After a long break due to weather and the Christmas holidays, Newark U16s welcomed Nottingham Moderns to Kelham Road for their first game of the New Year, on an unseasonably warm winter day, playing on a heavy first team pitch.

Newark elected to kick and immediately put Moderns under pressure winning the first breakdown, with a fantastic kick from Oscar M, finding the clubhouse gutter and the first lost ball of the season within 2 minutes!

The match remained even with chances both sides as the game settled, it was a trademark rip from Spencer S that setup the platform for the opening try, the ball was quickly distributed to Elliott P who kicked over the defence and forced Moderns to concede a penalty at the ensuing ruck. A powerful run from the set piece move gave the opening for Mateusz D to power over and make it 5-0.

Moderns immediately went on the offensive relentlessly attacking the Newark line twice coming close, before from a busting run from Moderns 2nd row sucked the defence in, creating the space on the wing for the try and tie the scores up at 5-5.

Looking the better side with their tails well and truly up, Moderns retained the ball well at a scrum and distributed it quickly to the wing and a narrow defence and several missed tackles led to the try and conversion 5 -12.

This galvanised the Newark side into action, who immediately responded with some great work with Oscar M kicking a penalty to touch on the Moderns 5m line. From the lineout, in a move straight from the training ground the maul was formed, and Newark powered through the Modern defence with Nate C dotting the ball down, conversion Oscar M tied the scores up at 12-12.

The Newark forwards were now in the ascendancy and the relentless drives pressured the Modern line which was finally broken by a powering run by Luke F, 17-12.

As half-time loomed and with the Newark forwards dominating in all areas, a Moderns lineout was stolen by Arthur R. Mateusz D was first to react and sped forward offloading to Luke F for his brace, conversion Oscar M, making it 24-12 at the break.

With the mince pies and Christmas spirit long gone, Newark are immediately back on the offensive, winning a scrum on the Modern 5m. Phase after phase was repelled, until Luke F eventually broke the line for his hat-trick try, conversion Oscar 31-12.

Despite the score line and showing great spirit Moderns, continued to press and after jackling the ball in their own 22 to stop a certain Newark try, they ran it straight back at Newark and with missed tackles galore they crossed the line to close the gap to 31-17.

In almost the last move of the match, the final score of the match came from a fantastic back move between Elliott P and Oscar M on the halfway line, with dodges and dummies on display Elliott P scored under the posts and the conversion by Oscar M made the final score 38-17.

Moderns continued to play for pride and the match finished as it started with a Moderns offensive brought to a swift end by a final rip by Spencer S.

Many thanks to Moderns for an entertaining and friendly match.

Written by Will Nicholson
Checked by David Hayle