Lichfield RUFC produced a fine performance to beat Stoke 34-23.
The visitors arrived at Cooke Fields with the reputation of an unbeaten team, having gained promotion the previous season. They made their intentions clear from the kick off, spreading the ball and looking to kick ahead for territory. However, they home defence was well organised and soaked up the pressure from the Stoke backs.
When Lichfield eventually got their hands on the ball, they went through their phases and created the mis-match they wanted out wide. The ball was spread to Paul Maxwell-Keys who showed pace and strength to beat the drifting defence, before chasing down his own neat kick to score in the corner.
The game was nicely poised at 5-0 with both teams exchanging plays, until the hosts were penalised for being offside. Stoke’s fly-half showed his accuracy to strike the ball between the posts from 30 metres out.
From the restart, Lichfield again showed their intent, with Dave Abel gathering a beautifully lofted Luke Massey kick. This put the home side on the front food, and Stoke’s defence couldn’t live with the accuracy and speed at which the ball was being moved. The end result was a penalty five metres out, with captain Bassett showing confidence in his pack and calling for a scrum. The resulting move saw five passes move the ball from one edge of the pitch to the other for Josh Massey to score in the corner.
The water was constantly on and off the pitch in the heat and with 25 minutes gone, the first changes were made.
The pressure Lichfield were applying was relentless, gathering speed as they ate up the metres to Stoke’s try line. With the ball again being moved wider and wider, the visiting defence was found wanting, as a loop ball from Ollie Winter saw him step inside three defenders to score Lichfield’s third try of the game. Massey had found his range, and converted to make the score 17-3 with just 27 minutes on the clock.
Things were looking ominous for Stoke, but the home side began to make mistakes and indiscipline allowed the visitors to play their game. Fly-half Sam Christmas with his second penalty of the game, and then a yellow card for Richard Burton, saw Lichfield down to 14 men camped on their own try line. Stoke made no mistake and outside centre Simon Price muscled his way over for his side’s first try. Christmas converted to send his side in 17-13 behind.
The visitors started the second half as they had ended the first, putting pressure on Lichfield’s try line. This again resulted in another penalty for offside, and dead eye Christmas gladly accepted, taking the score to 17-16.
Changes were taking place, and with the hosts regaining their sin binned player, they started to play their rugby. Greg Massey scored a well worked try from a scrum which Josh Massey converted, and five minutes later, Richard Burton redeemed himself, crashing over from short range. Massey converted to make the score 31-16.
Twenty minutes of dominance had all but sealed the win and a bonus point. Stoke continued to push, but Lichfield’s defence was strong, limiting their efforts. Laziness on the halfway line showed the visiting side’s ability, when scrum-half Rowley evaded three tackles to draw the fullback and feed the inside supporting runner for an easy seven pointer.
With the score now at 31 – 23, the visitors were in touching distance, pushing hard for their next try, yet Lichfield held their nerve and played smart. Kicking for territory and defending hard in the opposition half. They rewarded with ten minutes to play as Stoke were penalised at the breakdown. Luke Massey added the points to put his side out of reach.
Lichfield: Machin, Gabbitass, Bassett (c), Upton, Squire, Taplin, Abel, Milner; Aspley, L Massey, J Massey, Winter, D Rowlands, Maxwell-Keys, G Massey. Subs: McDonough, Burton, B Rowlands.
