Newark book a semi-final showdown with Mansfield
Newark Rugby club set up a home semi-final in the Notts, Lincs and Derbyshire Cup against Mansfield after sweeping aside Moderns 36-10, helped by four tries from wing Mark Miller.
Miller continued his consistent season in his new position after arriving at the Newark club as a prop two years ago. Since then he has also appeared in the back row, at centre and at full-back.
This season he has become one of Newark’s reliable performers in a squad that has taken the club to second place in Midlands Two East and now a semi-final against their local rivals next month on a date to be arranged.
Newark were always on top against Moderns and led 17-0 at half-time. Miller had contributed two of the tries and the other had come from Shaun May who enjoyed his run-out in the back row after stints in the front row this season.
Miller continued his spree in the second half during a comfortable win for Newark in which Michael Dobson and James Connolly shared the kicking duties in the absence of captain Danny Coen.
Dobson landed two conversions while Connolly, who took over at scrum-half from Coen, kicked two conversions and a penalty.
Coen was absent with a knee injury and is considered doubtful for league action at Derby tomorrow. Another worry is hooker Ben Spokes who has an ankle problem that has prevented him from playing this month.
Spokes was a replacement against Moderns but was not used by coach Bob Nashed who took charge in the absence of Bob Fowkes.
The versatile forward hopes to play at Derby but centre Paul Cook, whose partnership alongside Ed Collishaw has stiffened the midfield defence, has a foot injury and looks set to spend at least three weeks on the sidelines.
Nashed used the later stages of the match to give other opportunities to squad members, with scrum-half Matt Clark and flanker Gareth Bartsch getting a run, and there was also a first start for winger James Wheeler who has joined from Nottingham.
Moderns 7 - Newark 2nds 63
Colts scrum-half Ollie Bradley made an immediate impression on his debut by scoring two tries, including one where he touched down after fending off four home tacklers.
Despite the victory and the 11 tries scored, Newark had to defend for several spells and needed to rely on some fast men to keep the scoreboard ticking over in the Notts Pennant match.
Wing Alex Statham contributed three tries and back row Jon Webster two, while the others came from Will Naylor, Chris Blood, Sam Sibilksi and Aloesi Waqalevu.
Newark 3rds 53 - Moderns 0
Tom Pykett celebrated his 50th birthday by scoring the last try which he also converted in another convincing win for Dan Harrison’s unbeaten team.
Before Pykett struck for the ninth try, one of Newark’s promising players, the lock Daley Edwards, had led the way with an excellent individual effort that saw him dash in from 70 metres.
Newark’s other tries came from Darren Gourley (2) Duncan Coote, Bryan Loftus (2) James McKeown and Harrison who also kicked three conversions.
Newark’s 4th XV had an afternoon off when their Moderns counterparts cancelled the fixture.
Market Rasen 5 - Newark Colts 10
Two first half tries from number eight James Dyer helped Newark Colts to a hard-earned win in the wind and rain at Rasen. The home team fought back in the second half by scoring a try that made for a close finish.
Newark Youth
Newark Under-17s v Paviors W19-17 (tries — Ryan Wilson, Jonny Coddling, Jonathan Stan; conv — Mark Byrom 2).
Newark Under-14s v Mansfield L17-22 (tries — Alex Hales, Joe Burnett, Devon Priestley; conv — James Cousins).
aviors 60 - Southwell 12
Paviors, who are more than 20 places higher in the league system than the Redmen, ran out comfortable winners in the quarter-final of the Notts Cup.
Midlands Four side Southwell travelled to face Midlands Two outfit Paviors and had the audacity to score first through Alex Moore soon after kick-off.
Unfortunately that concentrated the minds of the home side who came back strongly, using their pack to dominate at the breakdown.
Paul Rich converted his own try to restore the visitors’ lead at 12-8 lead, but it was pretty much one-way traffic from that point onwards.
Paviors upped their game and soon created chances galore as their well-drilled team went through the phases and moves, and cracks began to appear as the lack of fixtures over the festive break showed and fitness played a part as Southwell began to crumble.
But they came away as upbeat as ever, and will be looking to return to winning ways in the league at Park Lane tomorrow when high-flying Ashbourne are the visitors in Midlands Four East.
Southwell have won three of their 11 league outings to date nd are currently in the bottom four, while Ashbourne are in third place.
Mansfield 3rds 3 - Southwell 2nds 29
Southwell 2nd XV came out on top in a physical encounter at Eakring Road, with scrum-half Tom Anstey breaking through a gap to score the opening try.
Anstey hustled his opposite number into a mistake and kicked through to score his second, with Adam Madely converting both, before Alex Benson kicked a penalty to give the Redmen a 17-3 lead at the interval.
Madely added a try that Benson converted and debutant Ashley Robertshaw bulldozed his way through to score the fourth for the visitors.
It was a difficult game at times and skipper Nigel McHale was full of praise for his young team in keeping their discipline in intimidating circumstances, while there were excellent performances from several players playing out of position following late call-ups for the 1st XV.
Southwell 2nd XV face another local derby tomorrow when they travel to Kelham Road for a match against Newark 3rd XV (2pm).
Southwell 3rds 5 - Mansfield 4ths 14
Paul Orgill’s troops lined up for their league game against leaders Mansfield and, despite finishing on the losing side, they gave the visitors a tough game although could only manage a try from winger Mike Lancaster to show for their efforts.
Southwell Youth
Southwell Under-16s v Stamford D15-15 (tries — Alex Berry, Ollie Stamford; conv and pen — Sam Hedley).
