Match Results v Saffron Walden 24.2.08

Match 1: Newmarket 7 - 7 Saffron Walden

Match 2: Newmarket 0 - 0 Saffron Walden

The game was entirely dominated by the evenly-matched forwards on each side. Newmarket shaded the first and last quarters, with the honours going to Saffron Walden in the middle periods.

From the first kick off it looked as though Saffron Walden would struggle to contain the Newmarket forwards as they twice moved driving mauls virtually the full length of the pitch to within a few metres of the try line. Daniel Downing, in particular, regularly managed to get across the gain line with support from Oliver Sanusi-Bartlett and Nathan Buckle, but all the forwards could take credit for allowing Ethan Brown to touch down for a converted try. At the lineouts Daniel Bristow caught reliably to put Newmarket on the front foot. However, despite this early dominance there were to be no further scores.

After the turn around Saffron Walden took advantage of Newmarket’s failures in securing ball at their own scrums and lineouts. Their forwards ensured that the game was played in the opposition half and after stealing the ball again from a Newmarket lineout they drove over in the corner to score with the last action of the first match.

On the resumption for match two, the pattern was similar, with Saffron Walden dominating both possession and territory. However, they were unable to make a serious threat on the Newmarket line, largely because of some terrific defensive tackling around the fringes, especially by Buckle, Aiden Cooper, Josh Quinn and Ben Jeacock.

Again, the change of ends brought a change of fortune with Newmarket once more in the ascendancy and camped in the opposition’s half. But with opportunities to spread the ball wide not taken, even when they did cross the line from the inevitable forward drive, a further score was not to be had.

With the ball tied up in rucks and mauls for extended periods of the games, the backs on both sides had few opportunities to show what they could do, though their defensive work was solid throughout. Newmarket’s scrum-half, Lewis Heap, was particularly quick to close down any threats and was deservedly named Newmarket’s Man of the Match.