- Wolverhampton 0 Bridgnorth 23
BRIDGNORTH RFC returned from their weather-induced winter break to record an encouraging victory over local rivals Wolverhampton at Castlecroft on Saturday.
New first XV coach Richard Wood has used the intervening time profitably to get to know the players and instil some much-needed basic discipline and technique into the side.
Bridgnorth opened strongly in this match with fly half Chris Cadwallader running some very good lines and linking up well with skipper Gareth Bladen.
The forwards were without several regulars, and all of the replacements really performed well, keeping their concentration and discipline throughout this hard fought match.
Bridgnorth opened the scoring with a super try, after Bladen fed his fly half Cadwallader, and the ball soon sped into the hands of former skipper Mike Preece.
It was really no contest as the experienced centre sped round his opposite number and planted the ball beneath the posts. Cadwallader then converted easily to push Bridgnorth further into the lead. He was then on hand soon after to repeat the dose with a good penalty after an infringement from the Wolverhampton pack.
Bridgnorth then held their line well under Wolverhampton pressure, and it was against the run of play that Preece broke free again on the home side’s 22 metre line to sprint and outpace the home defence and score another great try which Cadwallader again converted before half time.
Bridgnorth’s tackling and defence thwarted Wolverhampton in the second half, and although Bridgnorth did have their fly half sin binned, this was only after he had added to the score with another well taken penalty.
The Bridgnorth forwards were impressive when they had the ball in hand, with some simple, and effective driving play that put Wolverhampton on the back foot.
This pressure resulted in Wolverhampton trying to kick their way out of trouble, and one such kick led to full back Farrington making a good break down the middle of the pitch, before feeding his supporting backs and fed skipper Gareth Bladen who crashed over wide out.
Although the conversion missed, this was a deserved score, and reward for Bridgnorth’s hard work and patience. There is plenty to build on here with this side, and next week’s match away against another local rival, Ludlow RFC , should be a stern test for this improving Bridgnorth side. Tanners man of the match was Chris Cadwallader.