Sat 4 Sep 2021
Despite injuries and prolonged extra time, the Bold show their sprit and determination to share the points writes Phil Fereday.
The visitor’s received the ball from the kick-off and maintained possession for a significant period, applying pressure on the Newbold defence until finally managing to break through with a well worked move to score a try near the post which was converted 0-7. After the restart Newbold managed to gain some momentum with some fine passing and maintaining possession putting the visitors under pressure and conceding penalties. From a line out 10 metres out the Bold worked a catch and drive forcing the opposition back to score a try wide out a smiling Stuey Houghton appeared from the pile of bodies with the ball in hand this was converted by Dan Obrien 7-7. What followed was a long period were both sides could not gain any clear advantage, but Newbold suffered with a series of injuries that forced positional changers to the team. Deep into 8 minutes of added time from the base of a home scrum Jamie Mapletoft broke around the blindside chipping the ball over the incoming defence and regathering the ball to sprint into the corner to score a great individual try the conversion was missed 12-7 to Newbold at half time.
The second half started with a similar pattern as the first Halesonians on the attack with Newbold’s re shuffled team defending and after a series of penalties the Bold were reduced to 14 men with a yellow card handed out and the visitor’s kicking the penalty 12-10. Newbold now had a dominant period in defence and attack with hard working Tom Dixon and Kyle Furlong prominent. The constant pressure put on the visitor’s reducing them to concede penalties which Ethan Wookey converting both on offer making the score 18-10. Newbold back with 15 players on the field came under pressure once again from the visitor’s and after working their way into Newbold’s 22 broke through and scored a converted try and in doing so Newbold suffered another injury 18-17. So, Newbold were now down to 14 men for the rest of the game and with players in unfamiliar positions but the Bold to a man were outstanding making the visitors desperately concede penalties one at full time and one after a further 10 mins of extra time Ethan Wookey with his kicking boots on converted both. The game still carried on and the visitors in possession with the final play of the game managed to take advance of the extra man and break through a desperate tiring defence of Newbold to score a try under the post that was converted 24-24.
