Loughborough Ladies well beaten by title challengers

LOUGHBOROUGH TOWN LADIES 0 LICHFIELD LADIES 24 THERE was to be no New Year Cheer for Loughborough Ladies when they hosted the league’s second placed Lichfield Ladies but solid phases of play again showed the progress made by this squad of players and what the team are capable of achieving when playing top opposition.

The first half saw Boro playing into a fierce wind and if points were awarded for gutsy defending then they would have been streets ahead at the whistle, as it was they were reduced to having to try and run the ball back as any attempt to kick was proving futile, that enabled Lichfield to press a high line mostly keeping the home side inside their own half.

Despite the intense pressure from the visitors they were only able to cross the whitewash twice for a 10 point lead at the break.

Boro hoped to be able to use the wind advantage to their own use in the second stanza but as luck would or wouldn’t have it all but disappeared, never the less Boro started the brighter looking to redress the odds with some delightful rugby, probing for weaknesses in the Staffordshire outfit.

The home side came close to scoring twice but for some unfortunate luck at the final pass or attempt to get over the visitors line, not so for Lichfield whose few visits up to Loughborough’s try line saw them take their opportunities and score two converted tries to take the match by 24-0.

Next up for the Ladies is an away trip to Newcastle side Novocastrians on January 27, where they look to do the double after beating them at home.