Sat 30 Nov 2024
Bridgnorth welcomed Burton to the Edgar Davies Ground and while “Elton
John” entertained the Ladies Day diners and Burton guests in the
clubhouse, the game was moved to Severn Park as the EDG pitch was
flooded. Bridgnorth gave a first 1st XV cap to Henry Reid in the back
row and welcomed Ben Rochelle back into the engine room. Bridgnorth
received the kick off and cleared well, however Burton returned the
ball with interest and a missed tackle and slick handling from their
backs allowed them to score an early try (unconverted) and emphasise
to the home squad that they were in for a challenging afternoon.
Bridgnorth put some good phases together after the restart and were
threatening the Burton line when the away full-back knocked the ball
on in defence. The referee gave a scrum only when it seemed that a
more severe sanction was merited. The customary Bridgnorth scrum
worked well and gave the opportunity for Connor Nicholls to drive
forwards and score the home side’s opening try which was crucially
converted by Elliot Murphy. Bridgnorth now played some really good
rugby with Charley Wright having a barnstorming game and captain Jonah
Boyce leading the way in defence. There then followed a period of kick
tennis and after conceding two penalties, Bridgnorth had to defend a
twenty-two-metre lineout. They initially repelled the attack, but
Burton swivelled the rolling maul and peeled off for a breakaway try
in the corner (unconverted.)
Both sides were contributing to an excellent game and after a
twenty-metre-lineout, Bridgnorth had the ball over the line but good
Burton defence held the ball up. The home side attacked again and this
time when the away defence knocked the ball on with an attempted
interception, Burton were penalised. Bridgnorth caught the defence
napping with a quick tap penalty and Ben Ralph kept up his good form
when he crashed over for the try (unconverted.) The Burton player also
received a yellow card in the aftermath. Burton played very well
during the ten-minute sin-bin period as the home side failed to
capitalise, Manasa Volaikisuva showed some good touches in defence to
keep the ball alive. After Burton had a penalty attempt which went
wide, Bridgnorth restarted with a drop-out twenty-two and after Burton
returned to fifteen men, they kicked for a twenty-metre lineout. The
home side again put in a brilliant defensive shift and held up the
away side’s dangerous scrum-half over the line as the referee blew for
half-time with the score 12-10.
The ‘third-quarter’ saw Bridgnorth raise their game again and overcome
recent struggles they have had during this period of the game. The
bench was used at half-time with Benji Ritson and Jordan Burgess
entering the game, closely followed by Jacob Tomkinson and this gave a
timely boost to the home side’s play. Unfortunately, the trend of
being on the wrong side of the referee’s decisions continued and after
a high tackle penalty, some back-chat from the home team conceded
another ten metres. Burton had another attacking lineout, and after
the referee penalised Bridgnorth again, the away side scored another
try from peeling off the maul, again crucially, the conversion was
missed and the score was 12-15. The referee then gave his most
startling decision of the afternoon when he penalised Henry Reid for a
high tackle and then issued a red card to the bemusement of the home
crowd.
Being reduced to fourteen men seemed to inspire the men in black
however and they poured forwards in attack. They attempted a penalty
to level the scores but the attempt went wide and then as the game
entered its closing stages; the referee chose that occasion to rule
the Bridgnorth lineout not straight after it had worked well all
afternoon. It took a lineout steal from Nicholls to keep the home side
in the game and after a twenty-metre lineout, Gareth Bladen seemed to
have scored the winning try but the referee disallowed it. The home
side were then roared on by their support behind the line and after
another series of ‘pick and go’ drives, George Newman showed enormous
strength to drive forwards and score the game’s decisive try.
The conversion attempt failed but it did not matter as the referee
blew for full-time with the score 17-15. Although delighted with the
victory, there was a slightly subdued feel amongst the home crowd
after the game as they were still surprised by the red card decision.
This was yet another superb game of rugby to watch and full credit to
Burton for their part in the match, if one of their place kicks had
gone over, there could have been a different result. For Bridgnorth,
this was an important victory after the reverse at Bromsgrove,
although they didn’t score the four-try bonus point, the energy and
mental resolve that was on show was again a tribute to the squad and
management. Bridgnorth now have two away games to negotiate against
Derby and Silhillians, although they are both in the bottom three of
the table, all support will be greatly appreciated.
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