Rugby Union
Newbold stay in contention

Kidderminster Carolinas 17 Newbold on Avon 25

Midlands Two West (South)

NEWBOLD’S ninth win from 12 league starts kept them firmly in the promotion picture as they got the new year off to a successful start.

Kicking off with the strong wind in their favour, Kidderminster quickly pushed Newbold on to the defensive and after finding touch with a penalty, used a catch and drive to score the first converted try of the contest.

The hosts were soon on the front foot again but Tim Murphy won a scrum against the head before an up and under was claimed by Phil Reed.

He released Glenn Bond who was making good ground before being illegally stopped which led to a penalty that he kicked through the posts himself.

Newbold began to enjoy the majority of possession and after one lengthy attack came to nothing they won another penalty which was taken quickly.

With Kidderminster not retreating penalty they were penalised again and Mark Hyde acted quickly to tap and crash over the line, Bond converted for a 10-7 interval lead.

The first score of the second half went to Kidderminster with an unconverted try as they regained the lead before Bond missed a simple penalty at the other end.

A moment of controversy followed when Kidderminster’s drop goal attempt appeared to go over but the referee disagreed.

There was further frustration for the hosts when a simple penalty was missed minutes later and Newbold made them pay.

Debutant Ben Mann gathered in his own 22 and after drawing in three attackers fed McGill who weaved his way forward.

Eventually he fed Tom Clarke to sprint in under the posts and Bond added the extra two points with the score coming completely against the run of play.

Kidderminster’s kick-off found Bond and his kick forward led to Newbold winning a line-out.

The hosts then knocked on to present Newbold with a scrum from which Facer fed Bond to send his drop goal through the upright.

An identical restart followed with Bond again taking the catch and sending the ball long. Hyde then stole the line-out and quick ball found Mann coming into the line from full back to reach the line for an unconverted try.

Kidderminster launched one last attack and though the game was beyond them, scored an unconverted try with their final try of the game.

Newbold sit second in the table, seven points behind leaders Barkers Butts ahead of Saturday’s home clash against Pershore.