Sat 6 Apr 2024, 15:00
Bridgnorth travelled to their Oxfordshire rivals with the majority of the squad and a select group of supporters travelling on the team bus. The invited Bridgnorth blazers were very well entertained by their hosts with an excellent lunch and good company. The Bridgnorth squad was much changed from the programme as they prepared for the last league fixture of the season.
Bridgnorth kicked the game off playing into the strong wind that was blowing down the pitch, the ball predictably hung in the breeze and Banbury knocked-on. The first scrum earned a penalty to Bridgnorth after a strong shove and scrum-half Gareth Bladen got his team moving with a quick tap penalty, the ball went through several pairs of hands with good continuity, Joe Cave made good ground and passed to George Newman who took the ball on well before passing to Bladen who crossed for the game’s opening try converted by Benji Ritson. The Bridgnorth props Russ Gauden and Ben Morris (with George Newman at hooker) were enjoying their afternoon at this stage and were dominant at scrum-time.
Banbury restarted but were penalised for offside and Morris made a great bust up the middle of the field to set up another attack for Bridgnorth. Another scrum penalty compounded by back-chat from the home side set Bladen off on another tap & go run, Bridgnorth played some champagne rugby at this stage and with the young referee’s decisions going their way another scrum penalty took them to the half-way line.
The ball was lost in contact and Banbury started to establish themselves in the game, they won a lineout and their number eight broke through attempted tackling before good handling saw their pacey right-winger cross in the corner for an unconverted try. The home side followed this score up with another try, good hands from the scrum allowed their outside backs to round the Bridgnorth wide defence for a converted try and after a promising opening period, Bridgnorth realised that they were in for a difficult game.
The restart from Bridgnorth didn’t go ten-metres in the wind and Banbury attacked from the resulting scrum, they chipped through and regathered the ball, good support play by the home side allowed the ball to be passed to the supporting prop-forward who crossed for a converted try. The restart by Bridgnorth was well returned by Banbury with the wind and the away side had a lineout to try and get things going, unfortunately they chose to throw to six in the lineout in the strong wind and the ball was not straight.
Adam Ellis showed great effort to regather the ball after a scrum but then play was halted for fighting between the sides, Loti Molitika and a Banbury player were sent to the sin-bin. Bridgnorth had the scrum but their attack was turned over and they conceded a penalty. Banbury kicked to the corner for a five-metre lineout, the ball was overthrown but it went to their number eight and some confusion and / or late reactions by Bridgnorth meant he scored an easier try than should have been allowed. The bonus-point try was converted to make the score 26-7 and Bridgnorth had to have a long, hard look at themselves.
Bridgnorth did respond and after a kick-ahead by Banbury rolled over the dead-ball line they had an attacking scrum in the opposition half. Bridgnorth failed to capitalise from this but a better lineout gave them a drive towards the line, George Newman took the ball on before he was high-tackled by a shoulder from the opposition, the referee did not punish this offence (where a television match official may have recommended a red card) and the away side had another scrum. Bridgnorth attacked again and a steady, patient series of phases into the wind saw Manny Volaikisuva cross for a converted try. This was a good time to score as the half-time whistle went with the score 26-14.
Bridgnorth started the second half well and a good break by Jordan Burgess ended with an ambitious attempted link-up to Ellis which he unfortunately couldn’t gather. Good pressure by the away side - now playing with the wind, gave them a close-range penalty after a long advantage. Bladen’s kick to the corner went the wrong side of the corner flag with the wind however and Bridgnorth had to start again, this they did and very strong runs from Manny and Luke Brough took the ball into the opposition red-zone, the ball came to Bladen who crossed for an unconverted try and made the score 26-19.
Banbury now took their turn to attack into the wind and it took good Bridgnorth defence to keep them out, Bridgnorth responded and attacking drives from lineouts took them to the Banbury line, however a knock-on halted the attack. Banbury picked up the ball from the scrum and the ball came to their right-winger, he showed great pace to score a long range try and put a big dent in the hopes of a Bridgnorth come-back.
Bridgnorth remained unbowed and good pressure and ambitious passing put Manny, Brough and Burgess into action for a great attack which was rounded off by centre Evan Watts for an unconverted try. This gave Bridgnorth the four-try bonus point and put them in position for at least a losing bonus point.
The game now entered a very open period of play as both teams launched attacks, countered by good defence. Manny and Brough continued to work hard and Loti was putting in an immense shift both in defence and attack. Good retention by Bridgnorth was ended with another turnover and then after a lineout, the Banbury prop (again showing great mobility) took the ball on before passing to his full-back (who had had a quiet game up until then) for a converted try.
With the score now at 38-24, it was time for desperate measures by Bridgnorth if they were to rescue a losing bonus point and director of rugby Dan Griffiths was introduced to the field of play. The away side continued to attack but sound defence by Banbury kept them out. The game ended when a pass in the Bridgnorth backs did not go to hand and a Banbury player picked the ball up and had a clear run-in to the line. This was the last play of the game and it finished 43-24.
The final score did not perhaps reflect the true nature of the contest but there is no doubt Banbury fully deserved the win and were the better side at the key moments. Bridgnorth battled hard but unfamiliar combinations meant that some crucial play did not go their way. The number of tackles that were missed and dropped-off was disappointing and something that will need to be corrected as Bridgnorth go into the Papa Johns cup competition. With strong teams from Yorkshire and Lancashire to be faced, all support will be welcome.
MATCH PHOTOS TAKEN BY ROBERT NICHOLLS - CLICK HERE (BRFC FACEBOOK PAGE):
