Nuneaton 26 - Newbold On Avon 31

After the Nuns started the season so brightly at Market Harborough last week, they couldn’t back it up at home to Newbold this weekend in blistering September sunshine. With the temperature touching 30C both teams found the heat sapping but it was some forward power from the visitors that proved crucial in drawing the Nuns energy levels down to take the game 31-26.

With the Nuns kicking off into the breeze they spent the best part of the first quarter withstanding Newbold pressure and defending valiantly. One foray up field got the hosts a penalty which was sent into the 22m but possession couldn’t be secured and the opportunity went. Newbold finally made the possession and pressure tell when, after a penalty was put into the corner, a line out catch and drive was set up and their hooker Houghton was pushed across the try line for the first points which was unconverted, 0-5 on 20mins.

After a scheduled water break, the kicks kicked off and forced an error of the catcher. With scrum ball secured the home side put together their first real sustained period of pressure and continuity. As the worked their way deep into the 22m the ball was moved towards the left touch line where Travis Bennett stepped inside his man to score and cut in towards the posts. Lucas Brindley converted taking the score to 7-5 after 26mins.

A few minutes later, after Newbold had kicked the ball dead the Nuns had a scrum just in their half. George Wallis picked up well under pressure to take the ball on. The Nuns again went through a number of phases moving the ball up the pitch and across, stretching the opponents defence. Rudi Reid made a break taking the ball into the 22m and after a couple more recycled phases, Todd Bullions slipped a ball to Danny Southall to score with Brindley again converting, 14-5 on 32mins.

As the clock approached half time, Tom Sumner fielded a deep kick moving the ball inside. After a number of carries and offloads Ryan Southall popped it back inside to brother Danny who added a final pass back to Sumner who went under the posts for a good team try and his debut senior try. Converted it took the score to 21-5 on 39mins which remained the score until half time.

The Nuns had shown that if they could retain possession for a spell and move their larger opponents around they had the capabilities to be dangerous but the visitors also showed their muscle up front.

The worst start to the half for the Nuns came when Newbold scored in the first attack of the half returning a kick and slipping through some tackles to reduce the score line to 21-12, try scored and converted by Lee Lightowler after 41mins.

For the next twenty minutes Newbold would dominate possession and the game became very stop start. On the occasions the Nuns had the ball they conceded a couple of penalties. On 53mins and then 63mins, Newbold showed some forward power to score near the posts through Lightowler and then from 4 resets scrum a penalty try bringing the score to 21-24 after 63mins.

It went from bad to worse for the hosts. The kick off didn’t go 10metres and from the resulting passage of play, a penalty was conceded and the ball sent to the corner. Recycled possession ended up with a try for Ben Dawes and the Nuns now trailed 31-21 with 15minutes remaining.

The Nuns managed to find some form and for the last stages of the game put the visitors under pressure. Showing what they could do with possession they kept the ball alive and after a sustained period, substitute Elliott Brown scored from a close ruck but was unconverted. 26-31 on 74mins.

The Nuns huffed and puffed for the last 6 minutes but after some resolute defending, couldn’t crack Newbold. A game that possibly they ran out of time but, also lost control at the start of the second half. Plenty to be learnt from this defeat and hard work to be carried out to rectify issues.

1 James Redman 2 Toby Dearden 3 Fin Aherne 4 Rudi Reid 5 James Lloyd 6 Todd Bullions 7 Dan Southall 8 George Wallis 9 Marcus Holt 10 Lucas Brindley 11 Tom Sumner 12 Tom Eales 13 Travis Bennett 14 Ryan Southall 15 Stewart Davies; 16 Ben Holmes 17 Chris Smith 18 Elliott Brown