Norwich Lions Bounce Back
Newmarket 15 Norwich 40
Norwich were mindful that having lost at home the previous week an away win against the side bottom of the league was essential. They took to the task with relish quickly putting the opposition under pressure by keeping the ball alive, supporting the ball carrier and moving the large Newmarket pack around the park.
Despite the early pressure, Norwich were perhaps a little impatient and it was 20 minutes before they opened their account having spurned a couple of goal kicking chances and given away a couple of penalties, when scoring seemed the easier option. However, amends were made from a 5 metre scrum on the Newmarket line when no 8 Ross Adnitt picked up at the base and forced his way over. Rob Micklethwaite added the conversion to give Norwich the lead which on the balance of play they thoroughly deserved .
Norwich continued to play with tempo and from a reversed penalty decision the ball was quickly moved to centre Doug Greenwood who made good ground and his break was finished off by Jonny Coltman converted by Micklethwaite.
Newmarket got back into the game with a penalty from some 35 metres out on the left kicked by no 8 Michael Reeves .With half time looming Norwich added a further try when fly half and skipper Jonny Wheater went over under the posts to give Micklethwaite an easy conversion and Norwich the lead by 21 points to 3 at the break.
Newmarket soon showed that they were not there just to make up the numbers and started to get their big forwards into the game using the rolling maul to good effect. However it was Norwich who after 8 minutes were next on the score sheet when a flowing move from inside their own half was finished off by prop forward Aaron Swanborough showing surprising pace to score near the posts and again Micklethwaite had no problem with the conversion.
However if Norwich thought the job was done they were mistaken and for the next 15 minutes they allowed Newmarket to use their rolling maul tactic to great effect. Norwich were penalised for dropping the maul on their own line. The penalty was taken quickly. Newmarket moved the ball to right wing Phil Mcbridge who scored in the corner. The conversion was missed.
Moments later they added a further try when prop Mark Cooper got the touch down from another rolling maul and Reeves added an excellent conversion.
This could have meant a very testing last 10 minutes for Norwich but to their credit they got back on top when flying left winger David Smillie was put away to score in the left hand corner but the conversion was missed.
Norwich wrapped up the game with a trade mark try from Adnitt who broke from a 5 metre scrum to score half way out and Micklethwaite added the conversion. This was a solid Norwich performance and the same and more will be required for the difficult visit to league leaders Holt next Saturday.
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