Sat 21 Dec 2024
Bridgnorth welcomed Banbury to the Edgar Davies Ground on the shortest day of year, and the visitors’ large travelling official party led by their president Monty enjoyed a fine Christmas lunch along with two hundred other diners in the clubhouse. The game marked 100 first team appearances for George Newman, congratulations to him on this achievement. The coffee club podcast had discussed a response to the Silhillians performance and the large home crowd were able to watch the response delivered (with dramatic effect), by the Bridgnorth squad that was virtually at full strength.
Banbury kicked off and their left wing (not for the only occasion) reclaimed the ball for his side, in a lively opening period, both sides played with strong ambition with very good refereeing allowing the game to flow avoiding unnecessary stoppages for unimportant infringements. The first scrum produced a penalty for the home side and following the lineout, play continued in the Banbury half. Good handling was followed by a brilliant break by George Newman and he skipped through tackles to almost score, the ball came to Connor Nicholls and he crossed for the opening try, converted by Elliot Murphy.
Bridgnorth kept up their good play from the restart, but both defences were jackaling well and winning penalties. Burton converted one penalty for three points before the home side were able to kick for a twenty-metre lineout, after a good drive and excellent offloading play, another drive resulted in a try for the irresistible force that is Loti Molitika (converted by Murphy.) This try was followed up in quick succession by another for Nicholls as Bridgnorth’s ball retention was transformed from the previous week and the number eight broke through from forty metres out and showed sensational pace to outstrip the defence and score another converted try.
Bridgnorth dropped the ball at the restart and Banbury regathered and then a missed tackle on their outside centre allowed him to attack the home line, the home side managed to tackle him into touch and give themselves a defensive five-metre lineout. Despite losing the ball, Bridgnorth displayed superb defence and denied Banbury a scoring opportunity. The away side kept the pressure on and a cross-field kick looked to have earned them a try, but the ball was knocked on. Bridgnorth’s attack then turned on the style and Gareth Bladen regathered a kick ahead to set the backs in motion, good handling ended with a chip ahead that was cleared by Banbury. More open play by both sides ended with a knock-on by Banbury and a penalty to Bridgnorth from the resulting scrum. This time, the home side took a tap penalty, and a series of strong ‘pick and go’ drives ended with Nicholls grounding the ball for his hat-trick try and a first-half try bonus point for Bridgnorth.
The conversion made the score 28-3 but Bridgnorth were not finished attacking, after a high tackle penalty and lineout, Murphy kicked ahead and the Banbury defender was tackled into touch for a five-metre lineout to the home side, unfortunately, as it was not a penalty lineout, the referee blew for half-time with the scoreboard reading 28-3. Banbury started the second half well, and a ‘50:22’ kick took them deep into the Bridgnorth half, after winning another penalty, patient build-up play created space for their full-back to cross for a converted try and the crowd were wondering whether this was the start of a fight-back. Bridgnorth responded well and a great break by centre Ben Ralph put the home side on the front foot, the move broke down however when the ball was passed from the ruck to captain Jonah Boyce who for some reason, was looking in the wrong direction and knocked the ball on. Banbury had a good passage of possession although when they were awarded a penalty, they opted for the three-point kick despite being eighteen points behind. The ball went ‘in-off’ the posts for the three points. The game now entered another very competitive phase as both sides knew the next score could be crucial. Bridgnorth rose to the challenge with excellent defence combined with the confidence to play some of the best attacking rugby of the season. One standout moment was a ‘no-look’ pass from Ben Ralph to penetrate the away defence and Charley Wright and Ed Taylor continued the move. Banbury continued to threaten and missed another opportunity when kicking for a five-metre lineout but the ball did not cross the line.
The home side brought on their substitutes and Ben Morris kept up the scrum pressure, more good defensive work by the home side was followed up by Matt Needham and Murphy keeping the ball alive in attack before substitute Joe Cave powered over for a try with his first touch of the ball. Bridgnorth secured the ball from the restart and then substitute Jack Cole showed his real pace to fly down the right wing towards the home support. He was tackled short of the line and the ball was recycled to Ed Taylor in support who gratefully grounded the ball for a converted try and bring up the forty-point mark. As the game neared its conclusion, Bridgnorth produced perhaps the champagne moment of the match, Banbury cleared the ball from the restart but Cole caught the ball near the touchline. He passed infield to Needham, the ball was moved across the park to Murphy, then to Ralph before Jack Cole looped right around to receive the ball on the right wing. He then showed the decisiveness and lightning pace that supporters had been calling for to completely outstrip the away defence and cross untouched for a magnificent try. The conversion failed but the referee blew for full-time with the score 45-13.
This was probably Bridgnorth’s best all-round display of the season. With rugby being the game of confidence and momentum that it is, the fact that Bridgnorth combined this with conceding a low number of penalties put them on top for most of the game. Banbury experienced the backlash from Bridgnorth’s poor showing the week before but they remain third in the table having won all seven of their home games. Bridgnorth will have been pleased to avoid a team ‘doing the double’ on them as the return league fixtures have now started. The marvellous display combined with the Christmas spirit at the Edgar Davies Ground made this a memorable occasion for all involved and a happy “Winter’s Tale”. Commiserations to Banbury but massive congratulations go to Bridgnorth. They are now able to enjoy the festive break before they travel to the league leaders Syston on the 4th January 2025.
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