Lichfield RUFC’s development squad endured a tough test as they came out on top in a tricky fixture at Handsworth.

They had another much-changed starting line-up, with first appearances at senior level for a couple of the Colts squad.

This was definitely a tougher proposition than some of their previous games and predictably they experienced being behind for the first time this season. However, when they finally kept their composure long enough to string together multiple phases of play, their overall fitness and skill levels came good and they sneaked away with a late win.

Playing up the notorious Handsworth slope they conceded two first half tries before Matt Brown pulled one back to leave them 12-5 down at half-time.

When Brown got another five minutes into the second half it looked like they would then get on top, but the hosts then exerted their own period of pressure with a series of five metre line-outs and close range scrums, one of which eventually ended with their No 8 touching down for a try which was also converted.

To their credit, the young Lichfield team still stuck to their belief in running rugby, and it paid off when Will Wedgwood put Tom Storr clear to finish off a really nice team try. Fellow Colt Tim Lloyd stepped up to slot the difficult conversion and they were back in the game at 19-17 down with just 15 minutes to play.

The visitors then pressurised the home line looking for the winning score. After a number of scrums which just failed to produce a pushover try, the forward pressure did finally pay off when Mike Lote forced his way over the line. Tim Lloyd again added the conversion, and they held out quite comfortably for the last five minutes to win 24-19.