Lichfield came out on top after a tight encounter against Long Eaton.
The Myrtle Greens, who saw their defence and breakdown work shine all afternoon, held out after a late rally from the visitors to claim four points.
Long Eaton had long periods of dominance – territorial and possession – in the first half. The orchestra was admirably conducted by the influential ex-Glasgow Warriors and Nottingham man Murray McConnell at scrum half to help his side to a 12-0 interval lead.
The advantage really should have been more, but Lichfield scrambled well in their red zone when it mattered most.
Whatever was exactly said at half time worked. Injuries removed Danny Griffin and Sam Benson from the field, replaced by Cal Hagyard and Ollie Green respectively, and the whole dynamics of the side were different.
Lichfield slowly tightened their grip on the game and enjoyed a key period between 50 and 65 minutes as they claimed three tries in worsening weather conditions.
Just as it looked like the city side were going to struggle to find a way through the Long Eaton rearguard, Harvey Wootton picked a perfect line as he strode through their midfield and under the posts for the first try, Kai Lucas-Dumolo converting.
Lichfield continued to control the contest with the backs stretching the visitors to allow Tom Day to go over in the clubhouse corner.
Try number three soon followed in the same corner as Josh Butler with a neat step inside.
A few penalties went the Long Eaton way, with the inevitable kick to the corner but Lichfield marshalled themselves for one big effort to hold out for a key victory that leaves them eight points clear of the visitors, who have a game in hand.
The men’s 2nds won 33-26 at Nuneaton for a first league success, while the ladies’ red and green teams maintained their winning starts to the season with respective victories over Sutton by 45-5 and Burton by 69-0. The Colts, however, lost at Bridgnorth by one score in their latest league fixture.