Newark Rugby Club travel woes

Newark displayed some rare accuracy 

With the game drawing to a close, Newark began to lift their efforts 

REPORT WRITTEN BY LEE SLACK

Many thanks to Lee

After the sesquipedalian efforts from last week's correspondent, a return to less flamboyant language - very much in keeping with Newark's performance against a strong and well organised West Bridgford side.

In good conditions, Newark kicked off and almost immediately conceded their first penalty. This unfortunate trend continued throughout and resulted in five further penalties within the first 10 minutes. From one of these infringements for not releasing the player, West Bridgford put the first points on the board. 3-0.

Playing against the wind, Newark failed to make any incursion into the West Bridgford half until 12 minutes into a game which was increasingly becoming staccato in nature as a result of the somewhat incessant blowing of the referee's whistle. This stop/start process did nothing to help the flow of the game or the patience of the players and crowd alike.

Much of the play in the first 15 minutes took place between the respective 22 metre lines with penalties and kicks to touch being traded by both sides. Newark did begin to impose themselves more in the numerous lineouts in contrast to last week and Mikey Boyd consistently dominated on Newark ball as well as disrupting the West Bridgford possession.

As the first half progressed, Newark began to enjoy better possession as well as turning over Bridgford ball. Pricey and the youngster, Ed Poulson, stole Bridgford ball, only for a wayward pass or fumble to hand possession back.

It was almost the end of the first quarter before the first scrum was awarded and Bridgford were to prove a handful in this department all afternoon. Following a strong push from the Bridgford pack, the ball was shipped out only for a high tackle to present the home side with a penalty. The offence was further compounded when Newark failed to retreat 10 metres. A second high tackle in quick succession resulted in a yellow card.

The resultant penalty was hammered into touch on Newark's left by the Bridgford 10, assisted by a strong wind. Having won the line out, the home side shipped the ball through the hands of the backs and, using the one man advantage to the full, went over in the far right hand corner. 8-0. The conversion was missed.

Worse was to follow. Immediately from the restart and despite a strong tackle from the Newark winger, Jordan Slack, the ball was kicked through by a Bridgford player. From the resulting ruck, again using the one man advantage well, the home side crossed the try line once more on the blind side and dotted down to bring the score after 25 minutes to 15-0.

Competing strongly from the restart, Newark forced a knock-on and eventually drew the penalty in front of the posts which Alex Scott kicked to finally put the away side on the scoreboard. 15-3.

After winning the restart, Newark worked hard to make forward progress. Unfortunately, despite several phases from the pack, Bridgford again turned over possession. The resulting overlap from quick ball presented Bridgford with a straight forward score which went unconverted. 20-3.
Perhaps there might be a lesson to learn in moving the ball away from the breakdown quicker.

The home supporters were by this time, understandably, buoyant and in good voice. Newark supporters could only look on and hope that the Blue and Whites might win some meaningful possession to close the growing gap in the score line.

Further scrappy play eventually resulted in the referee deciding in Newark's favour for yet another misdemeanour and from the ensuing penalty; competent handling by the backs presented winger, Jordan Slack, with an opportunity to score. The youngster still had plenty to do with two players to beat, however, with all the grace and agility of a marauding JCB, he despatched the defenders to score in the corner. 20-8.

The extra points were added by Scotty with a superb conversion from wide out on the touch line. 20-10.

Having scrambled back into contention, Newark finally seemed to galvanise themselves and great pressure from Max Chapple at scrum half resulted in spilled ball by the Bridgford 10. Buddha’s (Aloesi Waqalevu) subsequent kick through was chased by Mackie and, under pressure from the chasing Newark players, the Bridgford winger could only ground the ball after taking it over his own try line. 5 metre scrum to Newark.

Nearing half time, the scrum should have presented Newark with a positive scoring opportunity. The home side, however, had other ideas and once the ball was in the scrum, the Bridgford pack exerted significant pressure and, with Newark going backwards, the referee awarded a penalty against them. Another chance gone.

The penalty kick failed to find touch and was caught by Slack before off-loading to Scotty who made good progress into the Bridgford half. Several phases later saw Bridgford concede a penalty for another high tackle and a further sanction for failing to retire 10 metres. The referee once again stepped into the limelight and brandished the second yellow card of the game to the Bridgford hooker for the dangerous tackle which left Newark's No. 7, Tommy, needing treatment.

Newark elected to scrum on the 5 metre line and, despite winning quick ball, the pass was made too early giving Bridgford the chance to hold Billy Charles up before he could ground the ball for a try. With that, the referee brought what had proved to be a frustrating first half to a close.

After strong words by their coach, Newark emerged for the second half looking more determined. From the restart, Poulson again carried well off-loading to Matt Clarke. Kicks were traded and resulted in another line out from which the Bridgford full back made a strong break through the mid-field and was only stopped by a decisive tackle by the increasingly influential Mikey.

Further scrappy play eventually saw Bridgford kick directly into touch. Mikey rose again to take the ball from the line out and after several passes Scotty again kicked through. The Bridgford Full Back returned the compliment although it fell kindly straight into Budda’s grasp. Running strongly, Budda drew the defender and slipped an inside pass to Scotty only for the ball to be lost forward resulting in yet another scrum.

From the defensive scrum, Bridgford kicked poorly to touch and from the lineout, Mikey again secured possession and Dave Garland, on a customary strong line, crashed through a number of defenders only for a wayward pass to result in another knock-on by the away team.

The second half had, at least, begun positively for the Newark men, however, ill-discipline saw a free kick awarded against Newark for an early push in the scrum turned into a full penalty 10 metres further up field after back chat to a referee who remained somewhat sensitive to any constructive criticism.

By this time, the mood on the pitch had begun to deteriorate with players’ increasing frustration with the mounting whistle count. Tempers were becoming frayed and, following a period of aerial ping-pong, Newark were penalised for being offside when kicking the ball at the ruck. From the Bridgford lineout following the kick to touch, Newark were again penalised, this time for coming in at the side in the maul. The referee’s patience had been tested enough and a third Yellow Card was shown for persistent infringement.

With a man down, Slack was temporarily substituted and Fred Tatham came on to shore up the scrum in the absence of the Newark No. 8 who was taking a 10 minute cooling off break at the suggestion of the match official.

Once again, Newark infringed at the scrum being penalised for losing a binding. With some quick thinking, which was much in absence during the game, Bridgford tapped and went to increase their lead with a simple score under the posts. A straightforward conversion brought the score to 27-10.
From the restart, the referee again penalised Newark for being in front of the kicker and it was becoming clear that the away side were finding it challenging to find common ground with the whistle holder regarding his decision making.

Newark continued to show promise in much of their breakdown work and were especially consistent in their lineout possession. Sadly, the end product was more often a knock-on or fumble with the away side conceding far too much easy possession to an eager Bridgford pack.

From yet another reset scrum, Newark stole Bridgford possession and the increasingly impressive Ed Poulson made a rare line break beyond the gain line before drawing a penalty from the Bridgford defence retreating under pressure.

The lineout from the subsequent kick to touch resulted in a Newark knock-on, a Bridgford scrum and a clearance by the home Full Back some 30 metres up field.
From the lineout, the referee again incurred the displeasure of a number of Newark players and coach when he determined the lineout ball was not straight. 

From the restart, Newark struggled to find any momentum, however, strong work in the ruck elicited a penalty against the home side. Scotty launched a fine kick to touch inside the 22 and from the lineout, won by Tatham, Slack took a crash ball making significant ground against the defenders. Once again a lack of precision with the hands presented Bridgford with a scrum from another knock-on.

In the view of the spectators, the increasingly confrontational nature of the game was not well managed by the match official and this, not surprisingly, led to further penalties and tussles which did nothing to help the players’ concentration.

Despite trailing by 17 points, Newark, to their credit, continued to show character in fronting up to the physical challenge and the away side dominated in the lineout all afternoon. From one such lineout success, Tatham broke the Bridgford line and a try looked very much on. Unfortunately, poor decision making led to a two-man overlap being ignored and Bridgford eventually turned over possession when Newark lost the ball in the subsequent maul.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, the weather became increasingly inclement with a strong squall blowing through, accompanied by very black clouds. The light, at this point, was very gloomy and, as is customary, players and team officials enquired of the referee as to whether they might switch on the floodlights so as the assist him in seeing the game with more clarity. Despite fervent interrogation of the gathered throng by this reporter, the reason for the referee declining the offer of illumination remained elusive.

With the game drawing to a close, Newark began to lift their efforts and further carries by Garland saw the away team making better territorial progress. Sadly, Newark then reverted somewhat to type with a number of phases of ball carrying making little progress and an eventual penalty for crossing. In keeping with rest of the afternoon, Newark players seemed incapable of accepting the official’s decision and another 10 metre penalty ensued.

With time running out, Newark displayed some rare accuracy after great work by Poulson who managed to off-load under pressure. Spotting space on the Bridgford right, the ball found its way into Budda’s hands and he was able to burst through with two players offering support on his outside to occupy the defenders. Unconverted try for Newark. 27-15.

The clock read 80 minutes and still Newark, finally appreciating that a bonus point was within their grasp, found extra energy. Having been the beneficiaries of another penalty, Newark enquired whether there was enough time left for a lineout. Having received an answer in the negative from the referee, the away team tapped and went.

From a subsequent knock-on, Newark were awarded a scrum. No-one was quite sure why there hadn’t been enough time for a lineout but there was, in fact, now time for a scrum. Once again, from the resultant possession, Tatham made significant ground through the defence and looked odds on to score under the posts. The Bridgford defence, however, had other ideas and managed to hold the Newark player up.

The final score of 27-15 to Bridgford was indicative of the home side’s superiority. That said, Newark should perhaps reflect that several opportunities went begging. Better accuracy and appreciation of an overlap together with two ‘tries’ going begging when Newark were held up, could easily have resulted in an away win. 

Lee Slack

Ps: word for the week. Sesquipedalian - be used to describe someone or something that overuses big words, like a philosophy professor or a chemistry textbook!

big thanks to the rugby club for permission to use this report.