Market Rasen V Newark 2nd XV

On a cold blustery day at Market Rasen Newark’s squad, coaches and supporters showed faces of disappointment as Newark took the field with 11 players!! Once again Newark had to request the help of our hosts to make the game happen, thanks to all at MR for putting on the ‘blue shirt’.

The game got off to a healthy start with good quality rugby being played in the middle of the park from both sides as they tested each other’s defence. Both packs were evenly matched at the set piece and very competitive at the ruck and maul, however it was MR that scored first with Newark heavily committed at the break down on their 22 a cross field up and under beat the Newark wing defence and MR were 5-0 up. Newark responded well with the forwards in making some good line breaks and carries which took them deep into the home sides half. Following some good pick and drive phases the ball was released to the backs, shipped out to Craig Hoares who made a blistering 15 metre break dummying the whole defence, he flicked a lovely inside pass to Dave Fotheringham who darted over the whitewash levelling the score with no conversion. 5-5. Rasen responded almost instantly from a lineout on Newark’s 5 metre line taking the score to 10-5 and they extended their lead to 17-5 after some sustained pressure although the Newark defence was awesome. Newark put in an excellent spell of attack leading up to half time, with Rasen’s penalty count increasing and a player down following a yellow card for killing the ball at the breakdown Newark made some great line breaks again from the forwards, but sadly the ball carriers found themselves isolated and Rasen managed to clear their lines to relieve the pressure. 17-5 HT

The second half was the home sides as they ran 6 tries. Newark to their credit stuck their task but was unable to impact on an ever increasingly confident Rasen pack that had now got the measure of the young Newark tight 5. The 6 tries came at steady intervals throughout the half with the Newark defence running out of steam. It really was a matter of what could have been, Newark were in the game up to the half time whistle. The lads did hold their heads high and played on but clearly the frustration and disappointment of the day showed on every blue shirted players face as they came off at full time. Once a again a good spirited game.
54-5 FT

By Mick Barton