Final whistle and big smiles all round

The first official fixture in Newark 2nd teams season presented us with Leicester Lions 2nds, originally an away fixture swapped to be at home, giving the fans a double header Saturday with the 1's also playing at Kelham Road.

Many of the fans will be thinking they watched the wrong game, as whilst the 1st's were thumping Casuals, a roller-coaster of a game was taking place on pitch 2.

A strong starting XV took the field on a blustery afternoon, Lions won the toss and elected to have the wind at their backs first half. Soon Newark were under pressure as Lions looked to use the conditions to their advantage and put the ball into the corners.
The resulting line outs were defended resolutely with forwards and backs alike putting in the hits early on to stamp authority on the game. Newark had to soon understand that the conditions meant to get out of our half running rugby was required, forwards started to make ground and the support play was proving effective.
Lions were riled and after 15 minutes the referee had to call in both captains as the physicality of the game was starting to boil over.
Both teams obliged by upping the tempo and keeping the fists away.
It was Lions who had the first score of the afternoon finally breaking down the Newark defence after 25 minutes of the half, converting the try. This only upped the Newark resolve and as the pack was starting to dominate in the set play the backs were now getting the space required to start to get in behind the Lions defence. With only a couple of minutes of the half left Newark got the try they deserved as Lions committed a penalty on the 5 meter Line, a quick tap by Ennals found Hawes to dive over, Ennals taking a hit in the process and having to leave the field, Rob Body replacing him.

Half time 5 - 7.

2nd half and it couldn't have started much worse, Lions picked up the pace and Newark looked sluggish, 2 quick scores, one out wide and another through the Lions forwards saw Newark 5 - 19 down, also loosing Rob Body in the attempt to stop the 3rd score, if Fred Tatham hadn't intercepted a break on the Newark 5 it could have been more, Newark needed to dig deep.

The Newark forwards were asked to have 5 minutes of keeping it tight, now with Mark Byrom bossing them, momentum started to build again the back row began making gaps.
The try finally came for Newark as a number of drives at the Lions line finally fell to Naylor, who like a leaping salmon dived over a number of bodies to score, try converted by Miller

12 - 19.

In the melee of the score Lions had a player sin binned and within 2 minutes Newark were also down to 14 as Bartsch was adjudged to have not released a player in the tackle before stripping the ball.
Gibson replaced Staines in the 2nd row and Bunn came on the wing for Robinson, Richard Byrom came in the centres for Loftus and the reshuffled backs came up with a try, a scrum in the opposition 22 saw Newark break blind and a great line by Edlin found a gaping hole, with the conversion made 19 -19.

With both sides back up to full strength Newark introduced Joe Tinsley to hook, the momentum was with Newark and with Miller now using his boot effectively the pressure was all on Lions. The winning score came with 5 minutes to go, the forwards driving on and quick ball was played to Bridges who found the big hand off to go through a gap and under the posts, conversion by Miller, 26 -19.

As expected Lions gave it one more go but Newark held fast, Sowerby Jones now also joining the action, it was all too much for one fan who decided to tell the referee what he thought in some quite colourful language, fortunately not a Newark supporter, as Craig Hawes pointed out.

Final whistle and big smiles all round, 2 out of 2 for the 2's this season, now to build momentum, well played boys.

A final mention for Josh Jay who leaves us to go to South Africa, a big loss, remember Josh we all bleed blue and white once you've worn the Newark badge, see you back sometime.

1. Jackson,
2. Cove,
3. C Barnsdale,
4. Tatham,
5. Staines,
6. Naylor,
7. Hawes,
8. Bartsch,
9. Ennals,
10. Miller,
11. Edlin,
12. Loftus,
13. Bridges,
14. Robinson,
15. Jay

16. Sowerby Jones
17. Tinsley
18. Bunn
19. Gibson
20. Byrom R
21. Byrom M
22. Body

REPORTED BY ALEX JACKSON