A rampant Lichfield RUFC served up a February treat at Cooke Fields with an 87-25 thumping of Whitchurch.
In blustery conditions, the home side started the game at a ferocious pace, racking up a 17 point lead after just eight minutes.
The visitors couldn’t cope with the intensity and accuracy of Lichfield’s play, which culminated in early scores for centres Ollie Winter and Tom Adams.
Unfortunately, as was the case in recent matches with Burton and Walsall, the Greens took their foot of the accelerator and allowed Whitchurch back into the game. Two soft tries, including an alarmingly easy push-over score, brought them back into contention at 17-15.
However, this was a different Lichfield side to weeks gone by. Winter added two more first half tries to complete a 38-minute hat-trick, and openside Charlie Milner was on hand to finish another sweeping team move.
The hosts could be content with their 36-15 half time lead, but everyone knew there was more to come.
The second period started in surprisingly similar fashion. Any chance of a Whitchurch backlash was dispelled within a ruthless opening to the second period. Winter added a fourth and Brad Rowlands crossed out wide, before Milner’s second of the day brought up a 49-minute half century for the rampant hosts.
Far from easing their way to the finish line, Lichfield continued to pile on the pain for an increasingly disgruntled Whitchurch side. Replacement Dan Albutt showcased his power with a fine finish out wide, before Greg Massey made his overdue entry to the try-scoring club on 57 minutes.
Just four minutes later, the impressive Milner completed a hat-trick of his own, taking Lichfield’s burgeoning total to 70 points with just short of 20 minutes to play. Somewhat disappointingly, this score preceded the second momentary lapse of the day, as Whitchurch were able to stop the rot with two quick, well worked scores.
But the Greens were in no mood to finish on this sour note and quickly set about providing a barnstorming finish for the vociferous home crowd. Tom Adams crossed for his second of the day, before left wing Brad Rowlands became the third and final hat-trick hero with two determined late scores.
The match finished a huge 87-25 to the home side. This was a real advert for the quality of attacking rugby at this level, but more importantly Lichfield moved up to second in the table.
Next week the Greens take a break from league rugby when they travel to Walsall for the Staffordshire Cup Semi-Final.
Lichfield: McDonough, Gabbitass, Bassett (c), Upton, Thompson, Taplin, Milner, Burton; Clark, L Massey, B Rowlands, Winter, Adams, D Rowlands, G Massey. Subs: Machin, Albutt and Lote.
Click below to see more of Sam Baker’s pictures from the game:
