The game was there to win

Newark 12 - Paviors 18

Some games pure grit and determination can be undone so easily by a small period where the opposition show flare and pace. It's not a question of how did we loose this game, we know how, it's a question of how did Newark not win it with all the possession they had. I'll try and make sense of that last statement in due course.

Changes were again the main discussion point throughout the week, the return of old faithfuls Ian Tomlinson and Ben Ennals coming back in and James Price dropping down was mixed in with David Wilson getting a second start at 10, Clark Chandler on the wing and Bob Body plus Tom Gilchrist on the bench gave a quartet of under 18's in the squad. The final change to note was back row Paddy Robinson who started at inside centre.

Kick off, and that repetitive issue of not starting out of the blocks returned to haunt Newark.
Paviors were given too much time and space early on and after 15 minutes 2 trys out wide a penalty and a conversion gave them a healthy 15 point lead which ultimately won the game. As much as Newark were poor Paviors had attacked with worrying accuracy.

Once Newark started to get a foothold in the game it was obvious that the strength lay in the tight and yards were starting to be made by the boys up front, the backs were chipping away and rucking well to support the game plan that ensued. The problem was that it took 10 phases to make 30 meters and then a turnover or penalty would put Newark back to where they started.
With 5 minutes to go the pressure told and Reece Hodnett dived over from short to put Newark back in the game and Overland converted.

7 - 15 half time.

The second half saw a complete dominance of possession from Newark but Paviors defence was solid and they still looked dangerous on the counter attack. It was late into the game when a second penalty was slotted over by Paviors to effectively take the game away from Newark. A last ditch effort from a tired team brought just rewards when Hodnett quick tapped a penalty to score in the corner.

Final score 12 - 18.

As mentioned at the start the game was there to win, the last pass or a player getting isolated gave the Paviors team the chance to turn the ball over which they were very good at.
The game was lost in 15 minutes but could have been won in the remainder of the game.

Mansfield next, a win is due.

Alex Jackson

View the last published (may not be up to date) League table at the following link

http://www.newarkrugby.net/pennantleague.htm