Two sent-off as Blues go for promotion

NEW Brighton found top form once more to stroll to a crushing rugby triumph over Nuneaton on Saturday - and leave fans wondering how they had managed to lose to the same opponents just three weeks ago.

The home victory ended a run of poor results for the Reeds Lane men and put them back in the frame for promotion from National League North Division Three.

But with Sedgely and Stourbridge both also recording wins at the weekend, New Brighton are beginning to run out of options in the title race.

A preview of what was to follow came on five minutes as the hosts won possession from a scrum and drove forward down the left wing for scrum-half Hughes to release the backs on a sweeping move downfield.

A simmering feud in the forwards saw Blues' prop Marco Dorrington and Nuneaton's Mark Mitchell dispatched to the sin bin on eight minutes, followed five minutes later by visiting No 7 Paul Reece as matters threatened to get out of control.

It was not until the 28th minute that New Brighton broke the deadlock, as Steve Bellis drove deep into Nuneaton territory before the ball was worked to Geoff Jones to power over for a try. Brett failed with the conversion attempt.

The score saw the Blues visibly grow in confidence and it was not long before a flowing move through the backs saw the ball move through the hands of Brett, Pearson, Evans, Hughes, O'Connor and Brett again before speedster Julian Williams was sent in to score out wide. Brett again missed the conversion, but Nuneaton were now well and truly under the cosh and so penalty kicks inevitably followed. New Brighton twice kicked for position, trying to set up another scoring position, before Brett kicked for goal with the third award to make the half-time score 13-0.

It was the same story on the restart and it took less than three minutes for Jez Lamb to crash over for a try to extend the lead.

Another flare-up in the forwards saw Geoff Jones shown the game's fourth yellow card, but despite the one man disadvantage New Brighton still powered forward.

Emrys Evans chased a kick ahead to trap opposing full-back Jody Peacock in possession. Lamb and Stirrup were fast on the scene to keep the movement going and feed O'Connor to score. This time Brett added the extras for a 25-0 scoreline.

Nuneaton player coach Chris Tarbuck became the fifth man yellow carded on 56 minutes, and as sparks continued to fly Mark Mitchell went for an early bath after receiving his second yellow of the game.

The Blues were now in total control and first Jez Lamb and then Taylor burst through the tiring Nuneaton defence to score in the closing minutes. Brett added one conversion to complete the rout.