Newark u16 vs Huddersfield u16

Newark U16s were pleased to welcome Huddersfield for their first visit to Kelham Road, on an unseasonable warm and sunny day, with the first team pitch looking magnificent. A large crowd anticipated a competitive contest between the well-matched teams.

Playing into the wind Huddersfield kicked off and immediately put Newark under pressure, forcing an early knock on, and the first test of the Newark scrum on their 22, Much to the delight of the home crowd the Newark scum (with Captain Sam H making his hooking debut) proved formidable and immediately had Huddersfield scrum crumbling under the strain, yet were unable to gain possession due to great work of the Huddersfield scrum half.

Newark looked dangerous in attack with only the final pass proving elusive against a well organised Huddersfield side, with great runs and play by both Toby H and Smorgie.

Both teams were working hard to gain the advantage with well executed Lineouts by Huddersfield and a dominant Newark scrum, it took the smallest of errors 15 minutes in by Huddersfield and an audacious interception by the burglar (Toby H) to open the scoring, with the conversion by Oscar M, 7 – 0.

Newark smelt blood and again went on the offensive, with Toby H making yet another interception in his 22 and running almost the whole length of the pitch it was only the determined Huddersfield defence that thwarted his brace. This Huddersfield continued and they came close to equalising with only the cannon boot of Freddie B saving the try.

Near the end of the first half Newark finally got the second try that their play deserved, coming from a bursting run by Mateusz D, who when eventually overpowered by half the Huddersfield pack, left space on the left wing, which was exploited by Elliott P, who fired the ball immediately to the backs and eventually found Smorgie, who evaded 4 defenders to darted through for the try to make it 12–0 at the break.

Huddersfield started the second Half strong clearly wanting to make an early impression with the wind at their backs and get some early points on the board. However the Newark attack was relentless and a great clearance box kick from Huddersfield fell nicely for the ever alert Elliott P, who spotted the overlap on the left and the waiting James H, who ran through and managed to release Luke H for a well taken try, seconds before a huge prop arrived on the scene! 17–0.

Newark continued to press the Huddersfield line but with the Huddersfield defence showing signs of rugby league skills (!) were unable to breach it, the attacks eventually ending with a great clearance kick from that Huddersfield prop!

As the clock wound down Huddersfield continued to seek those elusive points, whilst desperately defending their own lines using their excellent lineout to good effect. The final play of the match was occurred on the Huddersfield 5m line with another well taken lineout, but the blindside break only found Spencer S, who immediately ripped it off him in his trademark style and Newark looked like scoring in the dying seconds, but alas it was not to be and the ball was kicked into touch as the whistle went.

Final score 17 - 0

Many thanks to our friends at Huddersfield for travelling to Kelham Road and gracing the first team pitch. We look forward to the return match later in the season.

Written by Will Nicholson
Checked by David Hayle