Bridgnorth 27 Willenhall 17
by Geoff Davies
BRIDGNORTH RFC firsts returned to winning ways on Saturday, with an exciting win against a strong Willenhall side. Bridgnorth’s forwards were up against a larger, but admittedly, an older Willenhall pack, and despite a prolonged mid-match wobble, they emerged as worthy winners at the final whistle.
The home side opened the scoring with a smartly taken try from centre Mike Preece, after a fine break from full back Farrington. Cadwallader converted this try easily.
The younger and fitter Bridgnorth backs were generally sharper than their opposite numbers and were even awarded a penalty try after the quick thinking Jimmy Gore chipped through and was held back illegally by the Willenhall defence.
Fly half Chris Cadwallader again converted from beneath the posts, and was accurate again ten minutes later to further increase the Bridgnorth lead after Willenhall were again caught off side at a ruck just inside their own half.
Bridgnorth started the second half by taking their foot off the pedal, and the Willenhall pack then began to get their tails up. Willenhall were even awarded their own penalty try, such was the pressure they exerted, and they then proceeded to score a total of three unanswered tries, with only the penalty try being converted.
With the scores tied at this stage, Bridgnorth would previously have wilted in recent matches, but they stuck to their guns. Their superior fitness, allied to the discipline that has been coached into them by their new coach Richard Wood, they literally played Willenhall off the park in the final quarter of the match with simple play and teamwork.
Firstly, skipper Gareth Bladen scored a super try after Jimmy Gore and the forwards engineered a gap in the middle of the park after a good forward rush, with the tireless Liam Holland prominent.
Winger Danny Markevics then rounded off a great backs move to score in the corner to give Bridgnorth a ten point lead which they kept until the final whistle.
Bridgnorth play Dixonians tomorrow and despite a pack, and especially back row that needs some bolstering, the team will be pleased that they came back into this game, when it could easily have been lost.
