Sat 7 Dec 2019
Newbold returned to action after a week’s break in the league schedule and travelled to bottom of the table Kidderminster with once again a changed team. Write Phil Fereday.
Newbold have not been able to put out the same team yet this season but it shows the strength in depth within the club. Micky Pails was a last-minute replacement for injured skipper Ben Thompson and fitted seamlessly into a well-drilled Bold pack. Ben Dawes took over the captain’s duties. The other changers were Reiss Boon in at scrum-half and Sam Powell on the wing both called up to the starting 15. The game started in what was the best conditions in recent weeks dry but with a strong crosswind and the first exchangers saw both sides testing each other out. Newbold were having more possession and after a period of pressure in the home-side half, Dan Obrien kicked a penalty to open the scoring 0-3 to the Bold after 10mins. The next score came after 25mins after some pressure from the Home side they broke through Newbold’s defence and scored an unconverted try 5-3. In the next period of play, Newbold’s pack were beginning to dominate the home side pack and after a series of powerful scrums on the Home sides five-metre line, the ball was let out through to Josh Cooke who made a telling break and offloaded to James McGill who powered over in the corner Dan Obrien added the extra points to make it 5-10 to the Bold at half time.
Newbold started the second half with some strong carries from the forwards with Ben Dawes, Wes Hallam and Tom Dixon making the hard yards and so after 45mins the Bold scored a well-worked try by James McGill converted by Dan Obrien 5-17. The next score came after a period of pressure from a very game Home side who scored a converted try 12-17 after 60mins. This seemed to spur Newbold back into action and after another powerful scrum Rudi Reid charged down a clearance kick to pick up and power his way over to touch down Ethan Wookey taking over the kicking duties converted 12-24 after 63mins. The Bold were now well on top and Ben Dawes smashed through the home defence and set off down the touchline and after selling an outrageous dummy passed inside to James McGill who ran in to touch down under the post to celebrate his hat-trick, converted by Ethan Wookey 12-31 after 78mins. Play moved into injury time and Kidderminster to their credit were pressing to have the final score only to see a loose pass picked up by Rudi Reid and from 80 metres out, ran and fended off would-be tackles to score between the posts. This capped off a fine individual performance by him. Ethan Wookey stepped up to convert in the final play of the game 12-38 to the Bold.
