Lichfield RUFC achieved a reasonably comfortable victory in this league match which had been postponed from back in December – but despite securing their four try bonus point as early as the 20th minute, they never really capitalised fully on their superiority over the visitors.
After a disjointed first few minutes, Josh Massey managed to jink through the opposition to give Greg Massey the first try – which Josh also converted.
However rather than settling Lichfield down, mistakes allowed Worcester to come back at them right from the restart, and after conceding a number of driving mauls, the visitors second row forced his way over near the posts . The simple conversion levelled the scores.
This setback was enough to focus the home minds for a while and they then played their best rugby of the match as they notched up three tries in the space of five minutes. First numerous phases of possession ended with Greg Massey finding a big hole in the visitors defence and he ran in to score, then Chris Upton forced his way over, then Will Cotterhill had a great solo run down the touchline before feeding Tom Paulson who in turn passed it on to fellow back-rower Charlie Milner who just about had the speed to get to the line for his first try for the first team. Josh Massey added two of the three conversions and Lichfield were already 26-7 up.
The Myrtle Greens even managed to squander a number of very good chances to go further ahead. This generosity seemed to give Worcester confidence and they rallied for a while.
After Lichfield had just about repelled another series of rolling mauls from a five metre lineout, their impressive No 8 Griffiths broke off the resulting scrum to set up winger Jenkinson to score in the corner, and reduce the half-time deficit to just 14 points.
It was important for Lichfield to start the second period well and they did just that. In the very first minute Greg Massey broke the defensive line before passing inside for full back Gareth Brear to score, then five minutes later the best backs move of the game ended with Tom Adams getting the last inside pass to score another fine try. Josh Massey added one of the conversions.
Then again they relaxed to allow Worcester back on the attack and a couple of missed tackles allowed Griffiths to score an unconverted try, before Greg Massey completed a personal hat-trick as he once agai ran around the Worcester defence to squeeze in at the corner before touching down under the posts. Brother Josh converted and Lichfield were well clear again.
This score really should have heralded even more tries but disappointingly they subsequently lost most of their fluency and as a result the last 25 minutes of the game remained scoreless.
Seven tries, a convincing score-line and five more league points was a pretty good afternoon’s work, but Lichfield know they could have done even better and that they will certainly need to be more clinical in coming weeks if they are to beat the teams immediately around them in the league, and so be able to move up from their current sixth position.
This Saturday (March 5) they have another home league match when Nuneaton Old Edwardians are the next visitors to Cooke Fields (kick-off 3pm).
Lichfield: Sowden, Gabbitass, Bassett (c), Thompson, Squire, Upton, Milner, Paulson, W Cotterhill, J Massey, G Cotterhill, Adams, G Massey, Brown, Brear. Reps: Savage, Laxton and Aspley.
