DROTIWICH crashed out of the EDF Senior Vase in the second round, going down 18-8 at Lichfield.

The visitors had to make a number of changes from the previous week and never really gelled and failed to produce the free flowing rugby they are capable of.

Under pressure at the scrum, Droitwich gave away a penalty, allowing the home side to take the lead.

The hosts stretched their lead to 10-0 with a converted try after they won the ball at a line-out.

The Spa side then rallied, and started to produce some better rugby with back-rowers Phil Horton and Nick Godfrey combining to add some fluidity to the attacks.

Good pressure by Matthew Jupp and Jack Clarke saw the visitors awarded a penalty for fly-half Jonny Critchlow to convert.

The second-half brought no respite to Droitwich as they failed to clear their lines, leading to desperate defence.

The Spa side killed the ball, allowing Lichfield to kick the simple penalty to make it 13-3.

More strong forward power by the home side saw the visitors camped on their line, before their scrum-half darted over for an unconverted try.

It was only after that score that saw the young Spa side come to life.

Good link work by Sean Walker saw Ross Coombes break before he fed Craig Mortlemans, who had the strength and pace to race home and score.

Critchlow said after the game: “We never really found the level we are capable of again.

“This is becoming an all too familiar habit of ours, and one we must overcome if we are to have a decent league campaign.”