Bridgnorth 14 Aston old Edwardians 16
BRIDGNORTH RFC firsts narrowly lost a match on Saturday, that on reflection, they really should have won. Bridgnorth are still getting properly organised under coach Richard Wood, and there were several changes in the team that really bore fruit.
The second row partnership of Liam Holland and Tanners man of the match John Watson did work very well, and both players grafted very hard for the team.
The front row of Stuart Edwards, Danny Griffiths and Chris Geyton held their own quite well to start with, and young Adam Stirling came on later in the game to give added support.
The match started with Aston Old Edwardians pressing the Bridgnorth line for quite long periods. The tenacity of the Bridgnorth team at defending was admirable, but not matched by some poor decision making in open play.
Bridgnorth still persisted in trying to play all their running rugby in their own half, which is meat and drink to any opposition, instead of just simply gaining territory as a first option.
When Bridgnorth eventually did get inside the opposition 22 yard line, skipper Gareth Bladen quickly span the ball out to fly half Danny Markevics who brilliantly and quite instinctively, broke through the Aston line to score a super try under the posts. Matt Farrington then converted easily to put Bridgnorth ahead, and they were looking eagerly to increase on this superb score.
Aston, however, were allowed to come back into the match again, and the home side suffered a yellow card when Mike Preece was adjudged to have committed a deliberate knock on while appearing to very nearly performing what would have been a perfect interception. While this was very galling, Bridgnorth also then began to leak penalties, and by half time Aston had hauled themselves back to 7-6.
Bridgnorth put Old Edwardians under pressure in the second half, but still found themselves pinned into their own half. They did not help themselves by missing several touch kicks from half back, but this can all soon be fixed by more application in training.
Bridgnorth were then unlucky to lose their fly half Markevics to the sin bin as well after he was adjudged to have handled on the floor. Aston kicked the resultant penalty to put the visitors ahead, and as they now had a two man advantage, were soon able to force a good try out wide from their centre, which was then converted to make the score 16-7.
Although Bridgnorth were soon back to their full complement of players, they now found themselves chasing the game. The home side came back into the match well against the tiring Aston side, but then disastrously spurned yet another potential shot at goal.
Bridgnorth did go on to score a really great try when substitute Paul Markevics timed his pass perfectly to put Preece over in the corner for a really good score.
This was then easily converted, with the home side left to rue thoughtfully what might have been.
This performance was nevertheless encouraging in that the half backs looked better with Bladen’s pass now much quicker, and fly half Danny Markevics showing, apart from some wayward touch kicking, some really talented touches, and deceptive pace.
There is still plenty to work on for the side, and providing the side works at it, with Stafford and Stourbridge Lions still to play in the league, they can still look forward to finishing the season on a high note.