somnambulant (at times) Newark
REPORT WRITTEN BY NICK LAW
Saturday January 21
Midlands Two East North
Newark’s promotion ambitions took a dent as they succumbed to the league leaders and slid two places to fifth in the league after a compelling encounter in the Melbourne mud.
Newark welcomed back James Price into the front row, Freddie Tatham into the back row and Tom Mawer on the wing, in the only changes from their previous league game against Matlock.
As both sides struggled to find a rhythm in the opening encounters and vied for territorial possession, the home side made their intentions clear as they went for phase after phase through the forwards, attacking through the middle and sucking in the Newark midfield, in what was to become the pattern for the afternoon.
Initially somewhat somnambulant, Newark repulsed the Melbourne attacks with the indomitable skipper, Tom Coen, leading the line, and it was a terrific turnover by the returning Tatham, in coruscating form in the first half, that earned Newark a penalty on the opposition 10 metre line.
Matt Law, the 18-year-old fly half, thumped it over to give the visitors the lead. Moments later the unfortunate Mawer left the field with a dislocated shoulder as he ended up at the bottom of a melee having fielded a speculative kick. This injury heralded the return of Jordan Slack to add ballast to the back line.
However, Ill-discipline saw Newark concede a string of penalties in the game, and from one such Melbourne kicked to the corner, took the ball off the top of the line out and in training ground move the burly centre Jack Pearce ran through the midfield from a few metres out. Melbourne’s fly half added the extras.
Newark played with their customary passion, with Jonny Statham carrying well and Price barrelling up the field, and there was solidity at scrum time, but as their lineout continually malfunctioned it was hard for them to get a foothold in the game and allow the backs to show their multiplicity of skills.
A little against the run of play it was Law who reduced the deficit as he cooly slotted another penalty from a rare Melbourne transgression at the breakdown.
Great line speed and tenacity in defence by Newark ensured that they went into the break very much in touch, and when Law kicked his third penalty the large contingent of ebullient travelling supporters had aspirations of continuing on their winning run.
As the temperature dropped things got heated on the pitch resulting in a double sin bin as Tatham and Melbourne’s scrum half failed to make friends and traded rabbit punches.
With more space, the league leaders continued to push Newark back through their powerful pack and push home their territorial advantage.
They deservedly took the lead from yet another penalty awarded against Newark at the breakdown. They extended their lead as Newark were turned over time and again and conceded a penalty in front of the posts.
Arran Riley replaced Tatham in the back row and made an immediate impact in his first game of the season, but with Newark playing too much rugby in their own half and isolating themselves too often, it was Melbourne who scored next as a rare sight of their backs in full flow broke the visitor’s defence to cross the whitewash.
The conversion was added and at 20-9 down Newark were galvanised for the last few minutes, but even with a man advantage as Melbourne’s back rower was dismissed for a high tackle, they were unable to control the ball for long enough to make it count.
Melbourne played with discipline and structure, dominating the line out and controlled things well in their inimitable style, running out as the deserving victors and stretching their lead at the top of the table.
Newark will have been frustrated at their profligacy with ball in hand and elements of their set piece, but their defence and structure continue to show the development and tenacity that coach Ben Buxton has brought this season.
Next up Newark are away to West Bridgford next Saturday, Jan 28, kick off 2.15pm.
Team: Scott; Mawer, Waqalevu, Mackie, Charles; Law, Clark; Dunning, Huddlestone, Price, Statham, Boyd, Poulson, Coen (capt), Tatham.
Subs: Bagga, Riley, Slack.
Big thanks to Nick Law for the report and first use in a Newark match report of the word ‘somnambulant’ or sleep walking…