NLD QF Newark u16's vs Scunthorpe u16's

Approaching Scunthorpe for NLD quarter final, Newark passed the giant steel plants that are part of the town’s famous industrial heritage, an ominous sight for a match that proved to be cold, hard and grey in places.

The shortage of NLD referee’s meant we were waiting for the previous match to finish before ‘Sir’ was available to officiate, so when that ran on, an already late kick-off became even later so keeping warm in the chilly stiff breeze was essential.

Finally, Newark kicked into the wind and started strongly with some typical forward drives. Within 7 minutes Smorgie made a incisive run to the Scunthorpe 5-yard line only to be tackled, but there was Mateusz D to pick the ball up and dive rather elegantly (!) over the line to open our account. Oscar M lined up the conversion attempt, but as expected the wind was not going to be his friend today, at least for this half of the game.

Newark regained the ball after the restart and made their way back to the Scunthorpe half, at 10 yards from the line Elliot P decided on a quick chip to the try line, as he kicked the ball, all that could be heard from the touch line was the voice of his father shouting: ‘Elliot, No!’ Which clearly motivated Elliot as he instantly recouped the ball and scored, 10-0 to Newark.

Oscar M placed a beautiful penalty kick 5 yards from the touch line, from the resulting lineout drive, Henry A peeled off the back and powered through the opposition for the third try and the last of the half: 15-0 to Newark at half time playing into the wind.

The halftime team talk focussed on stopping Scunthorpe around the edges of the rucks and using the wind and slope to good advantage.

All was going to plan when Toby H opened the scoring in the second half with an animated ‘speed-machine’ run around the Scunthorpe defence to place the ball by the posts. With the wind now with Oscar M, he opened his conversion account and the score moved to 22-0.

To their credit Scunthorpe fought back and with Newark’s halftime game plan long forgotten, after a lengthy period at the Newark try line, despite some ferocious defending, multiple penalties were awarded against Newark ending with the home team were awarded a penalty try and Newark a Yellow card, 22-7.

The loss of a player and conceding a try galvanised Newark into action who were straight back in the Scunthorpe half, helped along by another great kick to touch by Oscar M. A quick lineout led to the ball falling in Luke F’s hands who seemingly walked through the Scunthorpe defence to dot the ball down. The conversion restoring the comfortable Newark lead at 29-7.

What followed next rugby-wise is best not being written about but eventually Newark played some proper structured rugby. From a lineout the ensuing drive set up the next phase, with unbelievably (for this half) support in tow(!) and having gained 15 yards, the ball was quickly picked up by Luke F who sublimely offloaded to Isaac S who scored under the posts, which when converted again took the score 36-7.

Not long after that a Newark scrum 15-yard out saw the ball fed out down the Backs and with some great passing from Luke H and Freddie B, it was Finn T who touched down to make sure of the win, 43-7.

In what was almost the final play of the match Scunthorpe once again dug in on the Newark try-line and their direct powerful charges were rewarded with a consolation try to make the final score 43-12.

Overall, some hard rugby was played today with robust physical tackling from both sides, and despite at times some very poor decision making from those on the pitch there was a high work rate from all.

A final thanks to the referee who despite having just refereed another game, stepped in to allow the fixture to go ahead.

Written by A Cameron
Checked by D Hayle