Newark 2nds Complete the Double over Kettering

Newark 2nds 25 Kettering 2nds 12

A winning start for new team manager Simon Glass.

Newark 2nds welcomed back a couple of known faces and 1 making his debut as they completed the double over Kettering.
With Richard Primmett coming in at 2nd row and Bryan Loftus starting on the bench after periods away from the club, it was Scott Crosby making his debut at 10 after training most the season with Newark that almost got the 2nds off to an explosive start.

Kettering kicked off playing against a strong wind that was blowing straight down the pitch, James Price caught and drove and when Ennals released the pass Crosby stepped his man and broke down field to create a one on one with the fullback, his choice to chip in normal conditions may have resulted in a score off the first play, however the wind caught the ball and helped it over the dead ball line.
It seemed that this was to be the story of the 1st 10 minutes as breaks from Alex Jackson, Ben Ennals and James Price all resulted in missed oppotunities.
A penalty from Matt Wooldridge settled the nerves and the first try soon followed what the possession deserved, a Kettering line out was stolen by 7 David Fotheringham and he popped off to Jackson who found Price in the 22 charging through for the 5 points.
Conversion missed.
Another penalty from Wooldridge kept the score ticking over midway through the half and then a second try created by powerful running and quick ball found Sam Sibilski going between the posts with what appeared to be the final score of the half converted by Wooldridge.

With time ticking down Newark camped themselves in the Kettering 22, time was up when Newark gave away a penalty, Kettering however decided to try and play the penalty out and when they eventually chose to kick, it went straight down the throat of Woodridge, he broke and a series of rucks produced quick ball to the centres for Sibilski to go over and the conversion was kicked by Wooldridge, a clinical score at the perfect time. 25 – 0

The second half against the wind meant that defence had to be key and penalties cut out.
1 out of these 2 targets was achieved, defence was superb, as Kettering tightened up their own defence and a slog of a second 40 minutes ensued.
Neither team was giving an inch.

With Bryan Loftus coming on at 15 he marshalled the defence with his usual direction.
The frustrating part came from the penalty count, Newark worked tirelessly to get into the Kettering 22, to then give a penalty away.
Boom and the ball was then placed 40 yards back and Kettering had possession in an attacking position once more. We must learn to cut such things out.
Mid second half and Kettering got the score that they deserved, from a scrum their 8 fed the centre who crashed over. 25 - 5.
10 minutes later and score 2 arrived, certainly the individual score of the day as playing out from the Kettering 22 they found the winger who darted wide and the length of the pitch, his reward 5 points and Bertie Weston Davies smashing him in an attempt to stop the score followed soon by our physio taking him off the pitch.

The game finished 25 10, about the right result.

Newark could of had more, with Richard Primmett held up twice and 2 on 1's missed.
Defence was good and team morale restored.

Next week we travel away to Market Rasen for another stern test.

AJ

View the last published League table at the following link

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