Newton's Principles of Rugby Philosophy

Both teams were penalised 11 times, Barnes less in their 22. Newton kicked 6 out of 8, with one success from halfway; 4 in the first quarter, 2 in the third. Tring got no tries but with their kicker on this form who needs them. About this time last year at Tring, Newton kicked 6 penalties to defeat top of the table Barnes when the home team were bottom. Back at Barnes later in the season Tring lost when Newton playing at no. 10 only got 5 points from 2 kicks. In this game the ball seemed always to gravitate towards Newton at fullback who was clearly the man of the match. For Tring everything seemed to revolve around him as if he was exerting a centripetal force on the rest of the team. For almost every kicking action by Barnes there was a more than equal response from him.

Barnes' kick-off resulted in a scrum for the visitors who got their first penalty at that. This was kicked for a line-out into the other half. Tring kept ball tight at first then gave it to Newton then Barnes were penalised again inside 3 minutes - an easy one for the visitors' fullback. Barnes got the ball after the restart wasn't claimed but soon the second put-in went to Tring. From the scrum they went blind and recycled twice before Newton kicked for territory. Barnes sent ball wide and centre Adams broke through to get his teams' first penalty. This was run with the opposition not allowing and so giving Barnes another, now 25 metres out in centre field at 5 minutes and McIntyre took the points. Barnes secured the long high restart and cleared to touch inside their own half. Tring recycled 7 times after their line-out with Newton involved twice before he chipped through. Barnes kicked the ball back to Newton and after one recycle the home team got the third scrum put-in. Barnes' feed wasn't right and Trings' forwards ran the free-kick and soon got another penalty at 10 minutes. This was wide out and 14 metres into the opposition half and Newton gave his team the lead back.

Three minutes after the restart he doubled the lead. This after the visitors had secured the restart and scrumhalf Beeny launched an up-and-under that was dropped by the opposition. Advantage was played and Tring advanced recycling 8 times before the Ref. went back to award a penalty 16 metres into Barnes' half. The restart resulted in a Tring put-in from which they moved up to halfway to an opposition scrum. After that Barnes kicked high and this was easily marked in the 22. The touch kick got the visitors into the other half; Barnes released to centre then possession changed hands before Tring were penalised for crossing. Barnes kicked for a line-out in the other half and from that released wide then recycled once close before another wider and Adams kicked to touch to 15 metres from the opposition line. The home team stole the line-out before being forced back and penalised. This kick didn't go into touch and Barnes ran it back only to drop the ball on halfway. From the scrum Newton kicked ahead and the defence had to clear to touch 16 metres inside their own half.

Tring released to their backs from the line-out with Newton coming in at centre. After 3 recycles the defence forced an error to get the next scrum 27 metres out. At this Barnes got a free-kick before the ball was put-in and they ran this to get a penalty at their 10 metre line. They also ran this in their forwards then got ball wider with centre Hersey feeding wing Bevan. He chipped through and nearly got away but the defence got the ball and kicked well back into the other half. Barnes ran the ball again to get a penalty on halfway and kicked that for a line-out just outside the opposition 22. The forwards set for a driving maul then Fouracre broke blind and sent wing Howells to the corner at 25 minutes. The conversion missed. The rest of the first half was played in Barnes' territory with possession mostly changing hands frequently apart from one sequence of a dozen phases from Tring ending with a penalty for not releasing and Barnes doing 75% of the defending. The half seemed a couple of minutes short.

Barnes returned the second half kick-off to Newton and he started a good attack that faltered when Barnes grabbed a loose ball and tried another up-and-under - the first to be dropped by Tring. Advantage was played and the ball was got wide and Henry kicked the ball into touch long into the opposition 22 and well away from Newton. From the line-out Tring had to clear to touch and to just outside their 22. Barnes didn't try a rolling maul but varied their recycling to get a penalty 12 metres out inside 4 minutes and McIntyre kicked the points. 4 minutes later Newton retook the lead. The restart was long and cleared to touch 20 metres into Barnes' half. From their line-out Tring kept the ball until scoring. They advanced tight to the 22 then recycled wider then through 10 more phases involving Newton twice before the Ref. went back for an easy penalty 7 metres out in front of the posts. Hardly a minute after the restart Newton had another 3 points; Tring had secured the restart and made a break at centre. Barnes lost a man for 10 minutes and the kick was from 14 metres into their half in centre field. Barnes restarted longer; Tring attacked immediately with wide ball and got out of their half to their opponents' 22. They recycled and got a penalty but this was reversed for some very bad behaviour and they lost a man for 10 minutes. The penalty was kicked to touch just into the other half. From their line-out Barnes recycled 4 times before kicking ahead. Tring dealt with this and then got a penalty at the halfway line in centre field at 13 minutes. Newton had kicked his 4th, 5th & 6th in less than 6 minutes for a 7 point lead.

The visitors kicked back the restart and Barnes ran the ball recycling twice to get a penalty 6 metres into their opponents' half. They kicked to touch then had their line-out stolen when it was thrown too long. Newton made perhaps his first mistake as his touch kick hit the line giving Barnes another attacking line-out. Tring also stole this one and advanced with 2 recycles before being turned over. Barnes recycled 3 times before being penalised for not releasing. The visitors kicked to touch into the other half then they had their line-out stolen but soon got another penalty 16 metres into the opposition half and not far from straight ahead at the end of the 3rd quarter. Surprisingly he missed! Tring got the put-in after the high 22 drop-out. They were forced back after that scrum to another for Barnes. From this last they got a good attack going, breaking out of their half and recycling 6 times, with Howells making yards, to get a penalty at the opposition 22. This was put into touch for a line-out 10 metres out from which their pack drove to line with Captain Smyth on the ball at 25 minutes. A good conversion from McIntyre followed and this levelled the scores.

Barnes secured the restart, recycled 3 times then kicked; Tring got the ball to Newton and he kicked high; Henry kicked it away from him well into the opposition half and this resulted in a line-out for Barnes 18 metres into the opposition half. They recycled close at first then wider to Adams who chipped ahead to the line but he has beaten to the ball by a defender. Barnes ran back the long 22 drop-out and recycled 3 times before kicking the ball to Newton. This time he couldn't kick the ball back and Barnes soon forced a turnover. From this they got a good attack going until the defence forced an error 6 metres out. From their put-in Tring's touch kick was only 10 metres out. Barnes' drive from the line-out was held then they recycled mostly close 7 times to get a penalty 7 metres out in centre field at 32 minutes and McIntyre kicked for the lead.

Barnes secured the high restart and returned a similar kick; Tring recycled tight 4 times before Newton chipped ahead. Barnes cleared this to touch in their half. After the line-out and a couple of recycles Newton chipped again; Barnes cleared to touch outside of their 22. From the next line-out the visitors kept ball in hand and went wider but were forced backwards. Two more recycles with an offload in between got them their last penalty 3 metres inside the opposition half in centre field at 37 minutes. This didn't go over. The visitors kept the ball after the 22 drop-out; they recycled well before the final whistle. In the final quarter Barnes had 66% of the territory and possession but had to defend well after their last kick. So how did Barnes win? There was not much between the teams; Barnes decided to turn some of their penalties into tries and fitness may have come into it.

Dry, overcast, the pitch firm.