Sat 1 Mar 2025
Bridgnorth welcomed Bromsgrove to the Edgar Davies Ground on St. David’s Day and 220 diners were entertained by the Much Wenlock male voice choir after lunch. The Bridgnorth team wore special red shirts for the day to remember Alun Stoll and the shirts were auctioned after the match to support Pancreatic Cancer UK. The game also marked 150 appearances for Jordan Burgess, 50 appearances for James Barham and 50 appearances for Manasa Volaikisuva, congratulations to all of them. The game kicked off at 3pm as it was the 1st March. The game started with tactical kicking from both sides and ended with Bromsgrove gaining a territorial advantage, they backed this up with several phases of good possession before their winger scored an early converted try in what looked an ominous period of play for the home supporters. Their nerves were quickly settled when Gareth Bladen set Jack Cole off on a dangerous run, Cole grubber kicked through and skilfully regathered his kick to dive over for the try near the posts, Benji Ritson added the conversion.
Bromsgrove bounced back quickly and their number thirteen broke clean through the defensive line to set up what looked like a scoring opportunity but good Bridgnorth defence forced a turnover penalty. However, Bridgnorth themselves were then penalised for a ‘croc-roll’ and Bromsgrove kicked for a three-point penalty, the ball remarkably rebounded off both posts before a Bromsgrove player caught the home defence napping to ground the ball for a converted try. Bridgnorth then came straight back into the game after a tackle on Cole in the air and kicked for a fifteen-metre lineout. In what was a feature of the game, Bromsgrove defended the driving maul very well and after several attacking phases from the home side, forced a turnover penalty.
The remainder of the first half saw good attack and defence from both sides, Bridgnorth had the upper hand in the scrums but found it difficult to turn this pressure into points as Bromsgrove were very quickly up in defence to nullify the home side’s attacks. Ben Ralph, returning in the centre, was working extremely hard with his tackling to keep his side in the game. After another good scrum, Bridgnorth opted for the kick at goal and Ritson put over a well-struck penalty for the three points, Manasa Volaikisuva then came close to scoring but was tackled into touch. While the home side's back row of Paddy Smallman, Connor Nicholls and Adam Ellis put in dangerous runs, the Bromsgrove defence however, often forced a turnover penalty. The half-time whistle blew with the score 10-14.
Bridgnorth stayed on the pitch at half-time, while Bromsgrove re-emerged from the club house with their scrum-half in conversation with the referee. The second half started with Bridgnorth in the unfamiliar position of attacking the road end and Bladen cleared well after a good catch by Nicholls. The referee then penalised captain Jonah Boyce for a technical binding offence and Bromsgrove kicked the three points to extend their lead. In a repeat pattern to the second quarter, Bridgnorth attacked well but solid Bromsgrove defence held them out, including from a ten-metre lineout. Luis Evitt and Charley Wright came on from the subs bench but Bridgnorth continued to be on the wrong side of the referee’s decisions as he penalised Ed Taylor after he seemed to have won a turnover. Bromsgrove kicked the penalty to make the score 10-20. Bridgnorth kept up their high work-rate and Evitt pulled off an excellent jackal but the penalty kick unfortunately missed touch. Volaikisuva then committed a high-tackle offence on a dipping player and the crowd were relieved to see a penalty-only decision given.
Bridgnorth were still exerting pressure in the scrum but after driving the Bromsgrove pack off the ball, the referee gave the penalty to the away side. After finally winning a penalty of their own, Bridgnorth kicked for a thirty-metre penalty and put together excellent possession play to threaten the opposition line. Their hopes were dashed however, as what looked like the scoring pass in the corner was intercepted by the Bromsgrove winger and he raced the length of the field to score a converted try and make the score 10-27. Bridgnorth did not let their heads drop and quickly worked their way back up field and finally the pressure yielded a try for Jonah Boyce, the conversion was missed but the home side were now chasing at least the losing bonus point and after winning another penalty, they kicked for an attacking lineout. The referee now chose this occasion to decide the lineout wasn’t straight and Bromsgrove were able to clear their lines.
Bridgnorth were not finished and after winning a high tackle penalty, they put some very good phases together, unfortunately there was a knock-on as they pressed and Bromsgrove managed the clock down until the referee signalled last play and the away side kicked the ball out to secure the win. The crowd were understandably deflated by the events on the pitch but retired to the clubhouse for the shirt auction to put things into perspective. Bromsgrove were deserved winners on the day, their defence in particular created the opportunities which they exploited to the full and their placekicker took twelve points from the tee. Bridgnorth’s work-rate cannot be faulted and they will be disappointed to be defeated without the losing bonus point for only the second time this season. They now travel up the A38 again next week for another difficult game at Burton RFC, all travelling support will be welcome.
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