8 minutes to go, could Newark hang on?

REPORT WRITTEN BY RICHARD BYROM

2nd XV V Kettering

Won 17-12

Another gritty performance

Having not played for 3 weeks and after the Christmas festivities, everybody knew that the long away trip to Kettering was going to be a really tough encounter and so it proved. The job was made even tougher when on Saturday morning we lost both of our props due to illness and a first team call up and therefore we only had a bare 15 players at the start of the game.

However in true Newark fashion, youngster Jack Clayton and skipper Dave Fotheringham stepped into to save the day and so allowed the game to start with contested scrums.
We also welcomed back youngsters Jacob Andrews and Robbie Hunter Shaw and it was great to see Neil Clark back after a lengthy time side lined on the injury bench.

The game started ominously for Newark, at the first scrumage they went back very quickly and from the No 8 pickup he off loaded to their centre who found a gap in the Newark defence and then passed to a supporting player, Newark 7-0 down after 2 minutes!!!

However the away team bounced back and the Newark forwards really took the game to Kettering, there were some great runs from the back row of Max Spurr, Neil Clark and Dave Garland and eventually after 15 minutes of pressure Clark forced his way over the line to reduce the arrears 7-5.

The remainder of the first half was very even with both sides defending resolutely.

The Newark front row were coping much better and shortly before half time Clayton Fotheringham and Chapple were instrumental in driving the Kettering scrum backwards – great effort lads!!

So the sides turned round with the score 7-5 to the home team, but from the kick off Newark produced the best passage of play in the game.

Strong forward running from Dave Garland, supported by Jack Clayton and fly half Jacob Andrews led to 4 then 5 phases of play before Jamie Duncan took a great line to scamper under the posts and give Newark a well-deserved lead 12-7.

Newark were on top now and should have added to their lead when they were awarded a penalty but unfortunately slippery conditions made the kick difficult and from the missed kick Kettering counter attacked and after recycling the ball well the fly half produced a pin point kick for the left winger to score and make it 12-12.

With both sides determined to score next, it was Newark who applied the pressure, down to 14 men after losing Max Spurr to a nasty elbow injury they battled on.
Then from a scrum on their own line the Kettering No 8 picked up and drove up the pitch only to off load into the gleeful hands of Newark’s Jonny Statham who crashed over the line to give the away team a 17-12 lead.

8 minutes to go, could Newark hang on, Yes they could with some resolute defence from all 14 blue men.

The final whistle blew and once again it had been a fantastic team effort, and there were many contenders for Man of Match, Jed Chapple had a terrific game, great in the scrumage and pin point in his line out throwing. Youngsters Jack Clayton and Jacob Andrews both made valuable contributions, Jamie Duncan and Neil Clark were everywhere but Dave Garland was given M of the M for an outstanding performance at No 8.

Next week we are back to the Pennant and it’s a fixture against local rivals Mansfield at Kelham Road.

We need another performance like today’s game!!!!