Midlands 1 West
Newbold 26 Worcester 24
Newbold entertained Worcester at Parkfield Road and were looking to end a three-game losing streak, writes Phil Fereday.
Worcester camped themselves in Newbold’s half but good solid defence held them out for 20 minutes when they found a gap and scored a try. Newbold now getting some possession worked their way up field and scored after a brilliant break from try scorer Ethan Wookey for 5-5.
Two Worcester tries and two Dan O’Brien penalties brought the score to 11-17.
The away side having the majority of possession scored a try for 11-24 and it could have been all over for the Bold, but coach Huw Thomas made some team changes and brought on his three finishers Josh Hutchinson, Lee Lightowler and Wes Hallam who all had an impact.
Both Hallam and Hutchinson started making some hard yards with strong ball carries as the Bold started to turn the game around and after a clean catch from a close in lineout by Rob Sandercock, making a fine debut, the forwards drove over the line for the hard-working Micky Pails to score in the corner and it was 16-24 after 73 minutes.
The Bold now were in all-out attack mode with the ball being passed through many pairs of hands until Lee Lightowler making a welcome return after injury made a telling break, being stopped just short of the line but managed to offload to man of the match Sam Thompson to score a try. O’Brien converted for 23-24.
Now in injury time desperately trying to get that much needed score, Newbold were awarded a penalty just inside the visitors’ half. So from 45 metres O’Brien, showing nerves of steel, coolly stepped up and took the kick at goal and as it cleared the crossbar with yards to spare the great comeback was complete, 26-24 to the Bold.
1. .
Worcester tackle Lee Lightowler
2. .
Sam Thompson
3. .
Dan OBrien, with Stu Houghton and Rob Sandercock, who made a fine debut in Newbolds 26-24 win over Worcester Picture by Steve Smith
4. .
Try scorer Micky Pails