Aldridge fall in North Mids Semi-Finals

It came down to the final kick in the last minute and for everyone present it looked like Adam Reed's penalty from the halfway line had sailed through to give Aldridge victory - but alas is drifted just inches wide and Aldridge were out !

Taking nothing away from a very good Civil Service side, for whom their hooker and 9 were outstanding, this was and should of been a game that Aldridge won at a canter - with 70% of possession you should never lose a game, however a lack of Game Management and the execution of the basics at key times cost them the victory.

With Aldridge forced into a late change after Ryan Bowen failed a late fitness test, Ashley Lowe stepped into the centres and his place on the bench was taken by Ben Tal. Despite playing against the slope and a forceful wind in the first half Aldridge started strongely, with firstly Ben Drinkwater and then Nick Yates making good yards with powerful runs, alas in the first 15 minutes despite being camped in the Civil Service 22 Aldridge failed to convert opportunities.

On 15 minutes Civil Service took the lead with a wind assisted penalty after the first of a number of penalties were conceded around the ruck/tackle area. However almost immediately following another Drinkwater run, a swift offload to Captain Mark Smith, and quick recycled ball, our Number 9 Lea Ross burrowed over for an unconverted try (5 - 3 to Aldridge). This was followed on 25 minutes by a second try as Drinkwater was on hand to score as first Dan McKenna then Adam Butler broke the Civil Service line, again unconverted (10 - 3 to Aldridge). Then the Aldridge focus dropped, a try was conceded in the corner as the defence lost concentration and we went into half time at 10 - 8 - it was game on ! !

With the wind and the slope, Aldridge should have turned the screw, instead a lapse in defence when in the Civil Service 22 just 2 minutes into the second half and suddenly Civil Service were ahead 10 - 15 through a converted try. Again Aldridge came back as Adam Reed slotted a penalty from the touchline.

This is when the game slipped for Aldridge, each time we entered their 22, an error in judgement conceding a penalty followed and we soon found ourselves back in our own half. On 52 minutes Civil Service stretched their lead, through a converted try after a series of penalties were conceded and again a missed tackle allowed the Civil Service number 6 to power over (13 - 22).

The excitement wasn't over, on 58 minutes finally the Aldridge back line used some good ball, and Adam Morris, put Josh Hetherington in a gap from 40 yards who outpaced the defence to score (again unconverted), then on 68 minutes Adam Reed slotted another penalty from 40 yard out, 21 - 22 with over 10 minutes to play.

Then it started to unravel for Aldridge as 4 line-outs were lost, penalties conceded through over eagerness, and ball dropped at will. However with the time nearly up, we had a lifeline. Adam Reed struck the ball sweetly but alas...

Head Coach Jon Arch...
"Firstly we didn't lose because of individual mistakes, we lost because as a team we failed to execute the basics at key times - You cant have that level of possession in the right areas of the field yet fail to execute. In the last ten minutes we were panicking and our decision making fell apart a little.

We are in whole a very young and inexperienced team, 4 of the back line are playing their first full year or Senior Rugby. They will learn from this, as will I, and we will come back stronger. Its now small things and lack of discipline and game management - we can work on these ! ! "

Best of wishes to Civil Service RFC in the final against Ross-on-Wye who beat Aston Old Eds.