NURL 1sts – 36
Liverpool John Moores – 14
With NURL only playing once over the last month, the team went in to this fixture low in fitness but high in confidence. After winning the corresponding away tie with a near identical line-up only tragedy could derail the Death Machine.
Tragedy of sorts duly struck when human ingestion engine Will Winter greedily scoffed 4 tins of Red Bull and was struck down with stomach cramps and projectile vomiting. Ruled out for the match, Newcastle were down to 16 as Winter cut a forlorn figure on the touch line with only his putrid breath for a figurative dog.
Fortunately the home side had ample time to warm-up as Liverpool arrived late, no doubt after some confusion reading the trans-Pennine bus timetables. This extra preparation time ensured NURL exploded out of the blocks and the team scored on their first set with Mike Ward crossing after a smart dummy sent the cover defence towards Dave Knox in support.
Many of the NURL side spent Friday evening playing wholesome Geordie game ‘Bosh’ and the brutal session was vindicated as Newcastle gained control of the early physical confrontations. This dominance set the platform for some sumptuous attacking Rugby and some cohesive passing sent Jack Lines went over for two first half tries.
With a swagger Halfback Liam Mcgee was pulling the strings and one of his long range passes was collected at full pace by winger Kevin Davey who used his trademark Cyber-Goose step to round the full back. Rambunctious Ward scored twice more while LJM could only cross for one try before the half.
While the first Stanza might have been NURL’s finest passage of play this season the second showcased an uncharacteristically lacklustre and self-satisfied performance. Defending for much of the half Newcastle were their own worst enemies with excessive japery from Michael Brady and diminished communication all round inviting Liverpool back in to the contest.
Fortunately, but for two contentious tries, the NURL defensive line remained strong and the Royals managed to end the game on a high with Kevin Davey straight arming a Dave Mathew kick and pounding like an escaped convict to the line and another win for the University’s most beloved team.
NURL 2nds – 20
Napier – 28
Whilst the 1st team were taking on a University named after a Pools tycoon, the 2nds faced one that honours a Mathematician.
Even Steve Moorcroft didn’t need an abacus to give NURL the preferential odds after Napier arrived with just 13 men to take on a 2nds squad of 19. Sadly the numerical advantage didn’t tell on the day despite a gallant display against a typically burly and dour Scot side.
Edward Duncan was one of the standout players scoring twice and preventing further scores with fine defence from fullback. Nathan Barry bagged a try whilst points virgin Ryan Fletcher crossed the whitewash for his first in Newcastle colours.
Gareth Herbert, Tom Burnham and Rob Corner gave as good as they got against an experienced Napier pack yet NURL were unable to out-score the Lothian’s.