Banbury RUFC make the trip to Staffordshire this weekend to face Lichfield RFC at Cooke Fields, renewing a competitive Regional 1 Midlands rivalry that has already produced one of the tightest contests of the season.

The two sides met earlier in the campaign at the Graf UK Stadium, where Lichfield edged a closely fought encounter 20–19, underlining just how narrow the margins can be between these teams.

Club Overview

Club Name: Lichfield Rugby Union Football Club
Founded: 1874
Location: Lichfield, Staffordshire
Home Ground: Cooke Fields, Tamworth Road
League: Regional 1 Midlands

Playing Style & Strengths
From public information and their long-standing league presence, Banbury can expect the following characteristics from Lichfield:

Structured, Disciplined Rugby
Lichfield are known for a controlled, low-error approach. They are comfortable playing territory-first rugby and applying pressure through sustained phases rather than high-risk attacking play.
Set-Piece Reliability
Scrum stability and lineout organisation are central to their game. Their forwards are well-drilled and effective at building a platform in tight contests.
Defensive Organisation
Lichfield’s line speed and defensive spacing are key strengths. They are adept at forcing mistakes and keeping scorelines tight.
Game Management
Their results show an ability to stay composed in close matches, often grinding out results through discipline and patience.

Lichfield’s Season So Far
Lichfield’s campaign has been defined by narrow margins, competitive performances, and several one-score games:

R1: Dudley Kingswinford 15–38 Lichfield
R2: Stourbridge 17–10 Lichfield
R3: Lichfield 10–15 Lutterworth
R4: Banbury 19–20 Lichfield
R5: Lichfield 47–54 Newport (Salop)
R6: Nuneaton 20–35 Lichfield
R7: Lichfield 34–33 Bridgnorth
R8: Bournville 47–17 Lichfield
R9: Lichfield 52–10 Drybrook
R10: Bromsgrove 25–27 Lichfield
R11: Lichfield 23–26 Newent
R12: Lichfield 27–27 Stourbridge
R13: Lutterworth 34–28 Lichfield

Key takeaways:
Multiple games decided by three points or fewer, highlighting their ability to stay competitive deep into matches.
Strong defensive performances, particularly at home.
A mix of physical forward dominance and controlled attacking play.

Banbury’s Season So Far
Banbury arrive at Cooke Fields having shown resilience and attacking potential across the first half of the season:

R1: Bromsgrove 31–19 Banbury
R2: Banbury 50–15 Newent
R3: Dudley Kingswinford 14–27 Banbury
R4: Banbury 19–20 Lichfield
R5: Lutterworth 42–18 Banbury
R6: Stourbridge 30–28 Banbury
R7: Banbury 19–20 Newport (Salop)
R8: Nuneaton 5–63 Banbury
R9: Banbury 7–14 Bridgnorth
R10: Bournville 54–17 Banbury
R11: Banbury 32–15 Drybrook
R12: Newent 31–28 Banbury
R13: Banbury 32–12 Dudley Kingswinford

Several narrow defeats mirror Lichfield’s own season, suggesting another closely contested encounter.

What Banbury Should Expect

A physical forward battle, particularly at scrum and maul
Territory-led phases, with Lichfield content to build pressure patiently
Strong defensive line speed, requiring accuracy and patience in attack
A controlled tempo, especially suited to winter conditions

Key Focus Areas for Banbury

Set-piece accuracy and parity
Discipline to avoid giving away cheap territory
Quick, clean ball at the breakdown
Clinical finishing inside the 22
Managing momentum in the final quarter

Final Thoughts
Lichfield RFC remain one of the most organised and competitive sides in Regional 1 Midlands. Their narrow win over Banbury earlier in the season demonstrated how evenly matched these teams can be.

For Banbury, this away fixture offers a chance to apply lessons learned, measure progress, and start the New Year with a composed, disciplined performance on the road.