Regional Midlands One

Lichfield RFC 23 Newent RFC 16

THE Green Army travelled to Lichfield where a heavy pitch and two fully committed defences produced an intensively competitive game of few clear cut try-scoring chances.

Newent will be disappointed not to have held on for more than a losing bonus point having established a 13-0 lead going into the second quarter, but head coach Sam Goatley was pleased with a performance which was “a big step up” from previous away games.

The visitors’ early pressure stemmed from kicks from Will Hartland and Tom Webb, with a penalty against Lichfield at a ruck – an area tightly refereed throughout – giving Newent a lineout 20m out.

Leo Oakey secured and the maul drove forward, before hooker Ethan Allen broke down the blindside, side-stepping the last defender to touch down.

Webb added a good conversion before notching three points a couple of minutes later when Lichfield were penalised for a high tackle – another area strictly refereed – on their 10m line.

An inch-prefect cross-kick from Webb was then delivered straight into the long stride of full-back Doug Long, but he was tackled in the air, earning a yellow card for opposite number Ollie Green.

And Lichfield were penalised again in front of their posts, after a strong carry from Ben Vincent.

Ted Bailey took a quick tap and Newent appeared to have an overlap wide on the left, but Nathan Brooks was held just short.

The referee went back to the penalty, as Lichfield had not retreated, and Webb took the straightforward three points for a 13-0 lead after 21 minutes.

But Newent were then penalised for a high tackle from their contestable restart kick, leading to a converted try for the hosts.

A big tackle from Ethan Allen then stopped a Green run, but the visitors were penalised for entering the ruck from the side and Charlie Milner kicked to reduce the lead to three points.

Two Webb penalties then drifted wide, with Newent leading 13-10 at the break.

After the restart, holding on at a ruck 30m out saw the Green Army pinged, but Milner’s kick bounced back off an upright and Bailey cleared.

Lichfield made no mistake from a repeat offence though, making it 13-13 going into the final quarter.

Webb had another chance from a tight angle after another high tackle which saw Milner shown yellow.

And he made no mistake a few minutes later when Lichfield were penalised 20m out following a multi-phased attack sparked by Long running back a kick fielded on his own 22 (13-16).

But going into the last 15 minutes, Webb went off injured, and when Newent were penalised 10m out in front of their posts Lichfield opted for a scrum.

Newent’s pack held firm, but Lichfield ran the ball for outside centre Paul Maxwell-Keys to cross.

Milner added a good conversion (20-16) and the hosts were ahead for the first time with around five minutes left.

Long ran back Lichfield’s long restart clearance but, lacking support, conceded a penalty, converted for 23-16.

Allen then took a return pass from his short throw and made ground before replacement Josh Lever made a rare dent in Lichfield’s midfield defence, only for the ball to be lost forward 30m out, with Lichfield securing their scrum ball to clear to touch for victory.

Newent Phoenix were 40-12 winners away to Gordon 2nds last weekend, but have this Saturday off, when the 1sts host Banbury.

Elsewhere, Ross fell to a hefty 60-11 loss away to Matson 2nds, and will be looking to bounce back away to Smiths 2nds this weekend.