Tamworth 7 Newark 55 Regional Two Midlands North match report
The father-and-son combination of Buds and Joshie Waqalevu helped Newark post their first win of 2025 at Tamworth on Saturday.
The 55-7 Regional Two Midlands North success proved to be another comfortable win against struggling Tamworth following a 71-15 triumph in the first match between the teams in October.
It was the third time this season that one of the club’s favourite players has joined his son in the squad.
Joshie made his first appearance in the senior squad at the end of last season when still a colt and this term has become a regular in the backline.
Buds provided one try while three came from wing Ovi Gilder and two from centre Nick Allen. The other try scorers were scrum-half Will Staniforth, back-rower Sean Denning and lock Will Ellison.
For the first team squad, who now take a week off before facing Ilkeston on February 1, this seventh win of the campaign lifts them back into sixth place in the table.
Newark sprang out the traps and were quickly on the attack when the home team fluffed the kick-off.
They gave Newark a scrum in midfield and a break by fly half Noah Catley found Ellison in space before he fed Staniforth who did well to run in from 25 metres out. Full-back Alex Scott landed the conversion for the first of his five successful kicks.
Newark extended their early lead five minutes later when Denning, at No 8, picked up at the base of the scrum and, fed Staniforth who fed Joshie Waqalevu who found Henry Allen on his shoulder.
Allen still had plenty to do but had the pace to run it in from the 10-metre line for a 14-0 lead.
However, any thoughts that it was going to be all one way were dashed when sloppy defending allowed Tamworth to go over for a soft try which gave them some hope at 14-7 halfway through the first half.
Newark made up for that poor play by scoring another two tries in quick succession. The first came from Gilder who took a pass from Scott deep in his own half and had far too much pace for the Tamworth cover. That was matched later when Waqalevu senior broke down the left for his score.
Newark hadn’t finished and just before half-time Ellison had too much power from short range. Scott converted for a 33-7 lead at the break.
The second half proved to be a scrappy affair. Denning went over in the corner after 47 minutes but then there were no more scores until a quarter of an hour to go.
The ball was moved left to right and Catley put Allen in some space and there was only going to be one outcome as the youngster went over for his second.
Not to be outdone, Gilder went over for his second after George Leeson, who had come off the bench, made good ground down the left before feeding Gilder.
The winger completed his hat-trick in the closing minutes when Scott put him away to complete the bonus point win.
Newark 2nds registered a third win in a row by beating Birstall from Leicester 24-15. No 8 Luke Fisher contributed two tries and fly half Matt Cox kicked nine points.
The 2nds are at home again this Saturday, against Mosborough, kick-off 2.15pm, in a match first postponed on January 11.
Newark 3rds lost 33-28 at home to Maltby 2nds while the club’s colts team defeated Moderns 26-17 in the county cup.