Rugby Union
Newbold hit back to extend fine run

Newbold 24 Droitwich 14

Midlands Two West (South)

NEWBOLD head into 2012 firmly in contention to secure promotion following their eighth victory of the season on Saturday.

The success over Droitwich sees them lie second in the table, level on points with Old Laurentians and six behind leaders Barkers Butts.

Glenn Bond kicked an early penalty to edge Newbold ahead before Droitwich kept the ball tight and Luke Eversham found his way over for a converted try despite some big hits coming in from Mark Hyde and Sean Fereday.

Newbold tried to hit back when Phil Reed retrieved his own up and under before winning a penalty but Lloyd Warner’s effort drifted just wide.

A bold move from Droitwich saw them decide to run the ball out of trouble but it paid dividends as they worked their forward to send Matt Barnes over, Bobby Scott-Walker added his second conversion to make it 14-3 in the visitors’ favour at half time.

An early penalty gave Newbold chance to start the comeback but from long range, Warner had the distance but the ball dropped just wide of the posts.

The hosts were then forced to defend for a spell as Droitwich looked to extend their lead before eventually taking play back to halfway.

Fereday then won possession and fed Hyde whose long pass to Warner sent him sprinting 40-yards towards the line before finding Tom Clarke to go in under the posts, Bond converted.

Droitwich’s long kick found Ed Scott in his own 22 and the Colt decided to show the pace and skill he possesses by almost making it to the line before the ball was recycled to Warner who was bundled into touch.

Alex Jones, on for Hartwell, robbed the Droitwich line-out and fed Reed who broke through the gap to score under the posts, Bond again added the extras as Newbold led for the first time in the game at 17-14.

Now on the front foot, Newbold continued to advance and scored again through Fereday with Bond adding the extra two to round off the afternoon.