1st TEAM Match Report
Saturday 17th November 2007
EDF Energy Senior Vase Round 3
OLD NEWTONIANS 1st : 5pts V LUTTERWORTH 1st : 17pts
It was as though he never been away, after more than a year Dennis Hall returned to Lutterworth’s back row with a typical gritty hard working display in the number eight shirt that eventually proved the difference in a real close encounter. Old Newts showed why they head the league below, notching up three tries to Lutterworth’s two and coming back strongly in the final quarter to stretch the visitors to a narrow win. Once again stand-off Andy Burgess was in fine form with the boot slotting four penalties and one conversion in the first period, Bobby Williams took over kicking duties in the second half hitting another penalty and a conversion.
Burgess opened his account early in the first half but Old Newts replied with a fine try from their fly half / outside centre combination that looked and proved dangerous all afternoon. Hooker, Paul Riley was typically on hand to take the ball over for Lutterworth from a well executed line-out catch and drive but it was Burgess whose clinical kicking gave the visitors a nineteen to eleven advantage at the break.
The home side got to within one point early in the second period but shortly afterwards in time honoured Lutterworth fashion a scrum taken against the head gave Tom Carter, who in a fine debut for the 1st XV wearing the number nine shirt, spun the ball wide eventually reaching the safe hands of winger Dan Ford who raced over in the corner. Williams hit a less than easy conversion and followed with a penalty to take Lutterworth into what seemed an unassailable lead, however Old Newts did not agree and came back strongly with a penalty and unconverted try giving the visitors a nail biting final ten minutes.
Scoring: 0-3; 5-3; 5-6; 8-6; 8-13; 8-16; 11-16; 11-19;18-19; 18-26; 18-29; 21-29; 26-29.
Team; Wilford Riley Renshaw
Husthwaite Gregory
Conway Hall Turner
Carter Burgess
Stretton Stannard Williams Ford
Croucher
Reps: Stevens