Newark Colts 27 vs Kesteven Colts 0

Newark Colts extended a warm welcome to our neighbours from Grantham, Kesteven, at Kelham Road for a thrilling Friday night derby under the floodlights. The atmosphere was charged with glimpses of the coming festive season, however the young Newark side were resolute in their commitment, refusing to bestow any early gifts upon their opponents. The match unfolded into a riveting 5-try spectacle, ultimately culminating in a decisive 27-0 victory for Newark.
Right from the kick-off, the intensity matched the expectations of a local derby. Newark's tenacious tackling and astute rucking set the tone, limiting Kesteven's territorial gains and denying them a solid platform to build. The breakthrough came from a meticulously executed lineout at the halfway mark, leading to a storming run by Henry Allen, who deftly offloaded to the supporting Smodgie Woodward for the opening try, putting Newark ahead 5-0.
The contest remained fiercely contested, with Kesteven striving to regain parity. However, only a dynamic run from the 22-meter line saw Luke Fisher breach the Kesteven defence, extending Newark's lead to 10-0.
As the first half drew to a close, a display of skilful running by Charlie North, coupled with a precise offload to Smodgie Woodward, resulted in another try, pushing Newark's advantage to 15-0.
The second half witnessed a determined effort from Kesteven to get back on terms, but Newark's steadfast defence proved insurmountable. After a prolonged stalemate, a penalty awarded following a powerful run by Alex Coulthard at the Kesteven 5m allowed Paddy Mack to drive through for another try. Oscar Corley successfully converted, widening Newark's lead to 22-0.
The final flourish of the game fell to Oscar Corley, with a robust run and a great finish on the wing secured the last try, sealing Newark's victory at 27-0.
A heartfelt appreciation goes out to Kesteven for delivering an entertaining and spirited game. Despite the scoreline, their relentless pursuit of points was evident throughout, with only stellar defence and a resilient "blue wall" of tackles denying them any breakthrough this time round.
Late change to next weekends fixture, now away to Southwell on Friday 1st Dec Kick off at 7pm