Team Sheet:1. Chris Naylor, 2. Phil Buckley, 3. Damian Penisini, 4. Jez Lamb, 5.Steve Fox, 6.Jon Sewell, 7. Wayne Clayton, 8. Kati Tuipulotu, 9. Alan Hesketh, 10. Steve Dean, 11. Alistair Child, 12.Richard Halpin, 13. Ian Murray, 14. Sean Ellis, 15.Jim Yarranton,
Substitutes:16.Lewis Mullen, 17. Anthony Probert,18. Dan Searle, 19. Mark Dorrington

Pictures by Phil Broster
Click for More Action

Of this game one commentator might express the view that after an indifferent first half Nuneaton put their act together to brush aside the challenge from New Brighton with a five try bonanza in the second. Alternatively, another might say that New Brighton put themselves in the driving seat in a scintillating first half and, inexplicably failed themselves by losing the plot in the second.

Alan Hesketh Scores!

A true appraisal is probably somewhere between the two. Certainly the Blues treated their fans to the best display, during the first forty minutes, seen from a New Brighton side for a long time. The key to it all was aggressive tackling in defence to recover the ball quickly when lost, powerful driving forward play and a willingness to go for the loose ball and improvise in broken play. Nuns found the Blues up in their faces continually forcing them into errors and even pushing them into resorting to an attempt at a drop goal to put points on the board during one period in the home 22. Unfortunately, the new South African signing, Juan Schoeman, could not be included in the side due to delay in receiving final documentation from the South African Rugby Union. But his added flair in the backs could well have increased the first half lead

New Brighton kicked off and quickly established a position in the Nuneaton half and put the visitors under desperate pressure. An offence gave Steve Dean an opportunity to open the scoring with a penalty on ten minutes from 38 metres but though the direction was fine the ball fell short. Nuneaton did fight back but with their attack badly blunted by the Blue’s aggressive defensive tactics fly half Gareth Cull resorted to a failed attempt at a drop goal to break the deadlock.

With the help of some accurate line kicking, New Brighton were again winning the territorial battle and at the end of the first quarter Alan Hesketh scurried over to put the Blues’ noses in front and Steve Dean kicked the conversion for the extras. Dean was again on target with a penalty goal on 27 minutes to increase the lead to 10 points and it was not until first half injury time that Nuneaton got points on the board with a Gareth Cull penalty.

Half Time Score: New Brighton 10 - 3 Nuneaton

Perhaps some sports psychologists could explain what happened in the second half.

Nuneaton came roaring out from the kick off, had scored a well deserved try by flanker Ian Critchley within three minutes and with a conversion by Gareth Cull the scores were level.

New Brighton, who had left all the exuberance and zip of the first half in the dressing room during the break visibly wilted. Not that there were not any more heroics, they were there in plenty. Jon Sewell and Kati were prodigious in their efforts and though the tackles were going in they lacked venom and when in possession the drills were run through without the same former sharpness and enterprise.

As a result, Nuneaton now enjoyed the majority of the possession. Jody Peacock’s try on 54 minutes was actually the first time that Nuneaton had held the lead which, with the conversion, amounted to 7 points but New Brighton were now struggling

Further tries by Ben Toleafoa, John Munro and a second try by Jody Peacock in the last quarter, only one converted, signified the Nuneaton dominance at this final stage.

Full Time Score: New Brighton 10 - 34 Nuneaton

The Blue's first half effort was good enough to beat anyone in this league. Had they been able to sustain it for the third quarter and perhaps put another score on the board, who knows?

Next week New Brighton are away at Hull Ionians. This will be an opportunity to claim a much needed double. With both Macclesfield and Cleckheaton registering a narrow wins this week the Blues are now trailing 18 points from safety. Good performances are not enough, the pressure is on for regular wins over the closing weeks of the season.

Next Home Game

DARLINGTON
Kick Off 3.00 pm