Blue and Whites return to winning ways in style

Newark Rugby Club will expect a much sterner test tomorrow at home to Derby after flattening bottom-placed Wellingborough 43-0 on Saturday afternoon in their Midlands Two East clash at Kelham Road.

Derby may be only two points ahead of Wellingborough in 11th place, yet they produced an excellent performance in their first league outing after the Christmas break when they lost narrowly 11-10 to second-placed Scunthorpe.

Newark jumped two places into third position following the six-try win over Wellingborough in a game that the home team dominated from the 11th minute when centre Chris Tate scored the first of his two tries.

Lewis Cove, back on duty after recovering from a fractured finger, grabbed the second after a mix-up at the back of a scrum near the Wellingborough line.

A third try from captain Charlie Claydon helped give Newark a 22-0 lead at the interval, with outside-half Michael Dobson having kicked a penalty and two conversions.

Newark added three more tries after the interval through wing David Fagan, after a break by Dobson off a line-out, Tate and finally his centre partner Alex Moore, while Dobson finished the match with 13 points, converting the second half tries.

Amber Valley 11

Newark 2nds 41

Newark 2nds won by seven tries to one, thanks to Jamie Sizer (3) Angus Spencer (2) Mark Byrom and Ian Tomlinson, while Mark Miller kicked two conversions and one came from Andy Hill.

Other Newark results: Newark 3rds 44 (tries — Chris Wildgust, Micky Knapton, Bryan Loftus, Craig Johnson, Dan Skelton, Tristan Goff, Ben Ennals; conv — Dan Harrison 3; pen — Harrison) Sleaford 2nds 12.

Newark 4ths 53 (tries — Pete Cook 2, James Witton 2, Craig Ellis 2, Rhys Overland 2, Darren Boddy; conv — Overland 4) Meden Vale 3.

Scunthorpe 5ths 69 Newark Extras 14 (tries — John Cudlipp, Paul Randall; conv — Tom Lee, Sam Booth).

Newark Under-16s 7 (try — Will Watson; conv — George Stewart) Lincoln 5.

Mellish 48

Southwell 1sts 0

The Redmen were without eight first team regulars and Mellish also played excellently as Southwell suffered their worst defeat of what is proving a tough season.

Bingham 1sts 8

Southwell 2nds 5

Reece Dixon got what proved to be a consolation try, but the Reapers played a strong game with a much-changed line-up, and will look to build on this performance for the remainder of the season.

Southwell 3rds 43

Nottinghamians 7

Despite the loss of several key players, Paul Orgill’s troops put on a tremendous show and were rewarded with tries from Mike Lancaster (2) Chris Huffen, Adam Flint, Neil Bell, Jamie Broadberry and Andy Guy, and four conversions from Mickey Hucknall.

Deeping 8

Southwell U-17s 27

Coach Charlie Anstey’s impressive outfit travelled to Deepings for this crunch title match and fought hard to win 27-8.

Although the visitors never quite got in the groove they still had too much pace and skill in the backs for the home side, and were rewarded with tries came from man of the match Jack Skill (2) Will Towse, Ben Birch and Sam Hedley, with Hedley adding a conversion.