A GREAT SQUAD EFFORT FROM NEWARK

REPORT WRITTEN BY DARREN GOURLEY

On a beautiful spring day Newark second XV travelled to Cromford Meadows for the crucial double header, Pennant game against Matlock brought about by Newark being unable to field a team earlier in the season.

With Newark struggling with player availability all week some hard work by Richard Byrom had got together a youthful nineteen players who were to come up against a Matlock team with very some experienced and streetwise players.

Newark started brightly and full of endeavour but this unfortunately led to a penalty being conceded after only 2 minutes which Matlock were unable to convert.
Matlock too were up for this game and from a lineout the returning Craig Hawes, playing at 12, drove in midfield and from the ensuing ruck Matlock were caught offside allowing Dan Wilson to slot the 3 points giving Newark the lead on 6 minutes.

The game then went through a period of poor discipline with both sides failing to listen to the referee with both sides conceding possession and territory through a string of penalties. Matlock managed to convert one of theirs to level the game on 15 minutes.

Dan W put in a good kick for territory using the breeze and great pressure in the chase by the hardworking Richard Grant forced a Newark lineout which from the driving maul Matlock encroached and referee finally lost patience producing the games first yellow card.

Newark trying to take advantage had not learned from the referees warning and it was on 25 minutes when Craig Hawes was shown a yellow card for team penalties which was harsh for Craig as this was the first against him!!

With Matlock restored to 15 players and Newark still down to 14 men Matlock piled on the pressure with the combative number 8 carrying hard and eventually Newark concede the first try of the game which Matlock failed to convert.

Newark came straight back with George Coslett who alongside Jamie Duncan was having a big impact in the game forced a penalty for holding on and Dan Wilson pushed it agonisingly wide.
He was soon given another chance on 35 minutes which he managed to convert and it was back to 8-6.
Newark’s growing confidence forced another penalty for a Matlock player coming in at the side before half time but unfortunately was unable to convert to take them into half time trailing 8-6.

Newark came out second half with the same enthusiasm and following anther kick for territory, a great kick chase from Tommy Hill and a good bounce of the ball allowed him to race over with Dan W converting to give Newark a well-deserved lead 8-13.

Newark then let Mattock back into the game almost immediately as they benefited from a missed penalty kick to touch and from their kick return they managed to gather the ball and forced their way over for the try which they also converted to take back the two point half time lead 15-13.

This really set Newark back and the game then went into a period with neither side able to break the others defence down. With bruising collisions continuing from both sides Matlock appeared to be gaining the upper hand and following a period of pressure in the Newark 22 it was a couple of out of character missed tackles which allowed the Matlock number 6 to break through and score.
This was his last act of the game as he went off with a sprained ankle sustained in scoring. Matlock missed the conversion leaving Newark 7 points adrift with 20 minutes to play.

20-13.

Newark then made 3 changes with Jordan Hempstead replacing Jack Clayton who had worked his socks of around the pitch and also at scrum time against a prop more than twice his age!
Rob Handy replaced Craig Barnsdale who had put in a big shift in the back row and Trigger replacing George Coslett, in the second row, who had grown into the game and had been very physical alongside Jamie Duncan managing the effective and powerful back row of Matlock.

The changes shored up the scrum and brought Newark back into the game giving them a long period of pressure in the Matlock half.
Try as they might and following a series of lineout drives and scrums they could not breakdown the dogged Matlock defence and when they conceded a penalty at a ruck Matlock cleared their lines using the wind to leave Newark back in their own 22.

With time almost up Newark decided to play out of their own 22 and when captain Alex Jackson found himself carrying the ball on the 22 in midfield, he was relieved to see Rhys and Richard Grant outside him and good timing of passes allowed them to make the half way line. Quick recycled ball and Newark moved the ball to the other touchline with Jamie Duncan taking the final pass to break through and score.

The ref signalled time was up and it left Dan Wilson to calmly slot the difficult conversion into the wind to tie the game 20-20.

A great squad effort from Newark with all players pulling together matching Matlock physically to take a share of the points.

This now leaves the pennant in their own hands for the final game against Derby.

Well done to all the squad it was good to be part of it with you.

Daz

A NOTE TO ALL YOU NEWARK PLAYERS - OLD, YOUNG, NEW, RETIRED, INJURED ETC WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!.

PLEASE CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK, LOAD AND COMPLETE THE SURVEY

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TX8LV72

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