Coen returns to side with a try

Newark climbed to fourth in the Midlands 2 East (North) table after a fourth league win of the season by four tries to two, despite a patchy display.

In contrast to the last home game — the cup match against Old Laurentians — Newark could not impose themselves for long periods against a competitive Casuals team.

After the injury-hit league defeat at West Bridgford the previous week, Newark had to field a changed squad.

Fit-again former captain Tom Coen came in for his first game of the season, along with the Slack brothers — Callum and Jordan — and prop Dave Shiels.

Newark led 12-3 after 30 minutes thanks to tries by No 8 Coen, following a sustained attack, and lock Will Ellison, who bustled over off a forward drive.

Max Chapple added a conversion but Casuals stayed in the match with an early penalty goal and the first of their two tries to bring the game to 12-11 at half-time.

Second-half tries from Mikey Boyd and wing Robbie Hunter-Shaw extended Newark’s lead but Casuals deservedly claimed a losing bonus point for pushing the home team close.

Newark thought they had scored another try when centre Jordan Slack crashed through, but the referee a judged the player had been held up.

Casuals might have folded but they fought back with a try following a rolling maul, which was converted.

Newark came under increased pressure in the final ten minutes but their defence held on.

Casuals claimed a try but the referee, like the Slack incident, judged it had been held up.

Newark 2nds 53 Market Rasen 12

A rampant Newark 2nds ran in nine tries, converting four of them, in a comprehensive victory.

The home side was ahead from the first play of the game. Superb retention by Lewis Himsworth after kick-off allowed Alex Scott to get the ball down the line to Findlay Tweedie to score.

That heralded a flurry of tries for Newark. Josh Clack went over in the right corner to take the score to 10-0 and moments later, forward pressure from the kick-off resulted in Alex Henderson going over; and Tweedie got his second, converted by Scott to make it 22-0.

Despite their poor start, the visitors started to edge their way into the game, especially after Newark’s Nick Moore went off with a head injury and Newark conceded several penalties.

However, Newark edged further ahead through a second Henderson try to make it 29-0.

With Matthysz yellow-carded for a misjudged tackle, Rasen finally got their first points on the board with a try.

Although down to 14 men, the half ended with Tweedie going over for his hat-trick after great work from Scott, who dinked a chip over Rasen’s heads and gathered the ball before offloading it to Tweedie.

Tom Hill added another try after the break before Market Rasen made it 39-12.

Substitutes Pat Ford and Toby Lieber completed the scoring for Newark, both converted.

Newark 3rds won 26-22 at Nottingham Casuals.