1st XV
Matches
Sat 06 Jan 2018  ·  Midlands 2 East (North)
Loughborough RFC
1st XV
10
23
West Bridgford
Loughborough come up just short to league leaders

Loughborough come up just short to league leaders

James Busby17 Jan 2018 - 13:00
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LRFC v West Bridgford RFC

Loughborough put in a solid performance against league leaders West Bridgford but were not able to convert possession into points and ultimately went down 23 – 10 in what was an enthralling contest.

Despite the cold and damp conditions, both teams went at each other full of aggression and purpose in the first match since the Christmas break. The visitors took the lead early opting to take a shot at goal after kicking a succession of penalties to the corner and coming up with nothing due to the home side’s iron defence.

For the next 20 minutes it was all Loughborough, the forwards and backs pounding the West Bridgford line with wave after wave of attack. The vital score did not come quickly however. Again Borough’s pack was dominant at scrum time, constantly causing the opposition front row to buckle under sustained pressure. However, the referee deemed that no infringement was severe enough or close enough to the WB line to award a penalty try or a yellow card despite many of these penalty offenses being committed on the opposition’s 5 yard line. Eventually though the defensive line was broken and Borough’s pack bulldozed another scrum over the line and Kieran Hewgill dropping on the ball to score: 5 – 3.

The remainder of the half was a case of missed opportunities and solid defence as both teams strove to keep the other out. But late on LRFC’s defence was breached, WB scoring a well worked try out wide. Halftime score 5 – 11.

The beginning of the second half mirrored that of the first in respect of Borough’s dominance up front. This resulted in a score for Thomas Kirkby (standing in at 9 for the injured Ole Ryan) who nipped round the fringe of a breakdown to make it a one point game. Conversion missed: 10 – 11.

Loughborough continued to press with strong carries from Rhys Kearton and Harry Mitchell in the middle of the park consistently testing the visitor’s defence. However it was discipline which let WB back in. A penalty midfield allowed the opposition 10 (whose kicking controlled the game superbly for WB) to ping Borough back in their 22. From here the WB pack caught and drove, built up a head of steam and powered over for the score. Unconverted – 10 – 16.

The score seemed destined to remain unchanged to the final whistle, when suddenly play broke up and the ball was slipped out wide to Aaron Brown who thundered down the touch line, slipped the ball inside to Mitchell who had options either to go himself or either side to touch down for a score with only minutes remaining. However Brown Mitchell & Co had not heard the refs whistle who had adjudged the pass to Brown to have been forward and so play was brought back for a scrum.

Still LRFC didn’t relent, but what a difference 30 seconds can make. With play in the midfield, both supporters and players alike had assumed the ref had seen Jamie Grice successfully get his hands on the ball at a ruck and would blow for a penalty in favour of the home team for holding on – he did not. Moments later Borough conceded a penalty and from the ensuing line out, WB powered over again from short range for the score. Conversion successful: 10 – 23. With only one play left there was not enough time for LRFC to score again and with the final whistle went Borough’s chance of a bonus point.

Loughborough should take enormous confidence from the game. They were after all playing the team that is running away with the league already and it could have been won. Again the pack was dominant and in conditions more suited to piano shifters rather than piano players the backs looked sharp and dangerous. Special mentions to Toby Williams for some superb chop tackling, to the front row for forcing WB to sub a prop after 20 minutes and still being dominant and to TK for a probing performance at nine.

Next week sees Loughborough travel to Matlock RFC, kick off 2.15pm – supporters always welcome.

Match details

Match date

Sat 06 Jan 2018

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

Midlands 2 East (North)

League position

1
West Bridgford
11
Loughborough
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Ladies sponsor - CR Civils
Club Sponsor - Charnwood Brewery
Seniors - Cooper Alloys
Seniors - OP Fit
Seniors - St Martin's Coffee Roasters