Lichfield RUFC got 2012 off to the ideal start with a win to erase memories of their previous two defeats.

Against the breeze, Lichfield started the brighter and after four minutes the impressive Greg Massey crossed the try line, converting his own score to take the greens into a deserved lead. However, from the kick off Lichfield’s attempts to run the ball were thwarted and poor contact skills resulted in a turnover and a try for Stephen Halbert, converted by Walsall’s fly half Matt Wood.

Then followed a period of poor defensive play as the visitors conceded two further tries as they seemed incapable of stemming the tide of Walsall forward drives. Andy and then Pete Fitzgerald scored, both converted by Wood.

With ball in hand, Lichfield played with a superb intensity and the tempo placed Walsall under serious pressure, but poor contact skills and body positions through the ruck afforded the hosts a number of turn overs.

The sprightly Matt Smith scored in the 38th minute, shortly after the Walsall number eight was yellow carded after tripping Greg Massey as he counter attacked down the wing.

After a searing line break by Tom Paulsen, Smith supported well and scored under the post which was converted by Greg Massey. However, on the stroke of half time the Walsall fly half scored a further try which he also converted to take the scoreline to 31-14 in Walsall’s favour at the break. Josh Massey suffered a leg injury in the build up to the try, forcing the Lichfield team to adapt moving backrow forward Charlie Milner into the centre and bringing Chris Upton into the back row.

As the home team joyfully gathered together for their half time team talk, buoyed on by a confident and expectant home crowd, Lichfield retreated to the changing rooms to reassess their situation. The coaching staff and players all knew that if they could maintain possession and defend for longer than three phases then they could possibly push Walsall to breaking point.

And the second half could not of got off to a better start with Milner, now playing at inside centre, running a lovely dummy centre switch move to run in under the posts within the first minute of the second half, converted by Greg Massey.

This signalled the start of a superb fightback and Milner crossed the line again only four minutes later after some excellent phase play in which Lichfield played back and forth towards the touch line, demonstrating superb continuity skills and interpassing between forwards and backs alike. The willingness and confidence of the young visiting backs to run from their own line paid off when a slick backs move freed Greg Massey to run the length of the pitch to score in the 53rd minute, before converting his own score.

Massey landed a further penalty which bounced off and over the bar in the 58th minute to take Lichfield into a five point lead. With both teams now struggling to maintain the tempo of the game, based in no small part to Lichfield’s enthusiasm to run everything from anywhere, Walsall scored a try after the visitors were turned over in the centre of the pitch. Matt Wood, who had a superb game with the boot converted once again to take the score to 38-36 in Walsall’s favour and set up a nail biting final period of the game.

The introduction of Adam Clarke and Callum Turner for Lichfield added fresh legs to the battle and allowed them to exert more pressure on the Walsall line. Repeated infringements allowed the greens to inch closer and closer to the home22m area and Lichfield’s set piece, which had been effective all game, provided a sound platform for them to launch from.

After some excellent phase play, the visitors set up a ruck five metres out from the Walsall try line. As all of the hosts expected Matt Smith to pass right, the impressive Paul Maxwell-Keys glided unnoticed around to the blindside and executed a superb off-load to set up Brad Rowlands in the corner for an outstanding try. This took the score to 38-41 in Lichfield’s favour with eight minutes left on the clock.

Walsall then threw everything at Lichfield, but some outstanding defensive work, most notably by Adam Clarke, Joe Thompson and George Cotterhill, ensured an amazing fightback and victory for this new look Lichfield team.

Along with the work rate of a enthusiastic forward pack, with the likes of Derrick Squire, Dave Bassett, Ben Sowden and Steve Gabbitass working incredibly hard in the tight, dark contact areas to good effect, the team spirit and work rate shown by the entire squad was perhaps the most pleasing aspect in what was a hard fought and well earned victory for the myrtle greens.

Lichfield welcome Bournville – who lie second in the league – to Cooke Fields on Saturday (January 14).

Lichfield: Sowden, Gabbitass, Bassett (c), Thompson, Squire, Paulson, Milner, Burton; Smith, Maxwell-Keys, Rowlands, J Massey, G Cotterhill, Brown and G Massey. Subs: Clarke, Upton and Turner.