Old Salteians 34 Bridgnorth 16
THE Bridgnorth forwards battled gamely after being a man short for 30 of the 80 minutes. The main difference between the sides was at least three of the Salts’ backs were miles quicker than their opposite numbers.
Bridgnorth’s Chris Cadwallader opened the scoring with a penalty, but Salts countered with a strong run on the right wing, through feeble tackling, to skirt the Bridgnorth defence and touch down under the posts, for a simple seven points.
Another Cadwallader penalty kept Bridgnorth in touch 7-6 but then Salts showed why they are the second highest scorers in the League with another burst through under the posts and yet another on the right wing. One kick succeeded, leaving Salts well in command at 19-6.
Bridgnorth shuffled the pack with Craig Thomas moving to the wing, replacing Tom Parkes ,and Martin Jones joined the pack. Liam Holland also replaced the injured Lewis Pitcher.
Unfortunately Richard King reacted angrily to a late tackle on Matt Farrington, was marched back by the referee and ended up with ten minutes in the cooler. Saltleians collected another three points.
Shortly after another defensive lapse saw the home side collect another unconverted try, Another Cadwallader penalty brought the score to 27-9. Bridgnorth, with Richard King back on the field after a very long ten minutes, attacked strongly. The referee missed a head butt on the Bridgnorth No 8 but caught the retaliation and egged on by a near hysterical home supporters, gave King his permanent marching orders.
Bridgnorth threw everything into attack with Gareth Bladen, and Jimmy Gore making darting runs. The forwards, with Ken Milkins leading them, forced Salts to collapse the scrum for a well deserved penalty try. With the conversion Bridgnorth were back in the game.
Bridgnorth’s magnificent seven continued to dominate and from a maul within metres of the try line a Salts’ player emerged amazingly with the ball, and by some straight running and slick passing, Salts travelled the length of the field to score again between the posts. The kick sailed over and the whistle went for a score of 34-16.
The Bridgnorth forwards deserve an Oscar for a gutsy performance against severe odds, but the Tanners man of the match went to Jimmy Gore for some crunching tackles and good general play.
Bridgnorth entertain old rivals Shrewsbury on the Edgar Davies Ground tomorrow. Despite two league penalty points the Shropshire rivals have leapfrogged Bridgnorth and have achieved very similar results so far this season. It should be a cracking encounter.