RUGBY: Newbold win again and stay third in table

Midlands 1 East

Newbold On Avon RFC 20

Market Rasen & Louth 12

Newbold dug deep for this victory as a rejuvenated Market Rasen team pushed them all the way, writes Alan Bale.

Whilst never really getting into top gear, they managed to claim the win despiteonly showing glimpses of the sparkling previous week’s performance against Nuneaton.

The early minutes were played mostly inand around the half way line, with both teams attempting to gain the upper hand.

Newbold didn’t have the normal dominance up front, but it was obvious that Market Rasen were intent on erasing the memory of a 70 point beating earlier this season.

It was still Newbold that took the lead with Ben Thompson bursting away from a rolling maul to touch down for an unconverted score for his team.

There was an immediate response from the travelling team andNewbold were put under immense pressure, Bold’s defence stayed firm, and it seemed harsh as Mark Hyde received a yellow card forpulling down a maul.

Rasen took full advantage, as they drove their lock forward over the line, with a superb touchline conversionputting them in front at 5-7.

Eddie Allen, Danny Treharne and Sam Thompson led the charge as Newbold battled back to regain the lead through an Ethan Wookey penalty and an half time score of 8-7.

It was Rasen who seemed to raise their intensity, but Ben Dawes and Ben Nuttall were instrumental in a powerful defence, as both worked hard to stop Rasen scoring, after a long period of pressure on their own line.

Market Rasen received a yellow card for an infringement at a breakdown and it was Newbold’s turn to apply the pressure.

The penalty was launched into the corner and this time it was Ben Dawes who forced his way over for an unconverted score, but Newbold moving back in front at 13-7.

The Parkfield Road side started to gain some momentum in the scrums and this gave the back line the opportunity to score the best try of the game. It was Declan George’s quick feed from the scrum that allowed Phil Reed and Lloyd Warner to work the space for Manny Sidhu to launch arun at blistering pace that took him all the way from the 10 metre line to score a cracking try under the posts which Ethan Wookey converted for 20-7.

Newbold have blooded a number of youngsters this season, so it was fantastic to see yet another coming through in the shape ofcentre, Jake Callan, who showed enough to convince everyone that he has a bright future.

Rasen were desperate to get something from the game, asNewbold went in search of abonus point and Rasen would have been successful, but for a superb covering tackle from Mark Hyde, just short of the line.

Rasen had the last word though as all the backs joined a driving maul and it was the full back who was driven over the line.

As the touchline conversion fell short, it meant that Rasen didn’t collect a losing bonus point, which you could argue they deserved.

The overall conclusion from the Newbold camp that, whilst not the best performance, it was a good win, especially in view of the fact that Market Rasen were very much up for this game, intent on taking something back to Lincolnshire with them, but, it wasn’t to be, as all the points went the way of the home side.

Next week Newbold travel to Matlock where another tough fixture awaits.