Kesteven 2XV 29 - Newark 3XV 24
The seconds had their first home Pennant Game of the season on Saturday when Newark 3rds were the visitors. The threatened rain did not appear and the teams ran out to pleasant autumn sunshine.
The early stages of the match held no promise for the thrilling encounter we were going to see. Newark had first use of the wind and kept Kesteven pinned in their own half for much of the game. They used the long kick to the corner to good effect but the K's defence held out with some fine first time tackling. Newcomer Rick Potter was kept busy at full back. As half time loomed Newark at last broke through with a try following a break in the forwards. They added a second a minute later when the wind held up a K's defensive clearance and Newark stormed through catching K's offside. The visitors moved the ball quickly to exploit the disorganised K's defence to score. This time the conversion was good and Newark led 12 - 0. They must have thought they would turnround with a healthy lead but K's had other ideas. First Brister took a quick tap penalty to go over then Pearsey finished off a move with a try which Coghill converted to tie the scores at the break. 24 points scored in less than 10 minutes set the scene for the second half.
K's had the wind behind then in the second half but any thoughts that they would have it easy were soon dispelled when Newark regained the lead with another converted try. This was the start of a see-saw. First Rob Windsor forced his way over for a try then Dom Brister stormed over with three defenders hanging on to him. His conversion took K's back into the lead by 22 - 19. Newark weren't done and another spell of pressure yielded a free kick from a scrum. Their scrum half reacted quickly and was over the line before K's realised what was happening. !0 minutes left and K's behind by 2 points - seemed like a familliar pattern at Woodnook this season. This time however K's had the last word. One final push into the Newark 22 saw Paul Shields get possession five yards out. He needed no second invitation to go over at the posts. Brister's conversion saw K's win a good game by 29 - 24.
This was fine performance by K's who showed that their will to win was very much restored. In the backs Potter played well at full back while Brister ran the game well from fly half. Hughes had another fine game at scrum half with his non stop energy.
In the pack Midgley played with great spirit always looking to take the game to Newark while Pearsey led by example.
Team R Potter; I Charles, R Dolan, T Burton, R Windsor; D Brister, J Hughes; P Etherington, P Dolan, P Shields, W Pert, M Coghill, J Smith, R Midgley, A Pearsey. Reps I McAllister, N Turner, M Paton, N Hardy-Gillings
