Sat 1 Feb 2025, 14:15
After a disappointing result and performance last week, Newbold were determined to make amends against a Bugbrooke team just one place below them in the league table. With a much improved team performance Newbold emerged victorious, 41-26, after a hard-fought and keenly contested match. Bugbrooke kicked off and it was soon clear that both teams were determined to run the ball. A quickly taken tap penalty by Ed Spencer, took play deep into the Bugbrooke 22 where the visitors conceded a penalty. From the ensuing lineout in the corner, and following a number of attacks, Ben Nuttall crashed over for a try to give Newbold the lead after only nine minutes.
With Newbold’s pack putting in a dominant performance, the backs were given plenty of the ball to play with. After a break by Manny Sidhu and an excellent off-load by Lee Lightowler, Euan Marshall jinked his way over in the corner to extend Newbold’s lead.
Although Bugbrooke responded with a series of attacks of their own, excellent defending by Newbold kept them at bay with Duzza Ziba prominent in defence. As Newbold slowly made their way back up the field a superb break by scrum half, Archie Wade freed Finn Conway who scored a try under the post which was
converted by Nathan Gray.
Newbold continued to attack and Euan Marshall was held up in the corner after a strong break by Ed Spencer. From the ensuing scrum on Bugbrooke’s line, the visitors broke free with their player running the length of the field to score a superb try under the posts. With the conversion being added Newbold went into the half time break with a 17-7 lead.
Bugbrooke clearly were given a talking to at half time as they launched a series of attacks at the start of the second half. From one of these attacks, an excellent offload allowed their winger to break the covering tackles to score a try under the posts to reduce the deficit to only three points.
Back came Newbold and their dominant scrum forced Bugbrooke to concede a penalty near their own line. Newbold opted to take a tap penalty and prop, Kyle Smith, stormed over in the corner for a try converted by Nathan Gray. With play now deep in Bugbrooke’s half the visitors conceded a penalty in front of the posts which was kicked by Nathan Gray to extend Newbold’s lead. However, any thoughts that Bugbrooke were finished were soon expelled as a lineout near Newbold’s line resulted in them conceding another try under the posts.
As Bugbrooke continued to attack, a clearing kick from Ed Spencer went dead and, from the ensuing drop out, Finn Conway caught the ball and burst through the Bugbrooke defence for an excellent individual try which was, again, converted by Nathan Gray.
Just as the Newbold supporters were beginning to relax, Bugbrooke struck again with a try under the posts after a series of 5 metre scrums although the conversion was missed to leave Bugbrooke still eight points behind and the clock ticking down. However, there was still time for Newbold to score their sixth try when, from the restart Bugbrooke knocked on. While their players stopped, waiting for the whistle, Euan Marshall gathered the loose ball, and as the referee played advantage, scampered into the corner to score a try in front of a jubilant clubhouse. Nathan Gray added the conversion from the touchline with the last kick of the game to leave Newbold the victors at 41-26; a result which reflected the commitment and effort shown by the whole squad throughout the game.
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