Lots of lessons learnt!

The First match was against Belper who having already played Lutterworth beforehand, came out the blocks a lot quicker than we were expecting.
It was a tough 30 minutes, our defence growing ever stronger as we went along. However, they just managed to find the little gaps taking advantage of our inexperiences.
With a strong defensive line in centre field pushing them out to the wings in which they ran around us and were a few tries up before we knew it.
Although the score finished at 34-0 they had to work extremely hard for it and it doesn’t reflect the grit and determination of the Newark ladies.

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Our second match was Lutterworth who we have not played before and were an unknown quantity, #massive!
Newark were ready for a second battle and came into their stride. We had to borrow a player from Belper who gave us a few insider tips and an idea of what was to come.

The game ebbed and flowed with Lutterworth scoring the first try which was totally against the flow of play with Newark pushing to score at the other end, but the ball was turned over and moved out quickly to their winger who put on the afterburners and ran the length of the pitch.
Newark responded quickly and scored their first of the game!

It was a well-timed kick from defence which found space, turning the big Lutterworth forwards.
The supporting players managed to regain possession, with supporting players advancing it was time to put the pressure back on the defence.
Phase after Phase the ball was kept alive, and I do believe the whole team at some point touch the ball before it crossed the line to score our first and only try.

Half time came to soon as Newark mounted several more attacks that were thwart with last ditch tackles. 7-5

An injury at halftime meant we lost a Newark player and gained another Belper player, so it was everything to play for in the second half.

The experienced and physically larger Lutterworth team managed to take advantage of our inexperienced scrum, it was our first time with contested scrummaging, and they played it to their advantage!
However, the whole pack worked very hard to secure the ball and held their own in the circumstances, so much so Lutterworth thought our whole front row deserved player of the match!

Lutterworth played the rest of the game to their strengths continually taking the ball from the base of a ruck and moving it forward inch by inch, metre by metre.
Our defence worked so hard to disrupt and counter but size and experience plays a part at times. Eventually this led to two more tries and Lutterworth came out on top. 17- 5.

The women gave their all today and even though the games didn’t go our way they all came off the pitch together knowing they had learnt a little more about rugby and definitely different styles of playing.

They also got lots of praise from the opposition knowing we were at the beginning of our rugby development.

Newark fielded three debutant players today all making an impact on the pitch and being part of scrumthing special.

Lots of positives and a few things to take away into training. Well played ladies onto the next one!