Newmarket March On

Newmarket March On

Crusaders 5 - Newmarket 44

League leaders Newmarket took their promotion charge into the New Year with a convincing win against Crusaders. The home side started well and despite playing into a strong wind and going behind to an early Reeves penalty, their forwards forced Newmarket to conceed two penalties in their 22. Opting for scrums on both occasions they failed to penetrate a good Newmarket defence. Newmarket increased their lead when following a midfield scrum their halfbacks cut through a flat footed Crusaders defence for Walker to touch down wide out. Crusaders forwards continued to win a good share of the ball but Crusaders crash ball tactics were executed too deep and too wide for any forward support and were easily dealt with by the Newmarket defence who were sharper to any loose ball.
With the half time approaching Newmarket's lead only 8-0 the home side looked set fare to turn around with the wind at their backs. Two sucker blows in the last five minutes of the first half, the first when Rob Loone failed to make touch from a penalty kick from his 22. The ball was switched wide by Newmarket who despite brave defence by Keysell and Harris had enough support to carry the ball over for a converted try. A third Newmarket try on the stroke of half time put the visitors in a joyfull mood and Crusaders with a 22 - 0 deficet.
Crusaders occupied the visitors 22 for the first 10 minutes of the second half without any reward for their efforts. Newmarket had done their homework and were prepared to disrupt the set pieces and give away penalties, one scrum lasting a full 5 minutes. Having contained the Crusaders offensive , the visitors once more displayed their scoring potential with three well taken second half tries. Crusaders finished the game with a consolation try and should take heart with the returns to the squad of some players from long term injuries.