Gainsborough V Newark 2nds

Conditions would prove difficult for both sides, with a heavy pitch and a gale blowing it wasn't a pleasant afternoon. The Newark 16 man squad would need to dig deep as there were several changes to the teams line up, 1st team duty and unavailability having an impact. It was always going to be a tough afternoon against a strong and experienced Gainsborough!

With the wind in their faces Newark showed good intent from the start playing excellent close rugby driving the home side back into the 22. Pressing to score, a miscommunication and dropped last pass allowed the defence to grub kick the ball to clear their lines. The ball bobbled the whole length of the field towards Newark’s goal line, with Newark committed to attack the chase down was won by Gainsboro against the run of play and Newark were 7-0 down within 10 minutes. Newark then suffered a crucial and game ending injury to pack member ‘Ammo’ Amaury reducing Newark to a bare 15!! With the only replacement on the pitch and some restructuring they continued to pressure the home side. Newark’s momentum was a result of some awesome rucking which kept the ball alive and moving forward, Newark’s downfall was the final pass, poor handling time after time saw them ending up chasing back whenever the defence cleared their lines using the wind to launch the ball deep into Newark’s half. Exhausting end to end stuff!!

Finally after Newark ground their way up the field once again a missed clearance found Starky on Newark’s 10 metre, a brilliant overhead catch set him on his way for what was a superb individual effort, weaving through the whole defence he touched down under the posts and with Joe Wing kicking the 2 extra points Newark got the well-deserved score following plenty of possession. With the gale still blowing Gainsboro were always going to use it to their advantage but young Lewis Himsworth and Mason Coulam showed good ball carrying skills to return the ball back into the home sides half. Sadly Newark did find themselves defending a lineout drive deep in their 22 which the home side pushed over which saw them take the lead again, 12-7. Newark’s luck then took a downturn with yet another injury; twisting ankle in the heavy mud Daz Gray went off in some pain not to return. Gainsboro really turned the screws, with Newark defending with all they had and a somewhat keen Ref, Newark’s Nick Barton took a yellow for the team (his first ever card…bless!) after allegedly slowing the ball down in the ruck on the goal line. The resultant tap and go took Gainsboro to 19-7 lead, Gainsboro didn’t hold back and despite Newark showing some real grit and scored again after Newark’s 13 men had been drawn narrow leaving the right corner exposed for the wide run in and score. 26-7.

Newark remained focused and the team talk was positive, 3 scores were possible considering the wind direction. Newark looked the fitter side and had, had most of the possession in the first half and really they had done thing wrong with their game plan bearing in mind the number of changes that had been made. As the second half started Gainsboro continuing to play no nonsense rugby but Newark continued to compete well at the scrum time and in close contact. Now back to 14 Newark started to build pressure and should have scored with a three man overlap but Gainsboro turned the ball over and Newark conceded 70 metre as the home side ran the ball out. Gainsboro then seemed to have golden spell were nothing went right for the defending Newark who clearly started to wain as the conditions took their toll, two further tries and conversions extended the score to 40-12.

Digging deep Newark however did spark again, Fothers ran in a good try following a slap down by the Gainsboro centre on the 22, a yellow was produced the scrum was lost by them and hopes for some respectability was there, 40-12. Newark's new found energy nearly had them scoring again with the forwards using the pick and go, Barton making amends for the yellow went over but was adjudged to be held up. Coulam was the next player to test the home sides line making a cracking break down the right wing taking the ball into contact he flicked a lovely backhand pass into the hands of Fothers who almost made the line but was forced into touch by a desperate defence. The last score of the afternoon went to Newark and was probably the best piece of team rugby of the day a flowing move saw the ball launched across the face of the defence by Jo Wing and with a let’s say with a ‘slight swing’ it went into outreached hands of Starky who ran in the try. Final Score 40-17

Whilst Newark could not find a way back their grit shone through and it was a game of what could have been…………so many changes!!

Credit should be also given to Gainsboro who played a cracking competitive game and showed real sportsmanship throughout.