Rugby is back! After two weeks off the weather has relented this week to allow a return to league action. Welcome to Bakewell Mannerians and all their players and officials. I hope you enjoy the hospitality at Kelham Road put on by one of our long-standing match sponsors in Larken & Co Solicitors. For a long time they always sponsored the home game against Paviors but this season have been forced to pick new opponents because of our demotion last April. Hopefully, next season will see us back in the old routine! Welcome also to our referee Phil Halsworth for this afternoon in Gloucestershire-based who is on an exchange visit.

Thank You

The charity match against RAF Hawks proved to be the last rugby action for two weeks. Two evenly-matched teams ended in a 19-19 draw and the whole event raised nearly £800 for the Newark Patriotic Fund, a local charity set up to support injured service personnel. Thank you to everyone who supported the evening. The raffle raised £440 on the night while the club is donating £350 from a combination of programme sales from the match, the annual bike ride and Boxing Day raffle.

Tony Chubb RIP

Life members Brian Fisher and John Harris attended the recent funeral service in Swinderby of former captain Tony Chubb who has died aged 92. Tony was captain in 1950-51 and always maintained an interest in club affairs throughout his life. Our thoughts and sympathies go to all his friends and family.

Newark Schoolboy 7s

The annual event is quickly approaching on Sunday, March 4, and John Beddoe is looking to recruit a group of volunteers to help in car parking and stewarding etc. Please contact John who is also acting as officer of the day for today’s game.

100 CLUB
The latest winner was former club secretary Charles Hine. He won £250 at the monthly draw on Monday’s committee meeting. Welcome home, Charles. Anyone interested in joining up should contact Wendy in the club office.

www.newarkrugby.com
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BETWEEN THE POSTS – John Whitelaw

The last time I put pen to paper (or should that be finger to key board?) was back in October after a very BLACK DAY.

It had taken me nearly two and a half hours to get from Nottingham to Peterborough, nearly double what it used to take in a clapped out old Hillman Imp in the 60's and we mentally failed to turn up against the Lions.

However, the day got worse with the news of the sudden death of our Past President and dear friend, Jacki Hunter, which put everything into context. The former Liverpool manager, Bill Shankly once said that football was more important than life or death and some people still believe it, but they are oh so wrong. Since then smiles have returned to Kelham Road.

Defeat at Old Laurentians after the referee had received a long lecture from O.L.'s (how appropriate) captain had completely changed the complex of the game was our fourth, but last, reverse of the season so far. Cup games against Matlock, away, in the Three Counties’ and Paviors, home, in the Notts' competition, were going to give us a much better indication of our capabilities away from the league which, in all honesty, have seen some pretty poor opposition.

We were proud of our performance and victory at Cromford Meadow but against Pavs we played out of our skins, never letting them in with a chance. Our try from Alex Moore just before half-time after an outstanding handling movement at speed would have graced any ground in the country.

Although there have been suggestions of them fielding a weakened team we saw plenty of well known faces in their ranks, especially up front.

Breaks at Christmas and for frozen pitches, why can't we have snow in late December and be done with it?, saw us squeeze in that crucial game against Bosworth. Although they have effectively taken three points off us we achieved the win which will be highly significant by the end of the season. Surely, the only thing between us and a championship will be complacency?

We need to hit the ground running again, especially against today's opponents who have proved to be a more than useful side despite a bit of a dip in form of late. So it's good luck to all and hopefully some exciting games and a few more wins to keep the smiles going. Enjoy your rugby.

Congratulations to our old friends and sponsors Pratt & Gelsthorpe on receiving a prestigious Guild of Gold Lion Award from Peugeot Motors. The award was presented to MD Richard Gelsthorpe, a former fly half and now mini dad, while his predecessor, father John is also well known as organiser of our Half Back Draw and winner of several 100 Club Prizes. Any chance of a free car, chaps?

John Whitelaw
www.newarkrugby.com

Today’s Match
Newark v Bakewell Mannerians – SSE Midlands Two East North

Playing Update
Thanks to Luke Staton, our fitness from Outklass, training has continued despite the cold weather. Luke took the lads off for a night in Newark’s Martial Arts Club to keep everyone in shape while the fixture list was temporarily put on hold. The improved fitness is one reason why the season has so far produced an unbeaten run of 14 games in Midlands Two East North.

Team News
No Lewis Cove today. Our lead flanker is unavailable so his place at openside goes to Will Naylor. Danny Coen is back at scrum-half and Jason Barnsdale gets a chance at prop in the absence of Darren Gray. Otherwise the team is taking on a settled look.

Cup Games
Derby have confirmed the NLD Cup semi-final should be played, provided there are no more league games postponed, on Saturday, March 17. The Notts Cup semi-final against Moderns has yet to be fixed. One evening game coming up is the Tom Coates Memorial game against Hykeham on Wednesday, March 7.

Mixed Luck

Good luck to the Robinson-Eames brothers of Bradley and Morgan. Bradley has undergone an operation on his back while Morgan has earned a place in the Midlands squad for this weekend’s 18 Group divisional matches at Broad Street.

Another recent casualty is flanker Reece Hodnett. Reece has suffered a bad knee injury and everyone wishes him a speedy recovery.

Programme Photos

Thanks to Jim McEwen for taking the photos for the front cover this week. Jim’s work can often be viewed on www.newarkrugby.com Some good snaps of Kelham Road’s best characters.

www.newarkrugby.com