Rugby Union
Leamington find it tough at Newbold

Newbold 49 Leamington 6

Midlands Two West (South)

LEAMINGTON fully expected a tough test on their opening day visit to a Newbold side who just missed out on promotion last year, and that is exactly what they got.

Newbold have been boosted by a number of recruits from the now defunct Rugby Lions during the close season.

But that did not prevent Spa from taking the game to them in the opening exchanges but Sam Nunn was off target with a penalty and a try scoring chance went begging after great work from Jack Secher.

Making the most of their early escapes, Newbold went ahead with a penalty of their own before a converted try extended their lead.

The visitors fielded a number of new faces in their starting XV but disappointingly were only able to call on the support of to replacements, a situation that would cause severe problems in the second half. They can be calmed by the fact, however, that the new look proved full of enterprise and invention which bodes well for the weeks ahead.

Newbold hit Spa with another penalty before Nunn responded with two of his own to get the visitors on the scoresheet. The second of which arrived after Pete Blunt’s charge had been halted by a late tackle.

Spa looked more than competitive at this stage. Craig Smith was securing clean ball in the line-out, Danny Ruysevelt was making some darting runs at the defence whilst Pete Blunt was having a fine game, co-ordinating play at the base of the scrum.

The scrum was also another positive for Spa. Up against a heavier pack, Leamington’s front five were steady in the set play and much of this was down to the resolute performance of Terry Curran, Serj Paddan and Tom Greevy in the front row.

Newbold struck a final blow late in the half though with a converted try which gave them a cushion as they went in at the break, leading 23-6.

Some early invention from Newbold shortly after the restart enabled them to hit Spa with a converted try and despite good work from the visitors, a further try, 16 minutes into the half, put the game beyond doubt.

Injuries then began to kick in for Spa and with just two replacements available, players carrying knocks had to continue.

All of the disruption led to Newbold claiming two further scores but despite the defeat, Spa will take plenty of positives away with them and into Saturday’s home clash with Old Laurentians (3pm).

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