Rugby eyes are focused on title - The Rugby Observer

Rugby eyes are focused on title

Rugby Editorial 16th Aug, 2018   0

CONFIDENT skipper Owen Edwards believes Rugby are firmly back in the Birmingham League Division Three title race following their 78-run victory over Lichfield at the weekend.

With Stratford narrowly losing to Newport, Rugby moved back to second in the table and sit 27 points behind long-time leaders Stourbridge with six games to go.

“We are keeping ourselves in touching distance,” said Edwards.

“Stourbridge have been the most consistent side all year and have opened up a gap, but they certainly aren’t out of reach.




“We are playing them in a few weeks and, if the gap is no bigger, then that’s a real chance to put the cat among the pigeons.

“We’ve got plenty to do before then, though, so we can’t look too far ahead as we’ve got hard matches in the next couple of weeks against Pelsall and Old Hill who are both in the top five.


“We can take belief from last season where we were a long way back from the leaders for most of the season but we took it one game at a time and got on a great run which took us to the title.”

Rugby were asked to bat first after losing the toss, with openers Raj Chohan (20) and Jeevan Barhey (52) getting through the new ball spell unscathed.

They made 49 for the first wicket before was Chohan removed by Ben Douglas.

Hugh Cochrane (12) was next out when he chipped to mid-wicket with the score on 82.

Edwards joined Barhey at the crease and the duo took Rugby past the 100 mark.

Frustratingly for Barhey he failed to convert another good start and miscued a full toss to mid-on soon afterwards.

Matt Ewer (21) and Edwards (70) added 63 for the fourth wicket before the former was removed.

Edwards was next out with Rugby on 221 before Henry Wilkins (28no) and Mike Powell (16no) propelled the hosts to 246-5 from 50 overs.

In reply Lichfield were quickly reduced to 11-2 and then 115-6.

Lichfield’s tail did not have much wag in it as the visitors were all out for 168 in the 46th over.

Vishaal Rathod (4-20) and Wilkins (3-39) did the damage with the ball for Rugby, who travel to Pelsall on Saturday.

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