PLENTY OF ENTHUSIASM!!
A revamped Newark team included three newcomers
REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN
Saturday Sept 5
Midlands One East
Kettering 34 Newark 0
Newark fought valiantly on the opening day of the league season, but Kettering proved too strong and experienced.
A revamped Newark team included three newcomers in Alex O'Dell at scrum-half, centre Luke Tupholme and back rower Tom Crosby.
O'Dell gained his chance in the absence of captain Matt Clark who pulled out after suffering a leg strain.
The captaincy went to Fred Tatham who led a team featuring two other youth team players in No 8James Newman and full-back Callum Slack.
Despite plenty of enthusiasm, nothing went really right for Newark. Kettering led 10-0 at the interval and stretched that advantage early in the second half.
Newark's best spell came after a reshuffle saw Slack join Ben Usher at centre with Tupholme moved to No 10. However, two good chances were wasted by faulty passing and Kettering escaped to grab two more tries in the closing stages.
Next up for Newark is the first home game of season, against Market Rasen on Saturday, kick off 3pm.
Team: Callum Slack; Dixon, Tupholme, O'Leary, Usher; Mackie, O'Dell; Barnsdale, Tomlinson, Chapple, Tatham (capt), Primett, Williams, Crosby, Newman.
Subs: Dunning, Webster, Hill.
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