Sat 18 Jan 2020
Newbold travelled to Stourbridge to play the home side on their 4G pitch knowing they had to be at their best on this surface. Writes Phil Fereday
Newbold team news was Micky Pails in at second row, Duza Ziba at prop and Reiss Boon at scrum-half with positional changes of Josh Cooke at fly-half Dan Obrien at centre and Ethan Wookey at full-back.
From the kick-off, Newbold showed there intent with the forwards driving towards the Home side try line and after 3 mins of play were awarded a penalty which Dan Obrien converted 0-3 to the Bold. Straight from the restart, Newbold made ground with the forwards and then quickly transferred the ball along the backline out to winger Manny Sidhu who put on the afterburners to speed over and touch down in the corner for an unconverted try 0-8 after 5 mins. The next score came after Newbold forwards who were disallowed a penalty try from a 5-metre scrum having pushed the Home side back over the line only to see the ball illegally kicked out and so had to settle for 3 points for the awarded penalty by way of a Dan Obrien's boot; 0-11 after 25 mins. The Home side started to come more into the game and after a brief spell in Newbold’s half scored an unconverted try in the corner 5-11 after 30 mins. Newbold hit straight back with another Dan Obrien penalty 5-14 after 35 mins. The Home side were now coming more into the game and hit back again with a converted try just on half time 12-14.
Stourbridge began the second half strongly but because of some solid defence from Newbold and once again the back row of Tom Dixon, Kyle Furlong and Sam Thompson heading the tackle count all they had to show for this was a penalty kick 15-14 after 50 mins. Newbold then rallied and were the next to score a try by skipper Ben Thompson who injured himself doing so and had to leave the field it was converted by Dan Obrien 15-21 after 55 mins. Charlie Reid coming on as a replacement and making an immediate impact with some strong tackles. The game now had completely opened up on this fast playing surface and the Home side scored a converted try 22-21 after 65 mins. Pilling on the pressure Stourbridge converted a penalty 25-21 on 70 mins. Newbold now playing with 4 front row players were not about to lay down and once again hit back from a 5-metre lineout taken by Dixon they drove the Home side back over the line for Stu Houghton to score in the corner which was converted by Dan Obrien 25-28 on 75 mins. Still, Newbold were not finished yet and soon score again after a series of pick and drives with Ben Dawes, Duza Ziba and Eddie Allen prominent Kyle Furlong dived over for an unconverted try 25-33 on 79 mins. Now deep into injury time, Stourbridge from a kick and chase scored a try which was converted with the last kick of the match and ended a somewhat breathless half of rugger 32-33 to Newbold.
