Lichfield RFC 17 - 28 Sheffield RUFC

Lichfield RFC 17 - 28 Sheffield RUFC

Team Selection for Saturday, 24th September 2016

15. Fergus Wood
14. Rupert Broadley
13. Ben Shore
12. Owen Smith
11. Alastair Womack
10. Andy Hodgson
9. Steven Depledge

1. Tobi Amemakin
2. Sam Graham
3. Tommy Marples
4. Dom Parsons (Capt)
5. Dave Clayden
6. George Wagstaff
7. Tom Womack
8. Alex Fawdry
Replacements
16. Dan Rylance
17. Jonny France
18. Gareth Morley

Following the disappointment of last week's performance at home to Derby, Sheffield travelled to Lichfield in the hope of re-establishing the early season's success. The team travelled without the services of full back Joe Cribley who is still on the injury list. Dan Rylance returned to the squad on the bench having been out since the pre-season game at Harrogate. Ali Womack and Gareth Morley swapped places on the left wing and the bench, with Jonny France dropping to the bench to allow Alex Fawdry the number 8 birth and George Wagstaff to move up to 6 off last week's bench. However, Lichfield increased their intensity and were dominant in a number of early scrums and were awarded a penalty just 5 metres out from the Sheffield line. Lichfield elected to take the scum and secured the ball and drove over the Sheffield line to score a try through their hooker, Stephen Gabitass. Wing Luke Massey converted and the scores were level at 7 points all on seven minutes. Sheffield created a number of promising opportunities, but much as last week managed to spurn the chances. By contrast, Lichfield created few chances, but some poor defensive work allowed them to score twice wide out on the left on 18 and 25 minutes through full back Greg Massey and scrum half Johnny Evans. On both occasions Luke Massey failed to convert, but Lichfield led by 17 points to 7. Sheffield gained a one man advantage on 33 minutes when the Lichfield blindside flanker, Dave Abel, was given a yellow card, but gained no score advantage as they managed to turn over ball and possession to the home side and the half end at 17 points to 7.

Lichfield kicked off and Sheffield, now playing with the wind, began to start playing for territory, using the boots of Andy Hodgson and Steve Depledge to push Lichfield back toward their own line. Whereas, Sheffield who had struggled at the scrum in the first half were now beginning to take control and were getting the benefit of the doubt with the referee in this area. With nearly 20 minutes of the half gone, Lichfield knocked on some 15 metres out, and were then penalised for holding on at the breakdown. Sheffield secured the line out and drove for the line for flanker Tom Womack to score wide out on the left. Steve Depledge converted and Sheffield were back in the match at 17 points to 14. Five minutes later Lichfield had a line out on their own 22 metre line and made somewhat of a mess of it. The ball fell firmly into the hands of second Row Dave Clayden, who found the ground in front of him devoid of defenders and trundled on to score some 15 metres to the right of the posts. Steve Depledge converted again and Sheffield had the lead at 17 points to 28. Lichfield now looked totally out of sorts and Sheffield were the beneficiary of a number of errors from the home team, from which they took full advantage. However, Lichfield made a break up to the Sheffield 22 metre line, but then found Andy Hodgson, who once again applied the boot, taking play up to the Lichfield 22 metre line. Lichfield knocked on again and from the resulting play Sheffield were able to drive on to the Lichfield 5 metre line. A scrum resulted and moments later loose head prop Tobi Amemakin had scored out wide on the left. Steve Depledge added the conversion and the lead was out to 17 points to 28 with 10 minutes to play. The last 5 minutes saw Lichfield pressuring hard and with just over a minute to go, Sheffield were adjudged to have erred at the breakdown just 5 metres out and Tommy Marples was sent to the sin bin. Lichfield continued to push hard, but Sheffield's defence held firm and were able clear their lines to end the match at 17 points to 28, having gained a vital bonus point.

Scoring:-