Easy win for cups return

Newark Rugby Club made it a reunion to remember when their 1st XV defeated Banbury 67-0 in the final home league match of the season.

The game also saw the Three Counties Cup return to Kelham Road for the first time in 18 years.

Two tries each from Aloesi Waqalevu and Shaun May were the features of a victory by ten tries to nil.

Watching the current Three Counties champions were members of the 1988 cup-winning team who had returned for a 20-year reunion organised by their coach, Charlie Fehrs.

Newark led 22-0 at half-time and turned on the style after the break to complete an easy win over a team set for relegation from Midlands Two East.

Besides Waqalevu and May, tries came from Matt Brewer, Mark Miller, Ben Spokes, Charlie Claydon, Richard Byrom and newcomer David Fagan.

He started at outside-half in the absence of Will Nelson, who hurt a shoulder in the cup final win, and the ill Michael Dobson, the regular Number ten.

Fagan, a leading member of the club’s youth teams in the last two seasons, also made two conversions on his debut.

Captain Danny Coen also supplied a penalty and five conversions.

Newark are assured of at least fourth place in the league and travel to Matlock tomorrow for the final league match of the campaign.

The season finally finishes on May 11 when the 1st XV and 2nd XV have chances to secure more silverware.

Both are involved in Nottinghamshire Cup finals against opposition from Paviors at Mellish.