Newark Rugby Club
Newark Rugby Club opened phase one of the rebuild with the state of the art changing rooms being used for the first time. Pre match entertainment showcased the clubs junior sides while just prior to kick off the large crowd fell silent to remember the life of club stalwart Brian Fisher with a minutes silence.
see below for full match reports and photos from the day.
NLD Shield 1st rd
Newark 10 West Bridgford 18
A large crowd in celebratory mood watched West Bridgford kick off in warm sunshine. Immediately they put pressure on the Newark defence before the hosts had the opportunity to clear their lines from a penalty.
The game developed into something of a midfield stalemate until, at the end of the first quarter,
Bridgford were awarded a kickable penalty just outside the 22 on the left of the posts. The attempt was pushed wide but within minutes Newark had conceded another penalty on the other side of the field. This time no mistake was made and Bridgford went 3 up.
To compound the problem for the Newark defence, prop Jordan Hempstead, conceded a further penalty and earned himself a yellow card for a repeated offence.
The Newark first team debutants, Elliot Kelsall, Francis Appleton and Jason Matthysz were all making sound contributions but found life in a 7 man pack difficult.
However, after 35 minutes, Newark were awarded a penalty just outside the Bridgford 22 and Dan Mackie converted from the left. Just as Newark were preparing to settle for a 3-3 draw at half time, Bridgford broke down the right and scored a try in the corner but the conversion failed. 3-8 half-time.
Newark exerted good pressure in the second half but wasted possession at critical times. Bridgford broke out in a fluent move down their right but were denied a try by a careless forward pass.
The play switched to their left and they earned another penalty when the Newark hooker failed to roll away at a ruck. The kick was successful and Bridgford extended their lead to 3-11. Newark upped their efforts and put the opposition defence under significant pressure in their own 22. However, just as a score seemed inevitable, mistakes were made and Newark were forced back.
Newark looked to have few ideas in attack and Bridgford defended in numbers. After possession was wasted again, a Bridgford penalty led to a break out and they scored a try down their right before converting it to give a score of 3-18.
The scoreline was scant reward for the Newark defence but they will want to look at why they conceded three times as many penalties as the opposition.
Newark continued to press in a losing cause and from a quick penalty on the Bridgford 10m line, Mikey Boyd ran strongly to break down the Bridgford defence to score. Mackie converted to give a final score of 10-18.
Details
Try: Boyd. Conversion: Mackie. Penalty goal: Mackie.
Squad (per selected): Mackie; Hunter-Shaw, Waqalevu, Jordan Slack, Britten, Chapple, Clark; Appleton, Kelsall, Hempstead, Boyd, Mattysz, Coulam, Bartsch, Garland (capt).
Subs: Tomlinson, Tinsley,
Club President Alan Swain chats to the match officials
Nice to see Victoria back on the rugby pitch