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# Old Laurentians RUFC 17 Lichfield RUFC 46
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/old-laurentians-rufc-17-lichfield-rufc-46/
- Published: 2011-02-17T15:13:02.000Z
- Updated: 2011-02-17T15:13:02.000Z
- Author: Lichfield RUFC
- Tags: Sport, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:32

Lichfield RUFC travelled to Old Laurentians expecting a tough test against a team who had only been beaten once at home all season.

The Myrtle Greens started brightly and early pressure brought them a penalty which Josh Massey converted for a 3-0 lead in the fourth minute.

The visitors dominated territory and possession in the first half and Laurentians defended manfully to hold out the Greens. However pressure eventually told and in the 23d minute Rich Burton got on the end of a move that had gone through numerous phases to score a fine try, Josh Massey converting and Lichfield were 10-0 up.

The hosts were threatening and made a number of breaks but Lichfield’s cover defence stood firm and the home side were unable to make the breakthrough.

Indeed it was the visiting side who had the last word when, in the 30th minute, and after another period of controlled continuity, Dave Bassett burst through a hole to crash over, Massey again adding the conversion as Lichfield finished the half 17-0 to the good.

The visitors expected Laurentians to come back in the second half and they weren’t disappointed.

In the 47th minute the the home fly half got his side on the board with a penalty to narrow the margin to 17-3\. This seemed to open the floodgates for what proved to be an exciting, open second half of rugby.

Lichfield’s forwards were hungry for the ball and after the two tries for the pack in the first half, Derrick Squire made it a hat-trick, muscling over from close range, Massey adding the obligatory conversion and Lichfield had pulled away again 24-3 only a minute after conceding their first points of the game.

Laurentians threw caution to the wind and in an inspired spell of rugby, during which Lichfield were down to 14 with Will Cotterhill in the sin bin, the hosts’ dangerous full back scored tries in the 52nd and 56th minute, both converted by their experienced fly half to put them right back in the mix at 24-17.

The Myrtle Greens continued to press, Greg Massey made a number of threatening line breaks and Tom Adams made numerous bulldozing runs to set up field position for the forwards. Lichfield were very astute at taking the right options and Brear, Cotterhill and Brown took the opportunity to counter whenever the chance arose.

Will Cotterhill had his usual busy game, controlling the forwards and varying the game to confuse the Laurentians defence. He was replaced in the 65th minute by the experienced Dave Butler but the flow of the game didn’t falter.

In the 64th minute Josh Massey converted a penalty to restore Lichfield’s cushion to a two score margin at 27-17\. This seemed to boost the away team and deflate the home side. Straight from the kick off Lichfield roared forward again and after some great off loading Steve Gabbitass crashed over and with Massey adding the extras to put his side 34-17 ahead with 15 minutes to play.

The visitors’ forward effort had been rewarded with tries for four of the forwards and in the 72nd minute Joe Thompson, making a welcome and influential return from injury, rampaged over, Massey again converting to put the game out of reach of the home side at 41-17.  
In the final minute and with time up, Lichfield skipper Bassett opted for the scrum from a penalty rather than finishing the game and the Lichfield team responded by again displaying their flair and power, Josh Massey adding a final try in the corner, just reward for the hard working backs, and finishing the game with an impressive score of 46-17.

This was a further demonstration of how much Lichfield are improving and also the strength in depth of their squad. Ollie Savage had a fine game in the front row and Chris Upton made an influential contribution when he replaced the hard working Rich Burton who suffered an unfortunate dislocation to his shoulder.

Paulson and Milner were again outstanding in the back row and the ball carrying of the forwards is undoubtedly paying dividends as the try count demonstrates. The tight five of Bassett, Gabbitass, Savage, Squire and Thompson were equally impressive in the tight. The whole squad contributed to this victory, Butler, Taylor and Upton making telling contributions from the bench.

This was a complete team performance, the Lichfield backs this week setting up the territory for the forwards to exploit and giving a huge defensive display shutting out and closing down the opposition back line time after time.

The Myrtle Greens continue away from home and next week travel to Leamington (February 19). Lichfield had a tough game against the same opposition earlier in the season and will not be underestimating their opponents who are fighting for survival.

**Lichfield:** Savage, Gabbitass, Bassett (c), Thompson, Squire, Burton, Milner, Paulson; W Cotterhill, J Massey, Brown, Adams, G Massey, G Cotterhill, Brear. Subs: Taylor, Upton and Butler.