Newark Blue U16s vs Lincoln - NLD cup Preliminary round

Newark Blue travelled to the Lincoln for the Preliminary round of the U16s NLD Cup with the winners proceeding into the Cup draw and losing team entering the Vase competition.

On a breezy day the very big home team were clearly keen to win in front of an enthusiastic home crowd and with Newark giving several new players their first taste of competitive Cup rugby in a what was a team full of pace, the stage was set for what was probably going to be interesting battle of styles.

Lincoln elected to play down the slope with the blustery wind at their backs and immediately had the Newark side under pressure resulting a knock-on at the 5m line and the first test for the lighter-weight scrum against the significantly heavier Lincoln pack. But with training paying dividends the Newark pack did not disappoint repelling the first (very loud) Lincoln scrum.

But Lincoln were not finished and with the conditions in their favour relentlessly attacked the Newark try line for the rest of the half. But the Newark team tackled their hearts out, defending the try line like their lives depended on it, with bursting runs to clear their lines to gain a brief moment of respite. But the wind was playing havoc with Newark clearance kicks and finding touch was an achievement in itself with the resulting line-out often from behind where the ball was kicked out!

Despite this relentless assault on the Newark try line the visitors held firm and the game remaining scoreless for the first half.

Knowing that the wind would play a massive part in the outcome of the match a shocked Lincoln came out in the second half determined to get on the scoreboard first; and it was in the first few minutes that with the unsighted referee missing a clear knock-on and some uncharacteristic, missed Newark tackles, the speedy Lincoln winger zipped through for the first try of the match under the posts which when duly converted made it 7–0 and sent the Home crowd wild.

Newark immediately went on the attack and began to use their rugby brains to exploit the conditions with some superb box kicks by Max B sending Lincoln back into their own half and were rewarded with a scrum on the Lincoln 5m line. The Newark scrum held well, allowing Arthur R to run a training ground move from the base of the scrum offloading to Harry W who burst for the try to make it 7–5.

The tide had now turned and Newark with the wind at their backs played to their strengths and training, leading to flawless lineouts from Joseph L and the forwards to continue to attack the Lincoln line with only the smallest of errors and a stout Lincoln defence defying the visitors.
Newark finally took the lead through an excellent interception by Harry W, who raced forward, beating 2 defenders to place the try under the posts making for an easy conversion to take Newark ahead 7–12.

As the clock wound down, a final attack from Lincoln found touch and a lineout formed on the Newark 5m, the short throw was taken, which was deftly taken by one of the large Lincoln forwards, but the ever-present Spencer S immediately ripped it off him and the opportunity was repelled.

Despite some final exhausting attacks from Lincoln the score remained the same and with that tremendous team effort the Newark Blues join Newark Yellow in the first round of the NLD Cup.

Many thanks to our hosts for a very entertaining game which remained sporting, good natured throughout.

Written by Will Nicholson
Checked by David Hayle