Newsome V Westgate Redoubt
Newsome visited Westgate after their recent victory in the Huddersfield Supplementary Cup, looking for a less physical game that that at home against this opposition.
This view was re-enforced by the high scoring victory by Emley, the previous week against the same team.
With a home crowd behind them the host had a total different view on the game and took the game to Newsome in attack and defence and the visitors knew they had a game on.
With the constant barrage of strong running forwards hitting the Newsome line something had to give and it did twice with the home team leading 12-0. Newsome’s players were shocked by this aggressive type of play and tried to gather their composure, while defending themselves against late tackles.
Newsome had a good try disallowed by the referee after Dan Nelmes touched down his own kick ahead, but the match official called it a knock on .
The game went from bad to worse, when been Feehan chasing a kick down the field was dismissed for a accidental trip on the fullback.
Newsome were awarded a penalty, which Ross Studholme converted, which in other games the Panthers would had tapped.
At half time with a score line of 2-13 to the home team, coach Phil Joseph called for composure and for the players to raise the game.
Shortly after the half after good work by Studholme, and the supporting Dave Farrell, they put Dan Nelmes in for a converted try by Studholme to bring them back into the game.
Newsome were still taking big hits down the centre but were able to gain ground to launch attacks down the centres. From one of these attacks, James Wallace rounded tree defenders to score. The conversion was not made.
At this stage Newsome were still chasing the game, while picking up a number of injuries. On the other hand, some poor handling by the home team and some indiscipline led to Newsome capitalising and scoring a further three penalties to take the league points by a score of 13-18
Big raps for the forwards, who never backed down to the tactics used by the home team. On reflection, the most physical game of the season over 80 minutes.