Sat 7 Sep 2024
Bridgnorth welcomed their local rivals and good friends Dudley
Kingswinford to the Edgar Davies Ground for the first league game of
the season. The match also marked the first league game hosted in the
magnificent new clubhouse and 180 diners were treated to a fine lunch
before the game. The new club house’s balcony provided a superb
setting for spectators not watching from the touchlines.
Number eight Connor Nicholls was playing in his 150th game for
Bridgnorth, congratulations to him on this achievement. With Dudley
having been relegated from level 4 the previous season and with
bragging rights at stake, the home crowd knew they were in for a tough
game. Bridgnorth had Morgan French and Ed Taylor packing down in the
engine room at second-row and with the return of Charley Wright in the
back-row, the Bridgnorth pack were not lacking in size.
Bridgnorth kicked off playing towards the road and regathered their
own kick. They put together good initial phases before the ball went
loose and Dudley returned the ball and their second-row looked to have
scored the game’s opening try but the referee ruled that the ball had
been knocked-on. The away side then laid siege to the home team’s line
and had several five-metre lineouts but good defence saw Bridgnorth
survive.
The first scrum demonstrated the dominance for Bridgnorth that would
be present for the whole match and Bridgnorth cleared well. There then
followed a period of tactical kicking and lineouts with Dudley edging
the territorial gains. The home side then put together a fine
break-out which was only halted by a high-tackle, unfortunately the
penalty attempt went wide. The home side kept the pressure on with
Luis Evitt gathering the drop out well. However, another penalty
attempt was missed by Bridgnorth from a similar position.
This time, Nicholls made a great break and passed the ball on to
George Newman who swept up-field, after earning another penalty, the
ball was kicked for a ten-metre lineout. An excellent driving maul
gave Bridgnorth the game’s opening try scored by Evitt. (The
conversion was missed.) Dudley restarted the game and the home side
committed the cardinal sin of not gathering the restart and the away
side regained possession and good handling gave them an immediate
response with a try in the right corner which was well converted.
Bridgnorth fought back well and continued to earn scrum penalties, one
penalty was kicked for the lineout but the ball was lost in the
driving maul. Dudley then exerted their own pressure and were awarded
several penalties on the home side’s twenty-two metre line. The
pressure eventually told as their fly-half made a half-break and
slipped the ball on to his number six in support for another converted
try. The half-time whistle blew with the score 5-14.
Dudley kicked off the second-half with Bridgnorth now playing towards
their support from the clubhouse. Bridgnorth ran the ball out, but a
turnover penalty in the centres gave the away side three points. The
home side attacked from the restart and Jordan Burgess took the ball
on well. The home side were awarded a penalty and kicked for a
ten-metre lineout, the driving maul looked well set, but the maul
collapsed.
There then followed an outstanding period of pressure for the home
side with Loti Molitika to the fore, the scrum penalties continued to
flow, with the resulting lineouts working well. The ball came to Will
Biddell and he took the ball over the line, the referee gave the rare
decision of not being able to see the grounding. From the scrum,
Nicholls picked the ball up from the base and broke wide before
passing to Gareth Bladen who showed good pace to outstrip the defence
for a fine try, well converted by Biddell.
Bridgnorth used their bench with Benji Ritson on for Bladen and Adam
Ellis for Wright, the home side gathered the restart but Ritson had
his clearing box kick charged down, the home side regrouped and Jack
Cole made a good break from full-back but the move broke down.
Ritson then made a brilliant break and kicked the ball on, the ball
hit the posts and, in their efforts to secure the ball, Dudley carried
the ball over their own line. Captain Jonah Boyce packed his forwards
down for the five-metre scrum but the referee penalised the home side.
The play became more conservative as both sides knew the next score
would be crucial, Dudley began to kick more and Luke Brough showed
some good handling in defence, the home side had another attacking
lineout but the referee called it not straight.
Ben Morris came on for Newman and this did not weaken the scrum as the
home side earned more penalties. Bridgnorth kept opting to kick the
ball for the close lineout and drive the ball on, Dudley however,
showed clever and resilient defence to deny their hosts the score.
With the penalty count mounting, and a Dudley player in the sin bin,
Bridgnorth opted for an attacking scrum after another penalty. This
time however, the ball was not controlled at the base and the away
side hacked the ball clear to the halfway line.
Dudley had another penalty kick at goal which would have put
Bridgnorth out of the losing bonus-point position but the kick was
missed. Bridgnorth knew they had to score a try and ran the ball out
of defence. There were some good phases but eventually the Bridgnorth
players were tackled into touch and the final whistle blew with the
score 12-17.
Credit must go to Dudley Kingswinford for their victory, but
Bridgnorth will reflect on their missed opportunities to convert
pressure into points. Their effort could not be faulted however and
there were some very tired bodies in the clubhouse after what was a
very physical game.
Bridgnorth have another home game next Saturday and they will be
hoping for a different result in front of their Vice Presidents.
MATCH PHOTOS TAKEN BY DAVE COOPER (BRFC FACEBOOK PAGE) - CLICK HERE!
MATCH PHOTOS TAKEN BY ROBERT NICHOLLS (BRFC FACEBOOK PAGE) - CLICK HERE!
