Newark mugged by Ampthill mob

Newark Rugby Club finally replayed their abandoned match against Ampthill at Kelham Road on Saturday, but were unable to repeat the original result, this time going down 6-7.

This score takes Ampthill to the top of the table, leaving Newark in third place.

With David Fagan absent and Danny Coen still recovering from a back injury sustained the previous week, Newark brought in Matt Clark at scrum-half and handed the kicking duties to Michael Dobson.

Ampthill put on all the early pressure but Newark’s defence stood firm. On 13 minutes the visitors were caught offside at a ruck and Dobson’s penalty from 40 metres gave Newark a three-point lead.

Newark started to produce some lively rugby, with Clark leading his forwards well, but another fine Dobson long-range effort went narrowly wide.

Ampthill again put on the pressure towards the end of the first half and, in added time, were awarded a penalty try at a five-metre scrum for a 7-3 lead.

In a final attack Dobson put his third long-range penalty attempt agonisingly close.

Ampthill threatened to put a strangle-hold on the game but could find no way through a stern defence.

Several attempts to break out, with Dobson, Matt Brewer and Ed Collishaw leading the way, were finally rewarded when, midway through the second half, Dobson put over his second penalty.

Ampthill, with their big, experienced pack, continued to dominate play until the end of the game but could not force their way through a defence that, at times, produced minor miracles to stay intact.

Tomorrow Newark continue in the league with a game at fifth-placed Syston (kick-off 2.15pm).

Sleaford 0 - Newark 2nds 31

Wet, cold and blustery conditions greeted Newark on their arrival at Sleaford, and changes saw Matt Cove return to hooker and Jock Mckinnon back in the centres, with Johny Statham making his return at outside centre.

A bad-tempered and ill-disciplined first half saw Newark take an early lead from a scrum in the hosts 22, when Alex Jackson found Jamie Sizer on the blindside. He fed Mark Byrom on the wing who went over in the corner.

A second score came on 20 minutes when, from the back of a Sleaford scrum, Sizer got a foot to the ball and kicked through. A try was certain when the Sleaford full-back obstructed Sizer and a penalty try was awarded. Mark Miller converted.

A Sleaford player was sent off before the interval, and in the second period Newark produced a tighter performance and the discipline from both sides improved dramatically.

Angus Spencer came between the centres untouched for the try of the game and Miller converted. The Blue and Whites picked up two more tries through Jackson and Daley Edwards, with Miller kicking a difficult conversion.

Youth and Minis

Newark Under-13s v Carre’s Grammar School L5-34 (try — Chris Cooper).

Newark Under-12s v Nottingham W7-5 (try — Nick Barton; conv — James Evans). v Oakham W14-7 (tries — Evans 2; conv — Evans 2).

Newark Under-9s v Nottingham L5–25 (try — Joseph Burns). v Oakham W25-5 (tries — Billy Rush, Sam Foreman, Isaac Ridley, Josh Seabrooke, James Lockwood).

Newark Under-8s v Nottingham L55-65 (tries — James Brogden 3, Edward Buck 2, Tom Evans 2, James Harding 2, Harvey Raynor, Tom Marsh). v Oakham L75-105 (tries — James Harding 4, Tom Evans 3, Harvey Raynor 3, Toby Taylor 2, James Brogden, Matthew Thompson, Edward Armstrong).

Southwell Rugby Club 1st XV were again forced to make changes for their trip to Notts Casuals in the first round of the Notts Senior Cup on Saturday.

They were without six regulars, but still managed to produce one of their best performances of the season as they went down to a 20-10 defeat.

Ryan Hardstaff scored a try and Paul Rich kicked the conversion and a penalty, but the Redmen were undone by a pacy and well-organised back line.

The 1st XV were due to play at Mellish in Midlands Four East tomorrow, but the match has been called off because Mellish are involved in a rearranged National Cup game.

The Southwell 2nd XV’s planned trip to East Leake was called off because of a waterlogged pitch.

Minis

Southwell Under-8s v Moderns W25-20 (tries — Milo Sawula 2, George Shelvey, Jack Cox, William Burnett-Boothroyd). v Moderns D15-15 (tries — Shelvey 2, Alex Pearson).