Our first taste of Cup rugby this season was on the 1st team pitch, a fantastic experience for the girls. Playing Kesboro, a cluster of Kesteven and Peterborough, from our experience Peterborough have been a formidable side and physically bigger than our girls.

Newark opened the scoring with a try from the training ground, moving the ball wide and utilising our speed in attack. Our lead was short lived as Kesboro scored quickly after with a powerful and direct run. Newark managed to control the game a little more after this and scored four unanswered tries, all using our speed on a big pitch. Kesboro scored a try through some grit, determination and power. This provided the girls with a reminder of our opponent’s strengths. Newark grabbed a couple more tries before conceding the last score before half time but still maintained a healthy 45.15 lead going into the break.

After the change of ends Newark conceded the first try, a frustration, but the girls stuck to their task and kept up their team spirit and intensity. The girls piled the pressure on and kept scoring using the width of the pitch to our advantage. With some tiring bodies Kesboro came back in to the game scoring some more tries with their power and directness. The game which had been a good and fair contest became a little fractious with some penalties. Newark scored the final few tries at the end of the game to seal a deserving win at Kelham Road.

The girls should be very proud of their performance today, showing a lot of determination, skill and comradery.

Newark 88 – Kesboro 32

Written by Mark Gill
Approved by Richard Watson