Lichfield RUFC’s trip to Kenilworth saw them return with a win which edges them closer to a fourth place finish.
The visitors started the game with an impressive tempo and the pack asserted themselves aggressively on their opponents. Dynamic runs from Steve Gabbitass, Richard Burton and Joe Thompson made huge inroads, but after 10 minutes of continued pressure Lichfield only walked away with three points from the boot of Greg Massey.
From the restart, the Myrtle Greens struggled to clear their lines and Kenilworth were soon on the score board following some sloppy defence, allowing home centre Will Owen to score in the corner.
Both teams then struggled to gain any authority of the game for the ensuing quarter of an hour, with Lichfield seemingly incapable of catching the ball and generating any phases. Eventually, Will Cotterhill broke the line and sprinted impressively to score beneath the posts, converted by Greg Massey
However, the visitors again struggled to build upon the pressure which the score had placed the opposition under, allowing the Kenilworth team, notably lock Andre Catalin-Graur, to make inroads into the Lichfield defence.
Kenilworth outside centre Simon Tyler scored close to the posts but he then failed to convert his own score.
Five minutes from half time the home tight head prop was sin binned for attempting to slow down a quick tap penalty and this added to the pressure on the pack as the half time break drew nearer.
The interval score of 10-10 reflected the nature of this hard fought contest.
Lichfield regrouped and from the kick off earned themselves a penalty directly in front of the posts after some superb counter rucking from Derrick Squire, kicked by Greg Massey once again.
Then followed a nine minute period in which the visitors amassed 14 unanswered points which gave them some breathing room. Paul Maxwell-Keys scored first after some superb work from the backline, before Greg Massey got on the scoreboard after some impressive work from the Lichfield pack at the scrum, an area where Dan Taylor was now causing the Kenilworth tight head all sorts of problems.
The Myrtle Greens again had a tiny lapse in concentration when the home wing Nyle Beckett crossed the line, converted by Tyler.
Tyler then kicked a penalty before once again Lichfield then awoke and scored 22 points to take the score to 20-49.
With the final play of the game, Kenilworth hooker Jonathan Cresswell crossed the line after some neat off-loading afforded him space to burrow over the line, converted by Tyler and taking the score to 27-49.
This game highlighted the fact that all teams are now fighting for points to either push hard for a top of the table finish or avoid the scrap at the foot of the table.
Lichfield now have a well earned rest before welcoming high flying Old Halesonians on March 24, a match which could see them pile the pressure on the teams above.
