Ladies 2nd XV

Lichfield 2^nd XV also had their first game of the season in a friendly against North Staffs team – Eccleshall. Due to a number of new players joining Lichfield, the 2^nd team had a full complement and played some open rugby resulting in a good win. Tries were scored by Ros Reid (2) and Laura Bradley (2) with 3 conversions scored by new-comer Sian Moore. A great start to what we hope will be a successful season where many of the U18s squad are coming of age and starting to play senior rugby. Their next fixture is away at Cambridge on 4^th Oct with their 1^st home league fixture on 1^st Nov against Stoneygate.

For anyone wanting to play the game – whatever experience – from the age of 13 upwards, please contact Lichfield Ladies on lichfieldladies@hotmail.co.uk

A good day and pitch for running rugby but playing into a strong wind in the first half Lichfield were forced to soak up a great deal of pressure as the Cambridge kickers used the elements to put pressure on Lichfield’s back three.   Despite this pressure Lichfield managed to get the first score on the board with a well worked team try finished by Saskia.  The move had begun in Lichfield’s own half with a quick break by the scrum half Laura Bradley and fly half Tash Jones.
 
After this try Cambridge applied more pressure and after a sustained period of attacks managed to force their way over for their first score.  They completed the conversion from near the posts and pushed into a slender 7-5 lead.

The remainder of the first half was an attritional battle as Lichfield superior scrum often gave the team strong ball and the backs, looking strong, cut a number of holes.  On the other side Cambridge’s strong defence and kicking game continually forced Lichfield back into their own half and Lichfield were forced to withstand a number of periods of pressure in their own 22. 

With no further score before half time the conditions were now in Lichfield’s favour.  With the help of the conditions and their far superior forward pack Lichfield’s backs now enjoyed strong field positions and good ball to work with.  The first try of the half came after a period of interplay and offloads involving most of the Lichfield team.  The move was finished by Amy Philips under the posts – Amy converted her own try with a little help from the cross bar.

After this try Lichfield were on the front foot and another try for Amy soon followed,  this time a superb solo effort where she broke from within her own half and with just the full-back to beat she chipped ahead and collected her own kick for a score under the posts.

Amy completed her hat trick with a try won by the excellent and hardworking pack, with a scrum 10 metres out Lichfield pushed back the Cambridge pack and Amy picked up from number 8 and managed to force her way over.

The always lively Laura Bradley then started another break from inside the Lichfield half, as she broke from the back of the scrum, feeding centre’s Saskia and Ros Reid, Ros put in Jules W with some work to do but a with a great piece of winger’s skill she held off two challenges and managed to make it into the corner before the cover defence.

Two more tries completed the one sided second half, Saskia touched down for her second try of the game after more strong running from Laura Bradley and the fly half Tash Jones.  The final score of the game was a just reward for Sylvia Chan, she could have had two or three tries but for great last ditch tackles by the Cambridge full, she finished another quick passing move from the Lichfield backs.

 The game started very well with strong Lichfield pressure right from the kick off as the forwards and backs interchanged off loads and passes to bring the ball into the Old Leams 22. This pressure eventually resulted in a try as Saskia Kobas got on the end of another strong passing move to score the first of her three tries.

From the resulting kick off Old Leams put some pressure on the Lichfield team as they attempted to get back into the game. However strong defence from Lichfield turned the ball over and again Lichfield returned the pressure to the Old Leams half of the pitch. Following a penalty for a high tackle by Old Leams, Lichfield kicked for the corner and caught and drove the lineout over the Old Leams line with Stacey Macguire picking up her first of two tries at the back of the maul.

Then came the first of two long delays in the game, another break by the Lichfield was finished by Saskia to complete her first half hat-trick, unfortunately in scoring the try the Old Leams defender was hurt badly. After a stoppage of 15 minutes and the arrival of an ambulance the game was restarted on a different pitch to give time for the medical staff to deal with the player.

With 10 mins left in the first half Old Leams used the delay to regain their composure and exerted some strong pressure on the Lichfield line. Again Lichfield’s defence held and there were no further scores in the first half.

In the second half there were a number of further extended stoppages and the game became broken. Both teams had periods of strong pressure but Lichfield were the only team able to make the most of their pressure, with 3 tries. The first, from Roz Reid, came after quick work on the wing by both Judy and Stacey Macguire - the mother and daughter combination making 30-40 metres before passing to Roz to put the finishing touch on the move. Stacey managed to get another try for herself as she found room between a ruck and the touchline to force her way over. And the final score came from the teams top try scorer of the season so far as Amy Phillips managed to force her way over after more good interplay between backs and forwards.

Lichfield fielded a strong team with substitutes for the first time this season, as some of the previous injuries had cleared up and some stalwarts from last year returned to action.

The game started in hectic fashion as both teams attacked each other’s 22’s, Moseley came out best of the period and managed to score a try in the corner after a period of strong attacks that ran Lichfield out of defenders.

 Lichfield stung by conceding a try went back on the attack and were in the lead within 5 minutes, a penalty inside the Moseley half was kicked into the corner for a lineout and from the resulting lineout Jo Nicholson was able to force her way over. Fly half Tash Jones scored and excellent conversion with a kick from almost on the side line.

Moseley used the wind well in the second half and were able to keep Lichfield pinned in their own half. A try came shortly into the second half as a period of forward pressure led to a try from push over maul. Again though the conversion was missed leaving Lichfield still with a slender lead.

Then came a moment that could have changed the match as a speculative kick was sent over the top from the Moseley fly half in bounced and bobbled and Lichfield’s defence was unable to clear. A charge down and dive on the loose ball gave Moseley another try and the lead in the game.

Lichfield summoned up all the efforts and turned the tide of the half to put the ball into Moseley’s half, a place where it had been for only limited periods. Another penalty and kick for the corner gave Lichfield a great attacking position and again Jo Nicholson was there to take advantage from the lineout as she crashed over to complete her hat-trick. Again Lichfield had stolen the lead by 4 slender points and with 10 minutes to go.

 Moseley used those last 10 minutes and the advantage of the wind to again camp in the Lichfield half but Lichfield showed great defence to repel attack after attack, often very close to their line. The 10 minutes ticked off very slowly but when the final whistle blew Lichfield had secured a good win.

Their tails up Nottingham attacked again straight from the kick off and again Lichfield struggled to get the ball away. A number of errors in their own 22 leading to increased Nottingham pressure and a try for on of the returning Lichfield “old girls”.

This fired Lichfield into action and they finally got a grip on the game and forced some pressure of their own with the back line using their talents to work the ball left and then right.   A quick penalty was taken and captain Laura Bradley ran through a static Nottingham defence and found support on her shoulder from Fi Fletcher, the move continued with more support arriving at pace and Lichfield got their first try on the board as Laura finished off her own move. The conversion was missed but Lichfield were back in the game.

Lichfield now had the bit between their teeth and they started to take lineout ball from Nottingham and to hold their scrums. Another passage of strong interplay from the Lichfield backs led to their second try as Fi Jones took on a mixed back line and fed her inside centre who managed to pop the ball off to Saskia who forced her way over the whitewash. Unfortunately the conversion was again missed leaving the teams level at half time.

The second half started brightly for Lichfield but unfortunately a number of injuries to some key players left Lichfield short on the pitch and Nottingham took charge. They scored a try from a strong run from the back of their dominant scrum and then swiftly after that they scored a fourth try for the afternoon as a kick over the top from another old Lichfield player (Debs Mason) brought a mistake in defence and Nottingham capitalised to force over another try.   The final try of the game capped off a very good game by Debs Mason as she ran back a Lichfield defensive kick and managed to beat the cover defence to the corner.