Sat 9 Apr 2022
Bridgnorth welcomed back Number eight Connor Nichols to the starting line up after a long lay off through injury. The hosts started brightly and Elliot Murphy opened the scoring with a well struck penalty from distance closely followed by a second to lead 6-0. Sheffield fought back scoring two tries wide out both of which went unconverted for the visitors to lead 10-6. Prop Russ Gaudon received a yellow card for preventing a quick tap penalty and North defended well to keep the visitors out before half time with the score remaining 6-10 at the break.
Early into the second period a strong run from Jordan Burgess was halted by a high tackle which saw the Sheffield number 8 seeing yellow. North took full advantage with young wing Matt Burke powering over in the corner, with the conversion going just wide North led 11-10. An injury to Zac Xiourouppa saw Director of Rugby Danny Griffiths come on at hooker with Luis Evitt moving to the back row. Sheffield went back in front with a penalty but then lost their second row to the sin bin. The home side again took advantage of the extra man with Luis Evitt touching down under the posts after a period of sustained pressure to lead 18-13. With the home side now in the ascendancy in the set piece a line out catch and drive close to the Sheffield line was halted illegally with Griffiths poised to score, the referee awarding a penalty try and sending the centre to the sin bin in the process. Further dissent from the Sheffield prop saw a red card being shown and the game concluded with only 13 Sheffield players on the pitch, a second half of poor discipline resulting in 3 yellow and one red card for the visitors.
Next week North have the opportunity to go to third place in the league when they host bottom side Oundle at the EDG with a 3pm kick off
Match photos taken by Dave Cooper - https://www.facebook.com/bridgnorthrugbyclub/photos/pcb.5360162040700589/5360136990703094/
Match photos taken by Robert Nicholls - https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10160010771617351&set=a.10160010779107351
