Sat 26 Oct 2024
Bridgnorth travelled to their Warwickshire rivals after two successive
four-try bonus point wins. The official travelling party was well
hosted by the home side’s committee members and with fine weather, the
afternoon looked set for a high scoring encounter. The Bridgnorth team
had a solid look to it and welcomed new cap Fin Forty on the wing with
Benji Ritson playing at fly-half. The opening phases of the match took
on the pattern of Bridgnorth asking questions of the home side
defence, but Kenilworth responding well and holding up the ball over
the line and also scrummaging well. The remainder of the half saw
Bridgnorth cutting loose to score some excellent tries from the usual
source of their five-metre lineout as well as very good angles of
running opening up the field for their pacier runners.
Luis Evitt scored Bridgnorth’s first two tries, the first from the
five-metre lineout and the second a clever break off a maul, both
converted by Ritson. Kenilworth then got into the game and showed that
attack is the best form of defence as they controlled possession. Adam
Ellis had to leave the game with an injured hand to be replaced by
Charley Wright, hopefully the back-row won’t be out injured for too
long. Connor Nicholls scored Bridgnorth’s third try (unconverted)
after a good build up by Loti Molitika and Gareth Bladen. Captain
Jonah Boyce then continued his try scoring form to cross from at least
five yards after breaks by Evitt and Jordan Burgess. This gave
Bridgnorth the (first-half) four-try bonus point and Ritson his third
conversion. We will have to wait to see what surprise Jonah receives
from Connor on the Bridgnorth Coffee Club Podcast for scoring a try –
fireworks to follow?
Ben Ralph in the centre then put in a great run and Jordan Burgess
crossed for another converted try. Nicholls then made a good break but
an intended switch with Forty on the wing did not come off. James
Barham joined in the try scoring fun with another converted try before
Kenilworth scored a try of their own after good pressure from a
five-metre lineout. The scoreboard at half-time read 5-40. Bridgnorth
could not match the fluency of their first-half performance in the
third quarter as Kenilworth raised their game and put several good
phases of play together. Loti Molitika received a yellow card which
did not help the away side’s cause. Luis Evitt came up with some
strong defensive work before Gareth Bladen had a clearing kick charged
down and the Kenilworth scrum-half crossed for a try.
The game then paused while Jordan Burgess received treatment for a
serious head injury and he was replaced by Manasa Volaikisuva.
Bridgnorth rallied after this and after a ten-metre penalty lineout,
James Barham showed enormous strength to carry defenders with him as
he smashed over for his second try (unconverted.) Kenilworth kept up
their strong second-half efforts as they scored their third try with
another drive over the line after Bridgnorth gave away a series of
penalties. This seemed to sting the away side into action and after
some even play in the middle of the park, the ball came to Ritson, the
youngster spotted a gap and raced through it before pinning his ears
back and speeding over for his try which he then stepped up and
converted.
Bridgnorth’s try scoring continued after better pressure as Evitt
scored his hat-trick try (converted.) Kenilworth did not let their
heads drop however as they showed good support play with fine inside
passing to score their fourth try for the bonus point and their kicker
found his range with the conversion. The home side were then penalised
after the restart and backchat meant Bridgnorth could kick for a
five-metre lineout. A customary good drive resulted in Evitt grounding
the ball for his fourth try as Barham waited on the wing for his
hat-trick pass that never came. The referee blew for full-time with
the score 22-64.
Congratulations go to the Bridgnorth squad and management for a job
well done and also to Kenilworth for never giving up on the game in
what is developing into a difficult season for them. Luis Evitt with
twenty points just took the top-scorer accolade in the game from Benji
Ritson with nineteen. Bridgnorth now have a week off for the fireworks
before they host league newcomers Long Eaton to the Edgar Davies
Ground on Saturday 9th November.
