RUGBY UNION: NORMAL service was resumed for Newbold-on-Avon after they returned to winning ways in the Midlands One (East) thanks to a 32-12 home victory over Market Rasen & Louth.
The league leaders will be pleased at getting the bonus point win against lower league opposition, but they will know that this level of performance may not get results on the road against top half sides.
The visitors had good amounts of possession but lacked dangerous ball carriers or real pace to turn their good team play into meaningful points.
Newbold plugged away with Dawes prominent for the next spell, but Rasen refused to buckle. They earned a kickable penalty but chose to kick to the corner as their forwards gained confidence against Newbold’s larger pack.
A Newbold clearance kick found Rasen’s left winger who started an attack that led to a try in the left hand corner which they then converted into seven points.
Newbold’s response was immediate when Stuey Houghton, KJ Henry and Nick Walton combined to put Declan George over in the right hand corner for an unconverted try.
Soon after, Ethan Wookey put Newbold in the opposite corner and the hosts went over again when Tom Dixon caught a line-out, the pack rumbled on and Dawes deservedly dotted down for 10-7 after a fairly even first half.
Early in the second half Newbold had a lineout 12 metres from Rasen’s goal line. They caught and set well, and drove all the way over with Kyle Furlong taking the score.
In the same area of the pitch Newbold soon had a scrum which Danny Facer picked and went right but was repelled. It was excellent defence by Rasen but they could not hold on, Walton scoring infield, Ethan Wookey adding the conversion for 22-7.
KJ Henry and Kyle Furlong particularly continued to work hard, frequently slowing down the opposition ball at the breakdown, and Douza Ziba was also busy. Rasen soon had a good spell as they stretched Newbold and moved the ball nicely between them, showing that as a team, they are more than capable.
Sam Thompson and Kyle Furlong both managed turnovers to help Newbold keep Rasen out, but despite some more worthy defence, Rasen crossed for a well deserved converted try.
Then ensued the ten minute Lloyd Warner show. He took a quick tap penalty in his own 22, sprinted up the left hand touch line before cleverly kicking on for James McGill to chase and touch down. He then chipped and gathered his own kick for a try of his own. Those ten points helped make the scoreboard look nice and healthy.
Newbold must fire into Melton Mowbray’s big pack next week and the team needs to find the shape and fluidity that produced the points that put them top of the table.
