Sat 3 Nov 2018
Newton Abbot “All Whites” run of defeats was extended to eight following this set-back against Maidenhead who went into the game in sixth place.
There wasn’t much to choose between the two clubs at the end of last season, each won thirteen games to finish third and fourth in the table, Maidenhead on 74 points and Newton on 71.
Although there still wasn’t much between the sides on Saturday, the scoreboard didn’t lie as the visitors took their chances and preserved their lead with some all costs defending that saw three of their number in the bin at various stages.
Newton had enough possession to have been closer, but for all their efforts, could only score a single try in comparison to Maidenhead’s bonus point earning four touchdowns.
Two of these tries came in the opening 10 minutes; prolific No. 8 David Cole rumbled over from short range following a driven lineout. Centre Ed Keohane converted, but was unable to add the extras to a corner try from lock Andrew Berry, who fielded a cross kick to score at the corner flag.
A ten minute spell on Maidenhead’s line yielded nothing for Newton as they turned down kickable penalties in preference to lineouts and scrums.
Newton then showed that they could also defend by keeping the Maids big pack at bay with Matt Jess putting in a fine try scoring tackle to prevent a counter-attack try..
Jess was then pivotal in Newton’s only try, he made a strong break before winger Kyle Browne went over in Clubhouse corner.
Fly-half Tom Putt added the touchline conversion to halve Maidenhead’s lead, but was unable to land a long range penalty with the last kick of the first period.
However, he was on target with a penalty in the sixth minute of the second half to put Newton only 14-10 down. Putt’s three pointer came after referee Richard Waller lost his patience with Maidenhead’s rising penalty count and put Keohane in the bin.
With the gap down to four points and against 14 men, Newton should have been poised to get in front, but instead Maidenhead scored a short-range try through hooker Mark Darlington in spite of being short-handed. With usual kicker Keohane off the park, fly half William Runciman took the conversion and missed.
The Berkshire based club went further ahead when flanker William McCauley crossed near the posts. The try was awarded although their appeared to be more than a hint of a knock-on in the build-up. Keohane added the extras to put his side 26-10 up with 10 minutes remaining.
The game ended in a bit of a farce; the rising penalty count saw Maidenhead reduced to 13 and possibly more when uncontested scrums came into play.
In spite of the numerical advantage, Newton couldn’t fashion another score; poor decision making it easy for the visitors to defend.
Maidenhead retained possession for the last few minutes to ensure that the “All Whites” got absolutely nothing from the game.
Newton remain second from bottom and now have a weekend off before entertaining Weston-Super-Mare, who are in ninth, having moved out of the relegation zone thanks to two successive wins.
