NURL 1sts – 18
UcLan – 8
By Ed Ainscoe
NURL’s revival continued on a grim day in Preston with a convincing win over a talented and gritty UCLan outfit that tightens their grip on third position in the Premier North league.
With minimal warm up following a scenic tour through the Cumbria countryside and a guided tour of Preston from resident expert Rob C. Graves, one would be forgiven for expecting a slow start from the Royals. This was not to be, with a thunderous challenge from the ever expanding Mikey Bryan setting the tone for the game. After a tense opening period, NURL began to force a number of errors from the Lancashire side, with the greasy ball squirting out of players’ grasps with alarming regularity. The Newcastle forwards were gaining the upper hand over a sizable opposition pack, with Joe Robinson and Richard Massey leading the way and allowing room for an expansive back line attack. A slick transfer from left to right allowed Liam McGee to slip a perfectly timed pass to Mikey Ward, with the Barrow-dwelling second row crashing over for an unconverted try.
The Newcastle side continued in the same manner from the restart, riding the ferocious challenges of the Lancastrian players. Unforced errors allowed UCLan to threaten the NURL line, with their two half backs and hooker guiding players into gaps with seeming ease. However, sterling work in defence from winger O. Nigel snubbed out the prospect of early points from Newcastle’s opposition, unceremoniously bundling his opposite number into touch. The Royals were again able to drive deep into opposition territory, with another sweeping back line move this time allowing Man of the Match and chain smoker Sam Boyd the first of his three tries, again ably assisted by the mercurial talents of centre McGee. Half time came with the score at 10-0 to Newcastle, with the team knowing there was still much work to do to complete the victory.
UCLan began the second period in a frantic manner, throwing all they had at the Newcastle line, with the assistance of back to back penalties marching NURL down the pitch. After forcing a repeat set, vigorous running from a rotund prop allowed UCLan’s strong running centre so slide over for their opening try, which went unconverted. After strong words from double act Nigel and Gasior, NURL renewed their attacking efforts, with a pin point cross field kick from Samuel Jacques allowing Boyd to rise above his opposite winger like a jack in the box and scramble over the line to refresh the lead. NURL were again able to make good ground, and a seeming repeat of this movement, with the kick executed by Graves, again saw Boyd out leaping his hapless opposite number, with this second try seemingly putting the result beyond doubt and prompting the now customary crass celebration. Whilst UCLan had time to post another score, the victory was now sealed.
Newcastle make the long trip to Liverpool John Moores next week, hoping to post a second victory against the Scouse team in what will be an emotional return for soon to be father Rich Massey, with the medic having studied there in 1995.