Generous Newark’s peace and good will help a poor Belgrave side avoid a humiliating defeat.

A dry, cold December day, a little soft underfoot but a good surface set the scene for a good competitive game of rugby football. Newark played uphill in the first half and from the start Newark went in front with a good try from Toby Edlin, making a very fast positive impact to the team after his extended stay in the 1sts. Further pressure brought about another 3 points after 9 minutes from the boot of Miller, following indiscipline from Belgrave. These early points helped to settled down a strangely anxious looking Newark side.
Belgrave looked reasonably good in the scrum but could not win good ball in the line, unlike Newark who with Mr Utility, Harry Pick, playing hooker, dominated the line most of the afternoon. The game stuttered a little when after 20 minutes, scrums became uncontested, following a shoulder injury to the Belgrave tight-head.
This was to Belgrave advantage as we had started to dominate in the scrums and their depleted side had started to look exceedingly vulnerable. Newark played very well in bursts but at times looked a little vulnerable themselves, not due to the opposition but what appeared to be lethargy by some of the players. The second try should really have been telegraphed to the opposition, when Ryan Fisher picked up from the base of the scrum and charged down the blind side from about 15 metres with only the wing to beat.
Half time the score looked respectable at 0 – 13 but did not reflect the superior strength we possessed. Rightly, Newark felt disappointed, because they knew that we could have gained more out of the first half.
Captain AJ demanded more effort, greater tempo and with a little reorganisation Newark looked completely different at the start of the second half. Good forward pressure led to quick ball, speedy positive, direct movement from the backs moved the ball right initially and then they switched left and Tommy Bridges went over for a well worked try. 0 – 18.
A few minutes later, a lineout 20 metres from Belgrave’s line, was won by good work from Gareth Bartch and he launched the ball down the line. Good support by Fisher and AJ drove the ball forward and the desperate defenders backwards. The ball was released and the “leaping leopard” Reece Hodnett became the “slithery snake” when he wriggled over (in one movement) from a few metres out.
Score 0 – 23.

The next try was classic forwards try. A stack and drive and then a peel-off break from Harry Pick resulted in a score that Miller converted and Newark started to look comfortable at 30 points to Nil.
Shortly after, following yet another static uncontested “scrum”, Mark “Dusty” Miller received the ball and chose to go blind on one of his typical “boshing runs”. He knocked 2 of the Belgravians into the middle of this week and off-loaded to another former prop, Harry Pick, to drive over with the rest of our forwards. It reminded me of that club house favourite, couldn’t go round it, couldn’t go over it, couldn’t go under it, had to go through it!
Score 0 - 35
The final try was an excellent individual try from Reece Hodnett, achieving yet another x-men animal transformation, he picked up at the base of a ruck well in the Newark half going on the blind side he found space to run like a gazelle, his 65 metre effort made the final score 0 – 40. A fitting end to the first half of the season.
Well done to all the players who have represented the 2nd team this year. Our record is a proud and impressive one. Let’s enjoy the festivities but with one eye on the second half to come, let not the ghost of Christmas present detract from the need to remain fit and motivated. Go easy on the pies, pints, turkey etc. You know it makes sense, Mark, Ben, James, Alex, Mike, Me and a few others. Cootie, please eat as much as you can and keep off them damn bikes! Merry Christmas all. See you on Boxing day!

One for "officionardos" of the game. What is the correct decision?
The ball is kicked from a restart and is caught by a Newark player. The receiver does not move, ne secures the ball and players engulf the player from both sides. The ball is held up but is static. The whistle goes because the ball is not coming out.

What is the offence and how should the game restart? Answers on a postcard please, to Mike.

Needless to say, I would have made the wrong decision, (Mike Fagan), (and Me, MLS) but the referee made the right one which is an indication of the official who was probably the best referee we have had so far this season.

NB. I forgot to mentioned last week that much thanks go to Mike Fagan, he saved our fixture against Lincoln when the referee did not turn up. Mike volunteered to referee the Lincoln 4ths fixture; thus releasing a referee for our fixture. Nice one Mike, we all appreciated your sacrifice.

Team:
Dunning, Pick, Jackson (Captain), McCarthy, Hodnett, Bartch, Fothringham, Fisher, Overland, Miller, Stark, O’Leary, Bridges, Edlin, Byrom, Seabrook.