Sat 1 Feb 2025
Bridgnorth welcomed Kenilworth to the Edgar Davies Ground and ‘RB’ and his fellow guests joined in with the V.P. lunch in the clubhouse, the usual excellent three-course meal included goulash and an excellent chocolate pudding. Kenilworth are having a difficult season having not won a game, been docked league points and conceded 105 points at home vs Stourbridge the previous Saturday. So, it was with some relief in the home camp that Kenilworth took the field, their team having been reinforced with at least six (some said nine) recruits from the local University. They were a young side and their unfamiliarity with each over showed at times, the Bridgnorth score should be viewed with this in mind. However, as the saying goes – you can only play what’s in front of you.
Kenilworth kicked the game off and after a good clearance, lineout and scrum by Bridgnorth (with Jacob Tomkinson and Morgan French to the fore), James Barham attacked towards the road before he was tackled into touch. The Kenilworth lineout was overthrown and Luis Evitt had the easiest of touchdowns to open the scoring. The first half then became a long period of attacking play for the home side, their constant pressure allowed gaps to open or soft shoulders to run through for tries to be scored by Ed Taylor, Luis Evitt, Jordan Burgess and James Barham with three conversions by Elliot Murphy. There then followed a good period of play by Kenilworth and after two penalties and a successful five-metre lineout, the talented Kenilworth inside-centre broke through a tackle to score near the posts for a converted try. This score rallied the away side and they continued to compete well before Benji Ritson took a quick tap penalty and Loti Molitika crossed for an unconverted try just before half-time. The score at the break was 36-7.
Bridgnorth started the second half well with Ollie Neill running well to set up a further attack, Kenilworth were unfortunate at this point to receive a yellow card which further hampered their efforts. Ben Morris then crossed for a converted try as the home side backed up their attack with good defence. Adam Ellis came off the subs bench to win his 50th cap for the 1st XV and he scored a try with possibly his first touch of the ball. Luke Brough also came off the bench as the sin-bin period continued for Kenilworth, Jordan Burgess made a good break and Adam Ellis supported well to score his second try. Kenilworth were now back to full strength and there followed an even period of play between the teams. Bridgnorth were able to put the foundations of attack together with Ben Morris and Paddy Smallman both carrying well for the initial hard yards, however the attackers in the twenty-two were guilty of ‘white-line fever’ as they ploughed into defenders and missed scoring chances rather than giving the simple pass to support players for a try.
When Bridgnorth did put some better play and passing together, Luis Evitt crossed for his hattrick. Bridgnorth continued to score tries at regular intervals through Jack Cole and Manasa Volaikisuva, Benji Ritson took over the kicking duties to add a conversion. The injuries were mounting for Kenilworth and some tiredness was showing as Jordan Burgess and Charley Wright both stretched their legs to attack the clubhouse line as they were cheered on by the home support. Luis Evitt scored his fourth try before Burgess showed his strength to score the last try of the game with the conversion rebounding off the post. Bridgnorth knocked the ball on at the restart to finish the game with the scoreboard reading 84-7.
The Kenilworth players kept going until the final whistle and they can hopefully muster the resources to complete this league campaign and then regroup next season at level six. They can look to their women’s side for inspiration who are playing in the second tier of the national structure. Bridgnorth move on from this result to play Derby away next Saturday, Bridgnorth have yet to play Derby this season due to weather cancellations. Although Derby are second bottom in the table, the result from this weekend of Derby 12-22 Bromsgrove shows that Bridgnorth cannot take anything for granted in their preparations or performance. All travelling support will be welcome.
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