Midlands One East
Towcesterians 17 Newark 12
Newark slipped to a second successive defeat after failing to build on an early lead following a fifth-minute try by fly half Matt Cox.
The return of captain Chris Tate and scrum-half Matt Clark gave Newark an enterprising start in contrast to the one-way nature of last week’s defeat at home to Ilkeston.
Newark should have made far more of the good start but allowed Towcester back into the match by conceding a try from their own scrum midway in the home half.
Towcester won the ball against the head to engineer a try down the left side which levelled the scores in the 30th minute.
The teams turned round locked at 5-5 and it was Towcester who grabbed the initiative after the break by scoring the best try of the match through some good handling and support.
Towcester maintained the pressure over the next few minutes and hounded Newark to such an extent an attempt to break out by the visitors ended in a third home try. The conversion was added for a home lead of 17-5.
Newark finally managed to break out in the 55th minute when captain Chris Tate escaped via an interception near halfway to score his team’s second try. Danny Coen, a second-half substitute, kicked the conversion.
This try and conversion should have made for an entertaining finale but both sides contributed to a shoddy final 20 minutes where the match was marred by a number of scuffles and flare ups.
Team:
Bridges; Tate, Mark Byrom, Collishaw, Statham; Cox, Matt Clark; May, Tomlinson, Gray, Primett, Evans, Rhodes, Webster, Price.
Subs: Barnsdale, Staines, Danny Coen.
Tries: Cox, Tate.
Conversion: Coen.
Rob Wildman
Message received from James Rudd
Few snaps from Tows game yesterday - a bit Tows biased but few good ones of your lads - you are welcome to use them, just credit James Rudd -
AboutMyarea.co.uk/nn12
http://www.flickr.com/photos/towcesternews/sets/72157631760806786/