Sat 22 Feb 2025, 14:15
Bridgnorth welcomed Nuneaton to the Edgar Davies Ground with both sides having recorded an away five-try bonus point win the previous Saturday. The pre-match lunch was well attended with Percy Arch standing in as cook. The team sheet showed the Volaikisuva brothers playing against each other, Manasa for Bridgnorth and Mike for Nuneaton. Patrick Smallman was also winning his 50th first team cap, congratulations to him. Bridgnorth received the ball from the kick-off and Benji Ritson (playing at fly-half) cleared well for a good exit. Both teams fronted up well in the opening exchanges, the home side had the edge in the first scrum and won a penalty, unfortunately the following kick missed touch, this error was repeated after Bridgnorth had another penalty after crossing by Nuneaton.
The even play continued before Luke Brough made a good break to give his side momentum, several good phases followed with Jack Cole and Manasa Volaikisuva making good ground, the forwards joined in and Morgan French touched down for the game’s opening try converted by Ritson. Bridgnorth did not hold the lead for long however as the ball was passed to Nuneaton’s talented left-wing, he broke through at least two missed tackles to cross for an excellent converted try to level the scores. After a good Gareth Bladen clearance and another dominant scrum, the ball was moved along the Bridgnorth backs, an outside back opted to kick ahead but the kick was blocked and rebounded towards the home side’s line, Mike Volaikisuva was the quickest to react for Nuneaton and he crossed in the corner for a converted try.
Bridgnorth responded well and the forwards put together outstanding driving play to threaten the away side’s line. They were twice held up over the line however, firstly Jonah Boyce and then George Newman as the game was played at a relentless pace. Nuneaton took the opportunity to counterattack and fortunately, the Bridgnorth touch-judge spotted a foot on the line by the away side’s left wing as he broke away again. Bridgnorth continued to press at the end of the first-half although their cause was not helped by two penalty kicks to touch that both failed to find their target. The referee blew for half-time with the score 7-14.
Bridgnorth kicked off the second-half attacking towards the clubhouse. Connor Nicholls came off the subs bench and the home team started well; this momentum was short lived however as Nuneaton scored two quick tries, the second of them after the home team lost their lineout and the away team had their four-try bonus point. They crossed the line for a third, but their touch-judge spotted a foot in touch by his team and put up his flag to bring play back. Henry Reid and Dan Adams came off the bench with the score 7-24, the two ‘Bulls regulars’ being asked to revive their team’s fortunes. This seemed to have the desired effect as Bridgnorth placed mounting pressure on their opponents and kicked for the lineouts after winning successive penalties. The referee awarded the home side a penalty-try after their forwards drive from a lineout was illegally stopped and Nuneaton had a man in the sin-bin.
The home side’s revival was spectacularly short-lived however as looking into the sun, they failed to catch the restart and the away side gathered the ball and ran in for a converted try. The Bridgnorth situation looked dire at 14-31 and the home team needed to show all of their fighting spirit to get anything from the game. They made an exceptional start to their recovery, as Henry Reid made a strong run and Gareth Bladen followed up to score an unconverted try. They kept up the pressure on their opponents as Jack Cole followed up a good clearance to force a twenty-metre lineout. Dan Adams playing in the centre was also having a superb debut for the first-team and was full of running to keep his side going forwards. The home-team drove towards their supporters in the clubhouse and George Newman showed enormous strength and determination to power through the Nuneaton tacklers to score a try, converted by Ritson to make the score 26-31. (This was also the four-try bonus point.)
The Bridgnorth salvage operation was now in top gear as the home side tore into the opposition, roared on by their supporters. Nuneaton received a yellow card as they attempted to stem the waves of attack against them and the home side had a six-metre lineout. Although the away-side stopped the initial drive, the ball again came to Newman and this time he showed his running ability to evade defenders and score his second try to level the score at 31-31. Benji Ritson stepped up to coolly kick the conversion and give his side what looked like a winning advantage as the clock ticked down. Nuneaton were not beaten however, they won a penalty and kicked for a fifteen-metre lineout and although the home side defended well, the referee judged that they had strayed offside in the middle of the park and awarded the away side a penalty which they kicked to make the scores 34-33. Nuneaton only had to gather the restart for the referee to signal last-play and they booted the ball off the pitch to secure the away win.
Congratulations must go to both squads for an enthralling game of rugby which was a credit to both clubs. Nuneaton deservedly took the victory and the five points. Bridgnorth had to settle for two bonus points in what was another “could have, should have, would have” performance, and it may have been a different result but for some defensive lapses. They must hold their heads high however, as the whole squad demonstrated an amazing spirit to bring themselves back into the game. Bridgnorth have another home game next Saturday against Bromsgrove on the 1st March with a 3pm kick-off. This is a memorial game for Alun Stoll and the team will wear special shirts which will be auctioned off after the match. There is a St. David’s Day lunch with Robin Padgett bringing the Much Wenlock Male Voice Choir to entertain the diners. Please book in to secure your place.
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