Newark go on the rampage against old rivals Derby
Newark Rugby Club will be looking to continue the free-flowing style at Wellingborough tomorrow that brought an excellent 43-5 win at Derby at the weekend.
Amid some memorable play, Newark followers were left talking about a try in the second half from Aloesi “Buddha” Waqalevu after the winger exchanged a succession of passes with Matt Brewer, the back row forward.
Newark won by five tries to one over a team that in the past decade has often dominated matches between the clubs.
Derby’s only try came early in the first half from an interception after Newark had taken an early lead through a penalty goal from David Fagan and a try by Charlie Claydon.
Claydon touched down for a second time to extend Newark’s lead, with the visitors scoring after a period of pressure and some good, all-round supporting play.
Newark’s third try in the first half came from Brewer after the number eight picked up from a scrum and forced his way through the Derby defence, and the score was improved by Danny Coen who later added a penalty to complete the first-half scoring, having earlier kicked a penalty and conversion.
Newark managed only two tries in the second half but each one was memorable. After Waqalevu and Brewer had combined for the fourth, Fagan popped up in the closing minutes to race clear. Coen converted the final try to complete a personal haul of 15 points.
Coen had been the cause of some pre-match drama and panic. Club coach Bob Fowkes decided to call up a scrum-half reserve after the former captain Coen was told that his wife had gone into labour.
He eventually played for most of the match before he was substituted late in the second half after Jamie Sizer had made a quick dash from Newark where he had been due to play for the 2nd XV.
It was a league debut for Sizer and it meant that Newark ended by fielding last seasons Colts half-back pairing in the scrum-half and Fagan.
Newark 2nds 0 - Derby 2nds 13
Newark lost their unbeaten record in the Pennant to a strong Derby team who held out against long periods of home pressure.
Derby led 6-0 at half-time and claimed the crucial try in the second half when they broke away, and the match finished in uncontested scrums because of injuries.
Newark dominated the final stages and came close on several occasions, led by several abrasive runs from Craig Hawes at flanker.
Derby Dev XV 0 - Newark 3rds 20
This game was abandoned in the second half because fighting broke out between both sets of players.
Earlier tries by Bryan Loftus, Dan Harrison, Paddy Robinson and Jamie Eveleigh gave Newark the advantage before the match was brought to a premature end.
Newark 4ths 15 - Derby 4ths 30
A familiar name appeared on the score sheet in a match made difficult for Newark by the quick start of the visitors that brought two tries.
Rick Brewer, brother of 1st XV forward Matt, scored one of the tries in his first game for a number of years. Stan Hutchinson added the other points through a try, a conversion and a penalty.
Newark Colts
Four Newark Colts helped Notts, Lincs and Derby Under-18s to a first title success in the Midlands Championship.
The team beat North Midlands 13-7 at Broadstreet to complete a clean sweep over Leicestershire and East Midlands.
Jack Bradford scored a try in the win over North Midlands and was joined in the squad by Darren Grey, Mark Byrom and James Price.
Youths and Minis
Newark Under-13s v Ashfield W44-5 (tries — Keegan Monteiro 2, Jake Turner 2, Henry Longstaff, Charlie Stubbs, John Taylor, Liam Westcott; conv — Turner, Will Cleasby).
Newark Under-10 Roundheads v Retford W20-5 (tries — Nathan Furniss 3, Matthew Walton); v Retford W40-10 (tries — Furniss 2, Charlie Dixon 2, Sam Routledge, Jonathan Campion, Scott Lever, Sam Foskett).
Southwell RUFC
Southwell Rugby Club 1st XV went down to a 29-15 defeat after virtually shooting themselves in the foot with two loose passes that gifted visitors Casuals breakaway tries that sealed the match despite a much improved second half performance.
Casuals came off the back of a good run of results and Southwell were limited to tries from Nick Dunsworth (2) and Paul Rich.
The Redmen have to start thinking more positively as the season doesn’t get any easier, and the second half saw superb work from the forwards, with the backs also putting in the hits and drives and powerful runs, while there was a fine display from prop Robert Boyles on his first run-out for the first team.
Better news for the Southwell 2nds as they won 24-17 at Casuals with tries from Joe Creed, Martin Stretch, Richard Wagstaff and Malc Hazard, with Wagstaff adding two conversions.
The Southwell Under-17s had a fine 33-13 win against West Bridgford, with Dan Benson, Henry Perks, Ben Birch, Finn Turner and Ollie Stanford getting the tries and Sam Hedley (2) and Birch (2) kicking conversions.
Ollerton RUFC
Ollerton A v Tupton 2nds W33-12 (tries — Eric Cranmer 3, Luke Rogerson, Andy Clifton; conv — Steve Porsze 4).
Ollerton 2nds v Belper 2nds L12-5 (try — James McGinley).
