Fixture - Sunday 3rd February: Bury St Edmunds (Away)

We are playing at Bury St Edmunds next Sunday.

Please be at pitch-side for 10am

Click here for directions to Bury's ground

Match Reports: Sunday 27th January 2008

Wenden’s Ambo U12, 10 – Newmarket U12, 21

In the first match of the three-way tournament Wenden’s Ambo kicked off and stunned Newmarket with an unconverted try from the second play of the game. Some poor defending allowed the opposition a clear run to the line from a scrum 10 metres out. Although Newmarket worked their way back up the steep slope with strong forward drives, especially from Nathan Buckle, Ben Jeacock and Josh Quinn, the ball was held up over the line and the opportunity to level the scores was missed. When Wenden’s Ambo re-gathered their own penalty and crossed for their second try shortly before half-time it looked as if an uncharacteristically high number of missed tackles was going to cost Newmarket dear.

However, the change of ends brought a change of fortune and from their own kick off Newmarket regained possession for Ethan Brown to touch down. Wenden’s Ambo’s re-start then went short and straight into the arms of Daniel Bristow and following his strong run, Daniel Downing was able to cross the line for his first ever try. With confidence growing from such a quick reversal of fortune, Newmarket then pinned Wenden’s Ambo in their own half. Iain Moffatt was unlucky not to chase down a long kick, but after stealing ball at the resulting lineout Newmarket won a scrum. For once the backs got quick, clean ball and, in one of the best moves of the season, it passed smoothly along the line for wing, Henry Smith, to evade his opposite number and become the second Newmarket player of the match to record his maiden try.

Royston U12, 24 – Newmarket U12, 7

The start of the game showed that Newmarket hadn’t learnt the lesson of their first match. Royston kicked long down the slope, recovered the ball and went straight over to take a 5 – 0 lead. The game had hardly re-started before Royston scored again to stretch the lead to 12 – 0. It was no surprise, and no less than they deserved, when Royston completed the half with a third try from short range.

Newmarket might have hoped that with the slope in their favour they would be able to repeat the reversal of the first match. Unfortunately they were to be disappointed. In a lacklustre performance Newmarket’s downfall was their inability to hold onto the ball in contact. Time and again they found the ball stripped away from them by the more aggressive Royston forwards who also succeeded in preventing any quality ball getting to the backs from the ruck. As a result Newmarket found themselves defending on their own try line and valiantly though they tried they couldn’t prevent Royston’s fourth try.

After some scrappy play by both sides, a rare foray by the backs saw Gwilym Davies make some progress down the middle of the pitch to gain territorial advantage. Newmarket then managed to cross the line several times, one from a blistering run from Christopher Le, only to be denied a score each time by last minute infringements. Just as it seemed that the final whistle would come before the sustained pressure could be turned into points, Daniel Downing rounded off the match with his second score of the day.

Results 27th January 2008

Wenden's Ambo 10 - 21 Newmarket

Royston 24 - 7 Newmarket

Full reports to follow

Sunday 27th January: Royston Away

Royston have confirmed the game for Sunday (though you would be wise to check here again on Saturday).

Please be at Royston's ground by 10.00am. The match will probably start at 10.30am.

URGENT: Royston match postponed until Sunday 27th

Please note, we have just been informed that the Royston match is postponed until next week. Apparently the ground is unfit for play.

Please check later this week (after Thursday) to make sure that the match is on

Gareth
21.00 Sat 19th

Sunday 20th January: Away Match at Royston

We are playing away at Royston next Sunday. Please try and be at the ground by 10.00am.

Directions on the Royston club website.

Tuesday training as normal at 6.45pm.

Match Reports - Newmarket v Swaffham Sunday 13th January

Newmarket U12, 14 – 0 Swaffham U12

A try in each half was enough to give Newmarket victory in the first game. The key to the win however was a very determined tackling performance against a Swaffham side with a quick backline and forwards who were strong in the loose.

Swaffham showed their intent early in the game, stripping the ball from the Newmarket backs at the kick-off but then being driven into touch before they could take full advantage. This set the pattern for the game with the Newmarket forwards providing a solid platform at the lineouts and scrums, but struggling to pick up and go from the rucks. With slow ball coming to the backs, Oliver Green made good use of some tactical kicking from hand to establish territorial advantage, but the home side were unable to turn territory into points until the last play of the first half. In a driving maul from a penalty on Swaffham’s 10 metre line Newmarket drove Daniel Bristow over for a try, by the narrowest of margins.

The second half followed a similar pattern with solid tackling needed to stop the runs of Swaffham’s increasingly influential Number 10. It finshed in an identical way with Newmarket’s second try coming with the last play of the game. Chris Le and Joe Stafford who had been introduced into the second row as an injury replacement interchanged some slick passing before Stafford picked up from the ruck to dive over.

Newmarket U12, 7 – 21 Swaffham U12

Swaffham might have regarded themselves as slightly unfortunate not to have scored in the first match, but they quickly put that right in the second. They caught Newmarket with two converted tries in the first few minutes, before the home side switched on. Once they did, the remainder of the half was much more balanced, with Newmarket unlucky not to score, having a try disallowed for a knock-on on the line.

Early in the second half they did reduce the deficit, with the try of the day after some great support play close to the ruck by Bristow created an opening for Joe Stafford to convert from 5 metres out. But Swaffham had the last word with their Number 10 touching down in the corner for his second try of the match following a mazy cross field run.

Honours were even and both teams deserved to be congratulated for the spirit in which both matches were played.

Fixtures for Sunday 13th and Sunday 20th January

This Sunday coming (13th January) the U12s have a fixture at home against Swaffham. Please be at Scaltback for 10am.

We also need to run the kitchen this Sunday, so please let me know if you are able to help.

The following Sunday (20th) there is now a match away to Royston. Further details to follow.

Ipswich Match Postponed

The match against Ipswich planned for Sunday 6th January has now been postponed until Sunday 2nd March.

Instead it will be training as usual on Sunday.

Please note that there will be a match away aginst Royston on either the 13th or 20th January. Confirmation of the date at training on Sunday or here shortly after.