Lichfield RUFC battled hard for their 39-10 victory at Walsall.
After a heavy week of rain, the pitch looked weathered but in a reasonable condition. This never detracted from the quality of rugby being played as the crowd were treated to a physical display from the Greens.
The first ten minutes were slightly fractious as both teams missed penalties at goals.
It was Lichfield who faired the better as they kept hold of the ball and energetically went about things. An excellent set piece line from Dave Abel allowed Josh Massey to slot his first penalty of the day.
Almost instantly Walsall struck back, as a counter attack from a clearance saw them earn three points from a breakdown infringement.
Continued Lichfield pressure held the hosts in their half and the dominance in the set piece showed, as lineouts and scrums were being won against the head.
A scrum five metres from the Walsall line saw Jonny Evans scamper over, with Massey converting.
The home side had their moments, attacking into the Lichfield 22, but sharp resolute defense saw defence turned into attack as the ball was turned over and the visitors were awarded a penalty in the Walsall half.
The Greens started to find their wide game, as they dragged Walsall from touchline to touchline, the final killer pass just missing its target as the ball went to ground on two occasions.
The game was going through a number of restarts, as knock ons and maintained pressure on the home kickers kept them deep in their half.
It was a turnover from a lineout that saw the backs execute a wide move that saw Greg Massey beat his defender to score.
This proved to be a catalyst, as Lichfield scored directly from the restart. Evans’ box kick was chased down, with Walsall spilling forward. Milner gathered and raced in from 70 metres to score. Massey was unable to convert, and the hosts went in at half-time leading 20-3.
The second half saw play revolve around the halfway, as Lichfield again won Walsall’s lineout. A breakdown penalty saw Massey kick deep into the 22, with the lineout being driven over, Derrick Squire emerging with the ball in hand.
Walsall began to find some rhythm as the visitors infringed too often. This was only short lived, as they tried to push the tempo, but the defence was more than equal to it.
An excellent kick from Josh Massey saw play taken 60 metres up field, and though the hosts were able to clear their lines, they never escaped their half, and Lichfield again asserted pressure by holding onto the ball well and moving the defence from touchline to touchline.
The game was beginning to open up, and it was the Greens fairing the better against a tiring defence, only for errors to deny them. When Walsall did attack, organised and aggressive defence forced them to kick possession away, which Jonny Evans duly returned for a 60 metre gain.
Walsall were being forced into mistakes, and a loose ball was hacked forward by Evans who gathered and leapt over the line, Massey converting.
Lichfield were made to work from the kick off, as the home side gathered and worked into the 22 for the first time. Excellent work from forwards and backs repelled the attack, only for an offside penalty to be awarded. Walsall opted for a scrum and went forward well, the referee awarding another penalty which went down to another scrum. Lichfield turned this over and were able to kick long down field, the resulting counter attack only finding half-way.
The continuing pressure in attack and defence kept Lichfield camped in the Walsall half. Some physical play to gain the ball back, saw a deft kick in behind from Massey which was hacked forward and gathered by Fielding to score. Massey converted and Lichfield lead 39-3.
Walsall, to their credit, kept coming forward, and they were rewarded late into the game, as their forward pack drove close to the line. The scrum half saw a slight gap, and was able to scamper over for a converted try.
Lichfield RUFC: Taylor, Clarke, Bassett (c), Southern, Squire, Milner, Abel, Burton; Evans, J Massey, R Fielding, Maxwell-Keys, Adams, D Rowlands, G Massey. Subs: Gabbitass, Thompson, Turner
