Newick 1 (18-10) Eastbourne2 | Uckfield 3 (13-5) Newick 2

Newick RFC 1ST XV produced a magnificent team display on a return to league action defeating high flying Eastbourne II at home. In tough conditions Newick made a fantastic start taking the game to the visitors with the forwards putting in the hard yards. With player coach David Hemsley leading from the front, Newick secured a turnover from a ruck which saw the ball played out to the backs who produced a quite brilliant move with Centres Mark Barnard and Liam Craig-Davies carving open the Eastbourne defence with some superb running Rugby before setting up winger George Russell for the opening try of the game which was converted by Kevin Byrne. As the first half went on Newick continued to dominate with the forward pack driving the visitors back at the scrums and having success with two impressive rolling mauls which resulted in a loss of discipline to allow Byrne to slot over a penalty to see Newick lead 10-0 at the break. The start of the 2nd half continued in much the same way as the first with Newick still dominating and on a pitch which was deteriorating badly you wouldn’t of expected the try which soon followed which again was quite brilliant and the superb Liam Craig-Davies was again involved skipping through the Eastbourne back line to lay on a plate the 2nd try of the game for George Russell, Byrne missed the kick but at 15-0 the game appeared to be safe. As expected Eastbourne didn’t give up and a slack ten minute spell saw Newick concede two quick tries and all of a sudden Eastbourne were back in a game they were never really in, the arrears were reduced to 15-10, the Eastbourne kicker failing to add the conversion each time. As the game headed into the last 15 minutes the Newick defence needed to stand firm and it did with some excellent tackles being made, particularly from flankers Radim Malina and Andrew Payne who put in some great hits. With a final score needed to make the game safe Newick’s forwards began to make ground up the pitch into Eastbourne territory with stand in skipper Neil Morgan making some powerful carries , as the posts neared Eastbourne conceded a penalty which was converted by Kevin Byrne to seal a deserved 18-10 win with the man of the match award going to Mark Barnard.

Newick’s 2nd XV travelled to Uckfield to take on their 3rd XV and in a close fought game they went down 13-5. Coach Wayne Thomas praised his young team for their high level of commitment and intensity. Dave Anthony scored the only try of the game for Newick with Jon Calway securing the man of the match award in his first start at flanker.