Within a minute Newark 2s were on the score sheet

REPORT WRITTEN BY RICHARD BYROM

2’s grind out a win

Newark 20 - Kettering 10

Newark never really seemed to hit top gear on Saturday - In a game they were always in control of, poor finishing and missed opportunities meant that the final score was a lot closer than it should have been.

Welcome returns to the starting line-up saw Mark Staines, Alex Jackson, Max Spurr and youngster Hugh Faulkener back in a team that showed 6 changes to last weeks starting Ilkeston team.

Amazingly within a minute Newark were on the score sheet. From the very first ruck of the game man of the match Hugh Faulkener turned the ball over and Ben Ennals dummied and sprinted to the line. Newark were 5-0 up.
For the first quarter of the game the home team were in complete control and if it had not been for poor option choices they would have been 3 or 4 scores up.

However Kettering ‘weathered the storm’ and came back at Newark and following a good passage of play their winger levelled the scores. This seemed to galvanise Newark and following a good break by Andy Hill and some excellent handling between forwards and backs Curtis Marshall scored his first try of the season.

Shortly afterwards and on the stroke of half time good interlinking play between Faulkener, Byrom and Staines led to Richard Primett bludgeoning his way over the line. Robbie Hunter-Shaw added the extra 2 points from the touchline and so it was 17-5 at half time

Into the second half and it looked like it was only a matter of time before Newark would add to their lead but good solid defence from Kettering and silly mistakes and a large number of penalties meant the score remained the same. And then with only ten minutes to go against the run of play Kettering scored to make it 17-10 and it was game on.

Thankfully back came Newark and from the re-start a driving run from Dave Garland resulted in Kettering giving away a penalty in front of ‘the sticks’ and so up came Robbie H S to add the 3 points and give the home team a bit of breathing space-20-10 and this was how it finished

It had a been a comfortable victory for Newark but they will have to make sure they take all their chances next week if they are going to beat local rivals Mansfield in the Pennant next week