Newark Seconds Pipped at the Post by Southwell in Local Derby

In an exciting game on pitch 2 at Kelham Road on Saturday, Newark were finally edged out of the win by a versatile and combative Southwell side.

The game was fast-paced from the outset with Newark in possession and applying pressure from the kick off, with Southwell soaking it up defensively as best they could. The home side were unable to convert effort into points however, and Southwell took the opportunity to return the favour, using a series of well-executed breakdowns to work their way up the pitch before losing the ball forwards. Newark were hoping to use this as a chance to clear the lines, but their initial scrummaging was at sixes and sevens, and a well-drilled Southwell pack pushed them off the ball and scored, giving them a 7-point lead.

With the gauntlet well and truly thrown down, the Redmen continued to press and Newark were hard-pushed to contain them, with the tackles going in thick and fast. However, an excellent clearance by Sam Booth at scrum half gave the home side a bit of forward momentum. Some accurate box-kicking up the right wing from Booth saw Southwell scrambling to keep Newark out, before launching a blistering attack of their own and heralding a fine period of rugby from both sides.

The home side were now beginning to get the measure of their opponents and after tinkering in the engine room of the pack to bring on Jason Matthysz and Sam Booth Snr, were also starting make headway at the set piece. With the forwards in full cry, led by AJ and Ben Wells, they were also winning good possession in the loose and gave Ed Armstrong the chance to get clean ball down the line and let Toby Taylor off the leash to score an excellent try in the corner – 7-7 (conv. Johno Marshall).

Newark were hoping to use this as a platform to turn the screw, but a frustrating series of minor errors and penalties snuffed out the momentum, and it was Southwell who would score next, finding a barn-door in their opponents’ defensive line and merrily driving a coach and horses through to score by the posts – 7-14 – before coming back for more from the restart.

The home side had other ideas, with replacement Joe Moodie putting in a key man and ball tackle to halt the attack, leading to a penalty which Booth obligingly put into touch beyond the Southwell 22. With good ball from the resulting line out, the ball span out to Connor Bice who put in a great run before popping the ball to Matt Walton to touch down – 14-14 (conv. Marshall), half-time.

And it was Newark who were off the blocks first in the second period when an incisive charge by Johno Marshall put Walton and Taylor over in the corner – 19-14, and Newark in the lead.

Southwell continued to compete gamely, kicking a penalty for 3 points (19-17) to stay in touch, but Newark came back strongly from the restart with yet another run from Taylor putting them just a few metres short of the line and allowing the combative Jason Matthysz to barrel over from the base of the ruck – 24-17.

It looked like Newark were going to run away with it at this point, but a series of decisions against them killed the momentum. And it was Southwell who would score next, again finding a gap in the line and scoring under the posts – 24-24, only for Taylor to go over again in the corner following a fine cross-field kick by Booth from the base of the scrum – 29-24.

Sadly, this was the last hurrah for the home side who lost their shape a little in the final 10 minutes, allowing Southwell first of all to draw level with a forwards try in the corner (29-29) and then pull away with a fine run down the right wing (29-34) before delivering the coup-de-grace in the shape of a kickable penalty – 29-37, full time.

Newark will have been disappointed not to come away with the win on this one, but in truth this was an equal contest between two well-matched sides, with some excellent rugby on display from both. Next up – Gainsborough for the 3s.

Tries: Taylor (2), Walton (2), Matthysz
Conversions: Marshall (2)