Newark 2nds 36 v 17 Nottingham University Fresher’s

On a bitterly cold squally day, in bright sun light but with a fine playing surface the Newark 20 arrived to await the arrival of their somewhat less than reliable adversaries, and, at 13.45 pm it looked as if the building pre march tension was all going to be in vain. However, 5 minutes later a bus edged its way into the car park and spewed out its contents of grinning, confident , strong and athletic looking students, prepared to add Newark’s scalp to those of Mansfield and Paviors already collected this season.

Newark Team; Barker, (Chappell), Cove M, Tinsley, Staines, Pricey, Fotheringham, Cove L, Clark N Andrews (Dyson), Brummitt, (Price T), Hunter Shaw, Miller, Statham, Edlin, Bridges, Not used. Sibilski, Taylor.

Special praise for Lee Gillatt who went on for Fresher’s to prevent an early degeneration into uncontested scrums after Barker had devoured a couple of their props.

The first half was a frenetic game of rugby, some-times scrappy and disjointed, with a speedy motivated Fresher’s team playing to their running strengths with their backs to the strong wind. Newark struggled to settle into a rhythm and controlled pattern of play due to the lack of playing together, previously. By the end of the first half however, Newark had edged into the lead scoring 3 tries to 2 and a conversion to sign off 15 points to 12. The try scorers were; Neil Clark, Jonnie Statham and Robbie Hunter Shaw.

After a tough team talk by Captain Curly Staines and, with the strong wind at their backs Newark re-entered the game with gusto and got straight down to the job of stamping their authority on the game. Slowly but surely the scrum took its toll and the Fresher’s found that Newark’s blend of youth, experience and club pride can be welded into an irresistible force. Barker took their scrum apart helped by powerful rucking and mauling from the other forwards with Lewis Cove, Neil Clark and David Fotheringham covering the field like a blue and white blanket. Dusty Miller and Jonny Statham epitomising the chocolate box “Hard Centres” ,tackling well and running good strong lines, keeping the students on the back foot. Dyson, on for the injured Andrews, displayed his speed of thought, taking a quick tap penalty and scored in the corner. Miller completed a very difficult conversion from out wide on the left.

Newark now confident of victory took their foot off the pedal and in a flash were punished by fine quick ball and running inter-passing rugby to bringing Fresher’s back into the game at 22-17.
Now with uncontested scrums, the Fresher’s looked to play to their strengths. Newark stepped up the pressure and were rewarded after camping on the opposition line with Dan “Daley” Price swallow diving over crumpled students, to score next to the posts to leave Miller an easy conversion. A little later Miller finished off a good movement and added the extra points to complete the scoring which reflected a fine 36-17 win for the home side. Bring on Matlock next week.
Martyn L-S