Entertainment for spectators but no victory for Bosworth

MIDS 2 EAST NORTH

MARKET Bosworth Rugby Club opened their season with a narrow 20-17 loss away to Newark.

A couple of key players were unavailable for Bosworth due to wedding commitments and the visitors were forced to make some unusual positional changes - notably Ben Ashfield at prop.

Newark’s defence was tested from the start when Bosworth produced some good attacking moves resulting in a couple of penalty attempts by newcomer Richie Harris from the 10 metre line.

The first attempt hit the upright but the second went over to open the scoring.

Unfortunately Harris’s promising debut was shortlived when a head injury saw him sidelined for the rest of the game.

Bosworth seemed to be in command until a lapse in concentration allowed Newark number eight Tom Coen to slice through Bosworth’s defence for a touchdown, which was converted by Dan Mackie.

The game developed into a very exciting affair with both sides down to 14 men due to yellow cards.

Just before half-time, Newark gained another three points from a successful penalty kick in front of the posts.

The second half started with a lot of aggression from both sides with Newark taking the advantage by charging down a clearance kick in Bosworth’s 22 and going over to increase their score with the added conversion.

Bosworth upped the pressure and started to dominate the rest of the game resulting in Aaron Willis eventually crashing over after a lengthy concerted effort from the Bosworth pack.

Joe Randon kicked the conversion to bring the score to 17-10 to Newark.

Against the run of play Newark were awarded a penalty which Mackie kicked.

From the restart Bosworth took command again and camped on the Newark line where the hosts killed the ball several times giving the referee no option but to award Bosworth a penalty try which Joe Randon easily converted.

Play continued for several minutes after the restart until an observant onlooker pointed out to the referee that Newark had too many players on the pitch.

When a Newark player was given a yellow card, he was replaced rather than serving his sin-bin.

The Newark coach, former Bosworth and Tigers player Ben Buxton, was spoken to by the referee and a penalty was awarded to Bosworth, but it was too little too late.

Bosworth entertain Nottingham Casuals at Cadeby Lane on Saturday, kick off at 3pm.