left wing
Bridgnorth were on fire at this stage and were playing the most fast-flowing fluid rugby of their season. Derby finally had some possession of the ball but a strong tackle by James Barham and jackal by Luis Evitt meant their momentum was short-lived. The resulting penalty was quickly taken and Barham broke left to feed Burgess who crossed for his second try with the first conversion by Murphy. This try gave Bridgnorth the four-try bonus point in the opening quarter of the game and Derby had little answer to the onslaught at this stage.
Derby began to come into the game but were again stopped by the jackalling of Evitt, enjoying his afternoon playing at openside flanker. Connor Nicholls broke from the next scrum and the ball was taken on by Barham before Adam Ellis showed great pace to break down the wing before being tackled into touch. After some forward exchanges, the ball again went through the hands of the Bridgnorth backs and then Brough looped around from the right wing and received the ball cutting back against the line of the Derby defence to score his hat-trick try.
The referee grew unhappy with some of the Bridgnorth play at the breakdown and after another offence, he sent captain Jonah Boyce to the sin-bin, seemingly for failing to control his team. Derby kicked the penalty to the corner and took advantage of the extra man to win the lineout and then attack wideout to score their opening try. The game became more even in this period before the home side finished the half attacking. The score at half-time was 29-5.
Bridgnorth attacked from the restart and Derby had their own man sent to the sin-bin. The home side had an attacking twenty-metre lineout and the ball came out to the backs, although the ball went to ground, Jordan Burgess was quickest to react and he picked up the loose ball and scooted in for his own hat-trick try. Bridgnorth again fired forwards from the restart and strong running again from Barham put the home side on the front foot, then Jack Cole picked a good angle to come into the line and showed a clean pair of heels to the Derby defence to score near the posts.
A period of even play was followed by a general melee on the Derby line as Bridgnorth hunted for another try, this arrived in the familiar form of Gareth Bladen who crossed from open play and the conversion by Murphy brought up the half-century of points for the home side and the score at this stage was 50-5. Remarkably, this was the end of the scoring for Bridgnorth as they allowed their intensity and tackling to dip in the last quarter of the game. This period also saw replacement Callum Bradbury being sent to the sin-bin.
The Derby number eight in particular caused major problems for the home defence as his elusive running took him past several would-be tacklers. The away side fly-half also grew into the game and Derby scored four converted tries in the final quarter. Bridgnorth continued to play expansive rugby but things didn’t quite click as they had in the first half. The final whistle blew with the score 50-33.
Both sides had contributed to a very entertaining game and they and the supporters retired to the marquee for refreshments and ‘awards.’ Congratulations must again go to the Bridgnorth players and coaches for putting on an excellent display of attacking, expansive rugby. Bridgnorth now have four league games left in the ‘regular season’ This includes only one more home game, which is the President’s Day on the 23rd March. All Bridgnorth supporters and connections are encouraged to attend what will be a special occasion.
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