IN a fitting end to the club’s 150th anniversary year, Lichfield returned to winning ways against a stubborn Newark side to stay top heading into 2025.
Blustery conditions influenced play, particularly during the first half, but a solid collective effort saw the Myrtle Greens brush Newark aside.
Despite the visitors taking an early three point lead, dogged defence throughout ensured they did not add to their tally after that.
Lichfield scored the first of their seven tries on seven minutes. Quick inter-passing and a fine individual break by the impressive Paul Maxwell-Keys led to Freddie Wilson taking the final pass and scoring the first of his three tries of the afternoon. Josh Butler added the conversion, the first of six successful ones on a day not conducive to kicking.
The hosts consolidated their lead on 12 minutes. Newark were pinned back in their 22 and conceded a penalty five yards out. The city side took the tap option which led to Danny Griffin barging over after close forwards interplay.
After a period when the visitors came into the game – helped by a series of penalties conceded by the hosts – Lichfield pressure at the scrum led to a relieving penalty. From the resulting lineout they put together a solid passage of play, recycling quick ball and ending with Wilson scoring his second. Butler added the points to stretch the lead to 19-3 on 27 minutes.
On half-time the hosts added to their lead with a try out of nowhere. Newark were enjoying a period of possession when Maxwell-Keys cleverly read a blindside move intercepting on halfway and outstripping the defence. Butler again topped up the tally.
While the blustery conditions eased at the start of the second half, rain did not improve matters.
But Lichfield pressed first and after a series of probing drives on Newark’s 22, Ditch Burton offloaded to Owen Boxall, who galloped over to extend the lead. Butler added the extras.
The visitors were not helped when they had a player sin binned for a late tackle off the ball. The home side took immediate advantage from the resulting line out as a planned move saw Maxwell-Keys feed off Burton and go over for his second try of the match. Butler’s conversion extended the lead to 37 points.
Lichfield then lost Burton to the sin bin and Newark enjoyed their best period of the game, but stout defence meant their efforts came to nothing.
The Myrtle Greens then worked their way upfield, dominating exchanges and imposing their impressive passing style on the game as conditions eased.
From a ruck on Newark’s 22, Olly Green went in at scrum half and saw the opportunity to break through the defence, draw the last man and offload to the ever present Wilson, who cantered in to complete his hat-trick of tries and cap an imposing personal performance.
Butler added the points and Lichfield ran out comfortable winners 47-3 to continue their unbeaten run in front of their own supporters.