A disappointing end

A late try settled the first league match of the season at Kelham Road in favour of the visitors from Leicestershire after the two teams had been locked at 10-10.

A game of high intensity ultimately ended in disappointment for Newark at Kelham Road.

Heavy rain made handling difficult but both sides adapted well. Newark started strongly and had all the possession in the first ten minutes but it was Coalville who went over for the first try after 15 minutes.

Newark fought their way back to gain a penalty kick at goal. Matt Cox hit the post but the visitors conceded a scrum five-metres out.
The ball was secured and moved to the left where Robbie Hunter-Shaw, returning to the 1st XV, came into the line from full-back and sold a neat dummy to go over for a fine try. Cox added the extras to make the score 7-7.

Will Seage took a knock to the face and was replaced by Jordan Cooling after 30 minutes. With the rain still pouring Coalville tried to test Newark in the air.

Hunter-Shaw took an excellent high ball on his own 10m line and forced Coalville to concede a penalty in the middle of the field. The visitors complained to the ref who advanced the penalty 10m. Cox was now in range and he duly obliged to make it 10-7.

Coalville had a period of intense pressure inside the Newark 22, but superb, disciplined defence kept 15 phases out and eventually they knocked on and it was half-time.

Newark faced a strong breeze in the second half although thankfully the rain had stopped. Fran Appleton came on for Jordan Hempstead in the front row after 45 minutes.

Newark continued to force mistakes and Coalville kicked dead from their own half resulting in a scrum back.

Newark broke left and recycled the ball. Man-of-the-match Mason Coulam found himself in space and after making ground gave an outrageous one-handed pass out the back door to the supporting Josh Stamp.

Newark emptied the bench with 15 minutes to go with Sam Booth replacing Alex O’Dell but neither side could exert sufficient authority over the game to pull away and the score remained 10-10 going into the final minutes.

Coalville twice went over the Newark line but brave defence saw the ball held up on both occasions. Newark had a defensive line out five metres from their line from which the ref mysteriously penalised them with a free kick. Coalville tapped and went right and the winger went over in the corner. The conversion was missed but they had the lead 10-15.

Newark barely had time to re-start but gave it one last go and won a penalty. The resulting kick to touch into the wind caught the corner flag and went dead and the game was over.

A disappointing end but a lot of positives to be taken from the game, as well as a losing bonus point.