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Sat 16 Nov 2019 · Tennent's National League Division 2
Whitecraigs1st XV
25
45
Bonus point win for Reds at Whitecraigs!
Jo jo_mcgeoch@hotmail.com17 Nov 2019 - 22:21
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Six tries scored but room for improvement
Newton Stewart RFC travelled to Whitecraigs RFC in Newton Mearns last weekend for their latest league match. Having lost their previous two games back-to-back the Reds were looking for a win on the road to try to stem the tide.
Liam Brawls returned to centre this week, a change of scenery from his usual position in the front row these days and opened the scoring early when he bulldozed his way over after receiving a ‘crash ball’. Full-back Jack Gaw scored the conversion to put the Reds 0 – 7 up with just minutes on the clock.
Whitecraigs scored a reciprocal try (unconverted) with 12 minutes played to make it 5 – 7 before a prolonged spell of possession for Newton Stewart culminated in a try for hooker Thomas MacDonald in the left corner.
A loose pass from Newton Stewart gave Whitecraigs an easy try when they intercepted and ran in another five points to close the gap to 10 – 12.
The Reds looked half asleep at times as they knocked-on balls and gave their opponents opportunities. Whitecraigs found themselves with a line-out deep in the Newton Stewart half and having received it their back row simply barged his way over the Reds’ line to put the hosts ahead for the first time in the match.
Some better ball retention followed for Newton Stewart and the prolonged possession ended with a try for captain Mark McCornick from close range to put the Reds 15 – 17 ahead at half-time.
The second half saw Newton Stewart take control of the game with more clinical play. A penalty gave Jack Gaw the opportunity to put the Reds ahead once more.
Centre Russell Morton make an excellent break through the Whitecraigs defence and found himself with two supportive runners. Throwing an inside pass to Liam Brawls, it looked for a horrible moment like the ball wound be knocked-on but David Gaw was tucked in behind Brawls and the stand-off gathered the ball at arms’ length to run in the try. The Reds moved 15 – 27 ahead now.
Another penalty allowed Gaw to extend the lead further again to 15 – 30 before Morton demonstrated some more fancy footwork, dancing his way through the host defences. When he ran out of space on the right wing he dinked a neat kick past the last man and gathered it coolly to score another try for the Reds, this time unconverted.
Newton Stewart were reduced to fourteen men for ten minutes of this second half and Gaw extended the lead during this time by another three points before Whitecraigs clawed a try of their own back.
The dying minutes saw both sides get another try apiece, the Reds’ coming from captain Mark McCornick once again to finish the scores at 25 – 45.
This was far from Newton Stewart’s best performance, however it was an important five points secured in an away match in this league.
Liam Brawls had an excellent game at centre, always imposing with the ball in hand. James McMiken was ferocious in the second row and newcomer Ben Radley had an impressive game on the wing.
Robbie McCornick was the Craig Wilson Ltd Man of the Match for Newton Stewart however with an assured game at scrum-half. His good decision-making and clever breaks added to his always reliable defensive effort to make this a stand-out performance.
Next week Newton Stewart are at home to Gordonians RFC and the culmination of this match will mark the half-way point of the season. Kick-off is at 2pm at Bladnoch Park, all welcome.
Team: Jack Gaw, Ben Radley, Russell Morton, Liam Brawls, David Adams, David Gaw, Robbie McCornick, Ross Campbell, Thomas MacDonald, Ronan McDonald, James McMiken, Mark Craig, Allan Ferrie, Mark McCornick (capt), Jason McKie. Subs: Ross Drysdale, Connal McDonald, Calum Gaw, Jamie Muir.
Liam Brawls returned to centre this week, a change of scenery from his usual position in the front row these days and opened the scoring early when he bulldozed his way over after receiving a ‘crash ball’. Full-back Jack Gaw scored the conversion to put the Reds 0 – 7 up with just minutes on the clock.
Whitecraigs scored a reciprocal try (unconverted) with 12 minutes played to make it 5 – 7 before a prolonged spell of possession for Newton Stewart culminated in a try for hooker Thomas MacDonald in the left corner.
A loose pass from Newton Stewart gave Whitecraigs an easy try when they intercepted and ran in another five points to close the gap to 10 – 12.
The Reds looked half asleep at times as they knocked-on balls and gave their opponents opportunities. Whitecraigs found themselves with a line-out deep in the Newton Stewart half and having received it their back row simply barged his way over the Reds’ line to put the hosts ahead for the first time in the match.
Some better ball retention followed for Newton Stewart and the prolonged possession ended with a try for captain Mark McCornick from close range to put the Reds 15 – 17 ahead at half-time.
The second half saw Newton Stewart take control of the game with more clinical play. A penalty gave Jack Gaw the opportunity to put the Reds ahead once more.
Centre Russell Morton make an excellent break through the Whitecraigs defence and found himself with two supportive runners. Throwing an inside pass to Liam Brawls, it looked for a horrible moment like the ball wound be knocked-on but David Gaw was tucked in behind Brawls and the stand-off gathered the ball at arms’ length to run in the try. The Reds moved 15 – 27 ahead now.
Another penalty allowed Gaw to extend the lead further again to 15 – 30 before Morton demonstrated some more fancy footwork, dancing his way through the host defences. When he ran out of space on the right wing he dinked a neat kick past the last man and gathered it coolly to score another try for the Reds, this time unconverted.
Newton Stewart were reduced to fourteen men for ten minutes of this second half and Gaw extended the lead during this time by another three points before Whitecraigs clawed a try of their own back.
The dying minutes saw both sides get another try apiece, the Reds’ coming from captain Mark McCornick once again to finish the scores at 25 – 45.
This was far from Newton Stewart’s best performance, however it was an important five points secured in an away match in this league.
Liam Brawls had an excellent game at centre, always imposing with the ball in hand. James McMiken was ferocious in the second row and newcomer Ben Radley had an impressive game on the wing.
Robbie McCornick was the Craig Wilson Ltd Man of the Match for Newton Stewart however with an assured game at scrum-half. His good decision-making and clever breaks added to his always reliable defensive effort to make this a stand-out performance.
Next week Newton Stewart are at home to Gordonians RFC and the culmination of this match will mark the half-way point of the season. Kick-off is at 2pm at Bladnoch Park, all welcome.
Team: Jack Gaw, Ben Radley, Russell Morton, Liam Brawls, David Adams, David Gaw, Robbie McCornick, Ross Campbell, Thomas MacDonald, Ronan McDonald, James McMiken, Mark Craig, Allan Ferrie, Mark McCornick (capt), Jason McKie. Subs: Ross Drysdale, Connal McDonald, Calum Gaw, Jamie Muir.
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