Worcester RFC are the biggest club in the West Midlands and Bridgnorth took the field with a totally untried side under new captain John Madden. As the two teams lined up it looked a bit like men against boys – but nothing could be further from the truth.
Careful selection by the All Blacks had put a wily old head in key positions to help direct the energy and undoubted skills of their much younger team mates. Almost from the first scrummage the Bridgnorth front row of Rob Rollings, Simon Bullock and captain Madden had their opponents in trouble and the Bridgnorth pack – although much lighter – were too quick in thought and deed for their opposite numbers.
Chairman Lance Taylor with his first outing in four years could be heard directing traffic and Bridgnorth’s dominance increased as the game wore on.
With a surfeit of good possession Gareth Bladen fed Charlie Ralph, who had a great game. The tall stand-off, with one or two darting runs, got his backs moving well and Bridgnorth came close to scoring several times. Bridgnorth, with marvellous retention of the ball, kept the ball alive and the vistors in defensive mode.
Whenever the visitors attempted to attack courageous tackling from Ben Rochelle, Zac Baker and Liam Holland stopped them in their tracks. Flankers Corey Barlow and Gareth Simms were also far quicker than their opposite numbers but Bridgnorth only led 21 - 0 at the break.
Simon Pennington, from full back, directed the backs and produced some straight runs for the line to show his colleagues the way and the tries came thick and fast. The visitors looked desparately tired towards the end and having used all their substitutes called on John Follette of Bridgnorth for help avoid passive scrums.
Bridgnorth brought on newcomer Cheney for Barlow, Peter Parkes for skipper Madden, with Paul Legge coming on for Simon Bullock and immediately celebrating by scoring a great try. Try scorers for Bridgnorth were Ben Hughes, Simon Pennington and Charlie Ralph (two each) and Steve Carrington, Lewis Pitcher and Paul Legge got each one.
Worcester were saved from further punishment when the heavens opened and the referee called a halt 11 minutes early.
Bridgnorth first XV are away to Aston Old Edwardians in their first league match of the season tomorrow and anyone interested in travelling contact Bob Turner on (01746) 716665.
