The Blues Bloodied But Unbowed

Following an incident, referee Chris Seely dismissed the big Tongan No 8 Katilimoni Tui'pulotu with a red card. The details will be clearer when the referee's report is available and the RFU disciplinary meeting has had an opportunity to carry out its enquiry. But it was a bitter blow to the player who does not normally incur even a warning for questionable play, who takes a personal pride in the way he approaches the game and has, until now, enjoyed an exemplary disciplinary record over a long and distinguished carreer.

At the time of the dismissal, half way through the first half, the Blues were trailing by 8 points to nil from a Jody Peacock try on 5 mins and a Gareth Cull penalty goal some 10 minutes later. Only good tackling from a stout and well oganised Blues' defence had prevented further scores, so the loss of the influential Kati could have been a demoralising blow. However, what the fans were treated to was an absorbing match where the outcome was in the balance until the final minutes of normal time. The back row of Jon Sewell and Wayne Clayton and without their No 8 put in a truly extraordinary work rate both in attack and defence and it was a break into space by Wayne Clayton which led, via a number of pairs of hands and a miraculous pick up of the loose ball after Alan Hesketh was brought down short, to a truly wonderful try by Steve Fox. Steve Dean converted and at 8 points to 7 on the half hour the depleted New Brighton were very much in the game. A Steve Dean penalty five minutes later put the visitors into the lead but a kick which failed to find touch opened the way for an attack from deep and a good try by Gareth Cull, in first half added time, which restored Nuneton's lead.

Half time Score: Nuneaton 13 - 10 New Brighton

Half backs Alan Hesketh and Steve Dean grew in stature as time went on. Hesketh sniping round the fringe and Steve Dean varying his game with good strong kicks, moving the ball or asking his own questions of the defence. On 42 minutes Dean was in position for a nicely weighted pass for his scrum half to pop over the sweetest of drop goals and the game is now all square with everything to play for.

Though under intense pressure at times, the New Brighton defence continued to hold. Ian Murray was looking more comfortable in his new role of full back, Sean Ellis twice kept his head to field high balls intended for the left wing to run onto in what is clearly a well rehersed move and all the backs and forwards tackled relentlessly. It was another ten minutes before Nuneaton breaking out from deep managed to work the ball up the field and put winger Phil Reed in at the corner. Conversion missed so the game was still on as each side created scoring opportunities and the game flowed from end to end. On 64 minutes a penalty goal by Cull extended the home lead, but, a cheeky break by Alan Hesketh from a quickly taken short penalty wrong footed the defence and the ball moved via Wayne Clayton to Steve Dean for a score under the post two minutes later. The conversion added and the lead was down to a single point.

Nuneaton scored their fourth try and qualified for a bonus point as the game approached the end of normal time from a rolling maul set up from a lineout after a penalty kick to the corner. The tiring New Brighton seven were unable to resist and with the conversion the Blues were two scores down with time running out. The Blues pressed hard in the eight minutes of injury time. With the benefit of a number of penalty kicks they opted for the kick to touch and the lineout catch and drive without success. With hindsight they may have opted for a penalty goal for a losing bonus point.

However, for us to criticise would be churlish. This was great effort and the players can be rightly proud of their performance. They have shown beyond doubt yesterday that they are a force in this league and will be aiming for improving further before the first home game against Hull Ionians on 24th September.

Full time Score: Nuneaton 28 - 20 New Brighton

NEXT HOME GAME:
- HULL IONIANS-
"HARTSFIELD" 24th SEPTEMBER 2005. K.O.3.00 p.m.