A YOUTHFUL Lichfield side suffered defeat in their top of the table clash at Dronfield.
The visitors had to contend with a lack of experience and match action due to recent postponements against a strong home side, but will still take heart from the purple patches they did enjoy during the encounter.
Dronfield opened the scoring after just two minutes. Combative outside centre Joe Farrell made the original break before right wing Reika Mahmid as able to scramble over the line legally on all fours. Captain Jake Steade extended the lead to eight points with a straight penalty soon after.
Lichfield responded well as they started to settle into the match, despite their scrum and lineout being under constant pressure.
They worked their way into the Dronfield 22 more and more often and looked confident in their systems and processes. The reward was a smartly taken quick penalty, which afforded Sam Benson a try by the posts, converted by Kai Lucas-Dumolo.
Almost immediately, Henry Nevitt – later to go off with another shoulder knock – put the visitors into the lead with a penalty from his own half.
The remainder of the opening period was very even, although Steade put his side in front right on half time with another penalty following some defiant Lichfield defence.
The home side were soon exploiting their local knowledge of the sloping pitch as Steade kicked a further penalty, while a break by wing George Finlay opened the way for Farrell to score a second try.
Their lead was extended to 14 points after they drove a lineout over from short distance with hooker George Burch at the bottom of the pile.
Lichfield could have caved in, but they found some decent possession and pounded the Dronfield line for several minutes. The home defence was exemplary and they saw out the danger and were eventually able to escape before exploiting a dropped ball for Greg Cooke was able to barge his way over. Steade converted.
The city side rallied again and found a way to earn themselves a second try through Josh Butler, converted by Lucas-Dumolo – but time did not allow the chance to grab a bonus point.
