Newark failed to gain anything from a difficult trip

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday, March 28

Midlands One East

Bugbrooke 24 Newark 5

Newark failed to gain anything from a difficult trip to Bugbrooke where the windy conditions contributed to a disjointed match.

The defeat – by two tries to one – leaves Newark still in 11th place and three points clear of 12th-placed Mansfield who lost 24-20 at Huntingdon.

Newark had hoped to gain at least a point from this trip to Northamptonshire but apart from a late try by Mark Byrom had little to show from a tough 80 minutes.

Captain Matt Clark once more made a second-half appearance as a substitute while in the backline there was a recall for Patrick Ford at full-back with Dan Mackie starting at fly half.

Up front, Jed Chapple took over at hooker in a front row where Jason Barnsdale started at prop. The other change among the forwards saw a return of Cameron Curry in the back row.

Newark played against the wind in the first half and did well to be only 6-0 down at half-time. The hopes of both teams to play some attacking rugby were dashed by the conditions and the constant stop-starting.

A third Bugbrooke penalty put them 9-0 up early in the second half before a couple of knock ons handed territorial advantage to the home team from which they grabbed their first try off a scrum for a 16-0 lead.

Newark immediately responded through Byrom’s well worked try to lift hopes of gaining something from the match at 16-5.
However, Bugbrooke grabbed a further penalty before a late try – when Newark were trying to force the pace – finished matters.
Newark have no league fixture on Easter Saturday.

The next game in the competition is on Saturday, April 11 when Derby visit Kelham Road, kick off 3pm.

The first team’s next game is on Tuesday evening (March 31) at West Bridgford in the Notts Cup semi-final, kick off 7.30pm.

Team v Bugbrooke: Ford; Britten, Waqalevu, Tate, Brewer; Byrom, Mackie; Dunning, Chapple, Barnsdale, Williams, Webster, Curry, Lewis Cove, Edwards.

Subs: Matt Cove, Primmet, Matt Clark.

Try: Mark Byrom.

Rob Wildman