Baildon overpowered by Newent to leave them with no chance of repeat

When Baildon – 6-3 winners over Harrow last year – were shunted back at the first scrum in the first minute and Newent fly-half Joe Goatley landed his first penalty, it was obvious that the Yorkshiremen were to face a torrid examination at the set-piece.

So it proved as the Gloucestershire side plundered the scrums and left Baildon operating on the back foot, their own brief period of parity coming after they had slipped 11-0 behind in as many minutes to a try by scrum-half James Dean and a second Goatley penalty.

Baildon’s brief spell of pressure yielded a try by flanker Tom Craven and a conversion and penalty by full-back Jake Duxbury, but when Dean crossed for his second, Newent regained the momentum.

They led 29-10 at half-time and stretched the lead further in the second half to put the outcome beyond doubt.

A try by replacement Craig Woodall, converted by Duxbury, punctuated the Newent dominance for a moment, and a try and conversion by Duxbury rewarded the Yorkshire Three club’s never-say-die resolve.

Baildon rugby chief Andy Whiteley said: “I was pleased with the way we stuck at it, but Newent were a very good side and thoroughly deserved their win.”

Baildon: Duxbury; H Lister, Morgan, Dracup, Kingham; N Lister, Dawson; Hewitt, Tabiner, Lowth, Wilson, Fox, Craven, Picken, Beaumont. Replacements: Crooks, Price, Miller, Pollard, Woodhall, Huss, O’Connell.