Sat 18 Dec 2021, 14:15
Good improved performance from Newbold against third in the league visitors but unfortunately no early Christmas cheer Writes Phil Fereday. Head coach Huw Thomas had said Stoke’s visit to Parkfield Road was an ideal opportunity to gauge if the additional hard work put in by the players and coaching staff were beginning to take effect.
The match started and for the first ten minutes Stoke had the lion’s share of possession running hard lines and probing to try and find a way through Newbold’s defence but the Bold were not found wanting with the back row of Dixon, Furlong and Messum leading the way on the tackles count. Stoke only managed to put 3 points on the scoreboard with a penalty in this period. Newbold now started to gain more possession and applied there own pressure on the visitors with some strong ball carries and off loads from Thompson and Dawes resulting in a successful penalty kick from Dan Obrien 3-3 .The next score came after centres Jamie Mapletoft and Oisin McKenna combined well for the ever improving McKenna to touch down with Dan Obrien adding the extras 10-3.Stoke came straight back at Newbold and was awarded a penalty to make it 10-6 and just before half time scored an unconverted try 10-11.The second half began with play taking place in the middle of the pitch with both sides defences dominating the play until a mistake by Stoke when a loose pass was picked up by Jamie Mapletoft and he broke through to sprint in to touch down from 30 metres out with Dan Obrien converting 17-11.
Stoke now with possession and Newbold desperately defending were reduced to 14 men after a yellow card was issued and Stoke took advantage of the extra man straight away to score an unconverted try in the corner 17-16. After keeping the visitor’s out for the remaining sin bin period Newbold conceded another unconverted try when back to full strength 17-21 .Now in the last minutes of the game Newbold were camped on Stokes line but being frustrate by them conceding penalties to prevent Newbold from scoring. Finally ending with the clock in extra time with the visitors taking a goal line drop out after Newbold were deemed to be held up over the line denying Newbold a win. It can be a game of fine margins but on this showing, it could be a bright New Year ahead for the Bold.
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