For a first game together a great result!

Loughborough 21 Newark 24

The first and final warm up game for the second XV brought together a mixture of old faces and new and did not disappoint in a fixture that both teams lead in the second half.
The fixture was an ideal opportunity to look at different combinations in the forwards and to see how the backs were developing with Declan Walsh tried in the centres paired with Bryan Loftus and James Stark returning to Newark on the wing.

With typically concrete like ground and slight wind and hill against Newark the first half started on the back foot. Loughborough dominated the first 20 minutes territorially, Newark had possession but squandered it with disorganised rucking and poor support play, the defence however was superb, epitomised by a 5 meter scrum that the forwards drove Loughborough off their own ball and the backs forcing Loughborough to play behind the game line with swift defensive pressure.

Slowly Newark started to find a rhythm and when Josh Jay broke into the oppositions 22 for the first time quick ball saw James Stark go over in the corner and Walsh converted.
5 minutes later and try 2 came, again a break saw Newark in the opposition 22 and awarded a scrum, number 8 Staines worked the blind and when Hawes arrived in support he sat down the defending second row to go over in the same corner as Stark, 12 - 0.

The game swung back the other way late in the first half as Newark's line out failed to secure ball the opposition kicked deep for the ball to be put into touch for a Loughborough line out on the 5 meter line, catch, drive, score, converted, 12 - 7,

Half time.

Changes at half time saw Sowerby Jones move to tight head for Craig Barnsdale, Matt Gibson (yes he's returned) into second row, Ed Cochran ( a name for the future, if I've spelt it right) onto 6 and Hawes to 8 replacing Staines, the backs remained the same.

The second half started how the first ended, a penalty for obstructing a kicking played gave Loughborough the chance to put the ball in the corner for a line out, the catch and drive was halted but after recycling the ball on a number of occasions the forwards finally got over the line and the conversion was kicked, 14 -12 Loughborough.
14 - 12 soon could have become 17 - 12 but for a missed penalty just left of the posts, a let off that was significant at the final whistle.

Again after the slow start the Newark pack started to play and mid second half Newark made the break through, again moving the ball wide in the opposition 22 for Stark to score number his second, the conversion was only just missed from a difficult position by Walsh.
As with the first half Newark's try was followed shortly by a second as Loftus changed direction in the opposition 22 and found a gaping hole to score the decisive try, Walsh converted, 24 - 14.

Loughborough got a late consolation with the final play of the game, Newark had defended sternly for the last period and finally got stretched after a quick penalty was taken following an offside infringement, the conversion was kicked and final whistle blown.

Win 24 - 21.

Overall great dog and defence, clinical when required, we need to tidy up the ruck and kick chase and work on line out and scrum,

TRAINING, TRAINING, TRAINING!!!

For a first game together a great result and with a number of players to come back in selection this week is going to be difficult.

Well played the 2's.