This was an entertaining contest at Delves Road, with both teams displaying some good running rugby in the autumn sunshine. It was a game played in good spirit, although the six yellow cards that were issued by the referee, did not suggest so!
The visitors always held the advantage, especially during the ten-minute periods when they had numerical superiority. While the final quarter of the game saw the hosts score three tries when Lichfield had players in the ‘sinbin’.
The visitors scored four first half tries as they used their penalty kicks to secure field positions close to the Walsall tryline. This gave them the opportunity to use their lineouts possession to score the tries. The hosts responded with a fine try by hooker Tom Aston after good ball carries by Callum Hoy and Max Vaughan. This was converted by Ben Pitt, who also put over a fifty-metre penalty late in the half.
The first quarter of the second half saw the visitors establish a winning lead as they scored another three tries. The hosts losing possession as they tried to counter-attack and a wayward clearance kick led to these scores. During the final fifteen minutes it was Lichfield that were being punished by the referee’s yellow cards and the hosts soon took advantage. They made some good ball carries before lock forward Callum Hoy made the final fifteen yards burst over the tryline. This was quickly followed by a sixty metre attack with Adam Nunney getting the touchdown. The Walsall centre then put over an excellent touchline conversion. Scrum half Dan Carpenter instigated the next score. He made a fine thirty yards break, there was good support with prop forward Simon Weaver going over for the bonus point try. But it was the league leaders that had the final scores with a penalty and a try.