Newark get a key clash in national cup competition

Newark Rugby Club have been given a home draw in the first round of the National Trophy when they will face Cheshire Cup holders Birkenhead Park on Saturday October 18.

Newark qualified for the competition by winning the Notts, Lincs and Derby Cup in April when they beat Scunthorpe.

The reward is a home draw in a competition that is made up of teams from the national leagues and the top regional leagues.

Park, one of the oldest clubs in the country, will be formidable opponents, having finished runners up in the Intermediate Cup last season when they lost 21-18 to Chester in the Twickenham final.

Newark have also got another home draw in the Notts, Lincs and Derby Cup next season when they will face old rivals Mansfield in the first round at Kelham Road on a date to be arranged.

The two Nottinghamshire clubs open the new season on September 13 when they meet in the opening round of games in Midlands Two East at Kelham Road.

The Southwell Rugby Club Under-16s made a winning start to their Canadian tour when they beat hosts Abbotsford 59-14 in British Columbia.

It was the back division who dominated the scoring with some excellent running and well-worked moves, but the forwards also played their part with a strong display in the loose and tight.

The club’s head coach Charlie Anstey was exceptionally pleased with the effort from the players, despite being more than 6,000 miles from home.

Although the hosts were blown away by the excellent rugby played by the Redmen, they still fought hard and, as always, Canadian teams remain tough physical opposition and they were able to stem the tide for a while with two tries of their own.

But inevitably it was the never-ending tide of quick hands and quick rucks that won the day.

On any other day centre Ben Birch would have been man of the match with his performance and hat trick of tries, but the honours went to full-back Ollie Stamford who had a storming match and finished with a five try haul.

Winger Will Towse added a ninth try and, with fly-half Sam Hedley showing that the long flight hadn’t affected his kicking skills, he added seven conversions in tough conditions to round off the Redmen’s impressive win.

Next stop on the tour is to Kelowna who recently visited Southwell RFC for a match and will be looking for revenge.