Newark’s early dominance was soon put under pressure

This was a match that really summed up our season. Thursday night and with 9 players confirmed the mobiles were sifted through by Tom Pykett, Craig Johnson and myself to try and come up with a team to compete in the final game of the season.
In came Jerry Duggan, Declan Walsh, Sam Andrew and Rob Masling from the 3’s, as well as Chris Naylor – brother of Will and old stalwarts Matt Cove and Alex Statham. Eventually the maybes were turned into yes’s and a squad of 19 travelled to Matlock.

Matlock at this time of year is a great place to go and play rugby, yes the grounds hard but the surroundings are idyllic and the sun was shining. With a few quickly learnt line outs and back moves put together the kick off loomed and Newark were as prepared as possible for the fixture against a young Matlock side containing several colts.

Early exchanges saw Newark’s pack on top, the scrum and line out went well and with a little more control an early score could have come. It was 10 minutes in after a 30 meter rolling maul that Newark scored the 1st points of the game with Craig Johnson touching down, converted by Overland. It was during this play that broken bone number 1 occurred with Jerry Duggan taking a shot in the ribs, Sam Andrew replaced Jerry, get better soon.

Newark’s early dominance was soon put under pressure and for the next 15 minutes Matlock worked back into the game without really threatening the try line but scoring 2 penalty’s had made the score 7-6. Newark searched to recreate a lead and again controlled in the forwards and some forceful play from centres Masling and Naylor. It was Matlock that grabbed the initiative as a 5 minute period of disastrous play from Newark saw 3 trys scored by Matlock, all coming from breaks from inside the Matlock half changed the game with 2 of the trys converted 25 -7.

Newark regrouped and with 5 minutes of the half remaining scored through Cove, another forward lead period of pressure. 25 - 12. The last play of the half again saw Newark press and when Overland was unceremoniously spear tackled, Matllock went down to 14 men for the 1st 10 minutes of the second half, a period that Newark would get back into the game.

Half time and Walsh came on at 10, Statham and Lee to the wings. As the tackle leading to the yellow card came after the half time whistle went, Newark started with a penalty that Walsh promptly put into touch in the Matlock 22, pressure from right to left then lead to Coves second try in the corner, 25 -17, 5 minutes later and it was a 1 point game as a scrum on the Matlock 5 meter line was pushed over, Bartsch controlling and putting down, Walsh converting, 25 – 24.

The game then became edgy, neither side were giving much. With 10 minutes to go, broken bone number 2 occurred as Statham (who had put off building his house to help the team out), stepped inside and his body went one way and his ankle the other, a confirmed broken ankle. The game was halted and as the 1st team game finished we moved pitches to finish off our contest.

As Statham had knocked on in breaking his ankle (nothing changes) it started with a scrum on the Matlock 22, as Newark pressured Matlock could only clear as far as the 22. The resulting pressure saw several attempts to cross the line, the final charge from Johnson for score number 2 proved the winner, Walsh converting 25 - 31. Matlock with 5 to go had a go at winning the match, ending with the final play falling just short of the Newark line.

Well done boys on a thrilling finish, get better soon Jerry and Alex, thank you to all those who have played and supported the team this year.

AJ