Sat 11 Feb 2023
Bridgnorth welcomed Nuneaton to the Edgar Davies Ground with the visitors having lost three straight games and sitting second from bottom in the table but, as has been said many times before ‘there are no easy games in this league’ and this was to be proved correct with dramatic effect. The game marked scrum-half Gareth Bladen’s 400th match for Bridgnorth RFC. An outstanding achievement for the true clubman and exemplary player.
Both sides started the game well and the early exchanges were even, Nuneaton scored the game’s first try when they outnumbered Bridgnorth in the backs and their inside-centre went over to score an unconverted try. Bridgnorth upped their game, and they won a series of penalties with a Nuneaton player receiving a yellow card. Bridgnorth kicked the penalty to the corner and the five metre lineout was well driven for George Newman to score an unconverted try. The success of the five metre lineout is now a proven weapon for Bridgnorth and the players and coaches should be congratulated on its success.
Bridgnorth were penalised after the restart and Nuneaton kicked their own penalty to five metres for the lineout. They scored an outstanding converted try with a training ground move; their second row burst unopposed through the middle of the lineout and passed to his left wing to score. Bridgnorth responded well and after a penalty, a flowing move across the field finished with Manny Volaikisuva giving a great offload to Morgan French for the second row to score in the corner. Will Biddell made an excellent touchline conversion.
Again, Nuneaton attacked from the restart and another penalty gave them a kick to touch for a six-metre lineout. The Nuneaton attack was initially defended well by Bridgnorth but when the ball came to their left wing a missed tackle allowed him to cross for an unconverted try. The Bridgnorth attack replied, and they were held up over the line for a dropout to Nuneaton. The attack continued with an excellent kick to the corner by Biddell for the 50:22 lineout. When Bridgnorth had an attacking scrum, number 8 Connor Nicholls scored a converted try after a very fast pick up and drive from the base.
Despite losing the restart (which was a worrying trend in the game) Bridgnorth launched another attack and prop TJ Ajuchi was on hand to supply George Newman with a great pass for his front-row colleague to score a converted try which gave Bridgnorth the four try bonus point in the first half. When Nuneaton had a scrum just before half-time their prop (not for the only time in the game) stood up but went unpunished, Nicholls picked and drove the ball well, but Nuneaton were awarded a penalty and they took the three points on offer to make the half-time score 26-20.
Bridgnorth started the second half well and right-wing Adam Ellis hacked the ball on towards the line, but the ball was well cleared by the Nuneaton fly-half. Nuneaton then scored a converted try as their very good outside centre ran through several missed tackles to score under the posts for their four try bonus point. With the Bridgnorth scum now under pressure Nuneaton kicked another penalty to extend their lead. After the restart another penalty to Nuneaton was tapped quickly by their right wing and he caught the Bridgnorth defence napping to scamper through for an excellent converted try.
Bridgnorth then had a brief period of attack and were awarded a kickable penalty to the corner, however Will Biddell put his own entry in for ‘the worst attempt at a kick to the corner’ competition and Nuneaton cleared. Nuneaton then had a period of dominance in the game with their scrum on top and their backs regularly cutting good attacking lines to break the Bridgnorth defence. After three penalties in a row Nuneaton kicked another three points to make the score 26-40 and leave Bridgnorth fearing for their unbeaten home record.
From the restart, wing George Bvuma raced forward to win the ball back for Bridgnorth. The home team were awarded a penalty and kicked the ball to the corner. After winning the lineout, a series of hard drives was finished off with an excellent converted try by Loti Molitika to bring Bridgnorth straight back into the game. The next period of play saw a superb break through the middle of the ruck by Luis Evitt, the ball was taken on by Connor Nicholls and he passed to Adam Ellis for a great try. The conversion by Biddell levelled the scores as the game entered the closing stages.
With young Ben Morris shoring up the scrum Bridgnorth continued to attack. Mikey Volaikisuva, having come on at scrum-half showed some nice touches to maintain the momentum in a fiercely competitive game, only a couple of Bridgnorth knock-ons halting their attacks. Following the next scrum, centre Jordan Burgess made a great break and ball went through several pairs of hands before George Newman scored his hat trick try to send the home support wild. Will Biddell kicked the conversion.
Nuneaton weren’t beaten yet and they kicked a penalty to the corner for a ten-metre lineout, but good Bridgnorth defence enabled them to hold on and close out the win. This was an incredible match and Nuneaton rightly took two bonus points in a performance which belied their position in the league. For Bridgnorth, to come back from fourteen points down with a twenty-one point swing shows the skill and determination in this special group of players and coaches.
The win also made it a year since their previous home defeat (by Newport 12.02.22) and maintained their winning record this season at ‘fortress EDG.’ Next week Bridgnorth welcome Oundle to the Edgar Davies Ground. Bridgnorth residents and connections are encouraged to come down and support the team with excellent sporting entertainment and hospitality on offer.
MATCH PHOTOS TAKEN BY ROBERT NICHOLLS (ON THE CLUBS FACEBOOK PAGE), CLICK HERE!
MATCH PHOTOS TAKEN BY DAVE COOPER (ON THE CLUBS FACEBOOK PAGE), CLICK HERE!
