Rugby round-up: Eight unbeaten for Lichfield, Dudley Kingswinford shut out
Lichfield made it eight unbeaten against eight-time losers Mellish as their 36-17 home triumph kept them top of Regional Two Midlands North, writes Dan Hickey.
Danny Griffin opened the scoring with a try 20 minutes in. Freddie Wilson, Kieran Reynolds and Chad Southam added to Lichfield’s try tally in the second half, before Ollie Green ran over twice in the final minutes.
Lichfield are now four points clear of second, and eight clear of third. They next play ninth-placed Matlock.
Fifth-placed Walsall widened the gap behind them to eight points after beating Old Saltleians 41-21.
Adam Nunney got a brace of tries and three conversions for Walsall, while Luke Chambers, Corbon Clark-Selby, Michael Lockett, Ben Pitt and Callum Hoy added to the try tally in a dominant performance.
Chambers opened the scoring two minutes in with a phenomenal 60-yard run, eventually touching down near the corner flag.
They next host third-placed Melbourne, where a bonus-point win and a West Bridgford loss could put Walsall third.
In Midlands Two West, Old Halesonians beat Shipston-on-Stour 24-19 to go third – ten points off the top – before they visit Edwardians.
Dudley Kingswinford suffered a second consecutive bad loss, this time going down 37-0 to Bromsgrove.
DK have scored one try in three games and slipped to ninth in Regional One Midlands ahead of a trip to Burton.
Stourbridge held top-of-the-league Syston to a draw at half-time, but went on to lose 26-21 despite tries from Leo Gilliland, Arthur Morgan and Callum Bradbury. They host Nuneaton on Saturday.
In Counties One Midlands West (North), Burntwood stayed second and unbeaten with a 20-15 away win to Spartans. Luke Rookyard and Alan Mapp scored tries, while Brett Taylor scored two key penalties to take the win.
Kidderminster demolished 12th-placed Wolverhampton 48-18 at home as the visitors remain winless at the bottom of the division.
Wolverhampton’s William Artist, James Duroe and Simon Benjamin touched down but they needed more as Thomas Stephens, Ryan Tiene, Thomas Dalton and Harry Lees all scored for Kidderminster. William Fallows also earned a brace of tries for the home side.
Walsall Seconds suffered a series of second half injuries to fall 33-19 to Bromyard in Counties Two Midlands West (West) - Jay Howdle, Kyle Reid and Matt James scored tries on the day.
Stourbridge Lions got a home walkover against Market Drayton, remaining unbeaten at the top of the division.
Thanks to the efforts of Alfie Kingham, Matt Key, Ben Ashmore and Jack Robbins (two), Lichfield Seconds defeated Hinckley Thirds 29-17 to climb to fourth – only four points behind Hinckley.
Rugeley hosted Stone, winning 40-36 despite a brace of tries from the visitors' Benjamin Underwood and further tries from Ben Williams, Thomas Parker and Benjamin Leaback.
Cannock won 23-10 against Eccleshall in Counties Three Division West (North), Handsworth couldn’t bring home the points against Uttoxeter, losing 26-24, and Aldridge narrowly won against Burton Thirds. They edged home 35-34 thanks to tries from Ellis Garratt, Adam Reed and Josh Reynolds (two).
St Leonards obliterated Essington 106-0 in Counties Four Midlands West (North), to make it eight wins from eight this season. Wednesbury and Warley both won to go third and fourth respectively in the division - overcoming Bloxwich 36-14 and Telford Hornets Seconds 27-5, respectively.
Kidderminster Carolians Seconds drew in their Counties Four Midlands West (South) game against Five Ways Old Edwardians. Carolians are now fifth, a point behind Old Halesonians after their 43-29 victory against Keresley. Stourport, meanwhile, lost away to Evesham Seconds 35-24.
