Ron Rossin Cup Semi Final

The opening exchanges showed that West Bridgeford had every intention of coming first in this encounter as although young Alex Nissim opened the scoring on his debut with a fine drilled kick West Bridgeford answer was to run the ball back from the re-start and decimated Newark’s defence, one missed tackle created a further 4 missed tackles for the opposition to score under the posts. Score 3 – 7. West Bridgeford continued to pressure and won a penalty. They converted and on 15 minutes Newark were down 3 – 10.

The next 10 minute period saw a more positive Newark and fine scrimmaging from 5 meters out resulted in the ever green (not due to youth but feeling sick due to being less than 100% fit) fell over the line landing on the ball for Newark’s first try. Nissim converted to bring the score to an even10 – 10. This score so galvanised Newark that they again fought up field to within 5 metres of the visitors line when they won another penalty and although the body may not be quite as willing as it once was, the mind was very quick as Matt Cove took a tap and powered over the line to take the home side into a 15 – 10 lead.
The next try was more of what we have come to expect from this Newark team, good rucking and forward driving by the forwards releasing the ball to the backs to put the weaving side-stepping Martin Brummitt in after a 20 metre run and with another conversion from the mature looking Nissim Newark were 12 points ahead.

Unfortunately West Bridgeford rallied and ran the ball straight down Newark’s throats, a breakaway down the wing by their biggest forward and a try in the corner looked very spectacular, but if one of the 7 people he ran past or through had attempted a decent tackle he could have been bundled into touch.
The team were at least embarrassed enough to gird their loins and take the battle back to the visitors. A penalty close to the line again allowed Matt Cove to demonstrate his powerful finish and the score at half time was 27 – 15.

It only took 2 minutes from the re-start for Bridgeford to prove their intent; their aggressive attack won them a converted try to bring them back to within 5 points of the home side. Four minutes later the missed tackle sickness allowed the visitors in to score their second try of the half levelling the score at 27 - 27.

Alan Staines, joined the fray after Rhys Overland left the field injured and Andrew Sanger was introduced to provide a set of fresh legs. Duncan Coote was able to take a break before returning after ten minutes to replace Matt Cove who was bravely battling on but running on empty. The exchanges now were frantic and the game could have gone either way but the forwards got a second wind fed Te Bunn who dashed towards the Bridgeford line as he drew 2 defenders he passed outside to…… the lingering Mark Staines who with a shimmy of his snake like hips left the full back for dead touching down to leave an easy conversion for Nissim who ended the scoring at 34 points to 27.

West Bridgeford fought back gallantly and although they attacked determinedly the tackling sickness had been beaten and so with it were West Bridgeford.

Team: Byrom R Overland Brummitt Bunn Stark Nissim Bartch Dunning Gilchrist Chapple Price D Staines M (Capt) Coote Murphy Cove M Staines A Sanger