Newark win respect as they lose in cup
Newark Rugby Club return to league action at Matlock tomorrow after playing a full part in an entertaining National Trophy Second Round match at Preston Grasshoppers on Saturday.
Preston, who play two leagues higher than Newark in National Three North, won 34-18 after gaining a stranglehold on the match in the opening quarter by scoring two tries for an initial lead of 20-3.
Once Newark found their stride against bigger opponents, they competed on equal terms and produced a heartening second half display.
Newark turned round 27-11 down at half-time, with Matt Brewer having responded to Preston’s early burst by using his speed to finish off a break from winger Alex Moore. Danny Coen added two penalty goals to also keep the home team in check.
Hopes of an upset were revived early in the second half, with Newark producing their best play of the afternoon, and a try by the impressive Moore was converted by Coen, reducing the deficit to 27-18.
Moore had scored after some good work by the other Newark winger, Aloesi Waqalevu, but Preston had the last word when they scored their fourth try in the 53rd minute.
Bob Fowkes, the Newark coach, said he was delighted by his side’s performance.
“They were a much bigger and more powerful team than we have come up against but the team stuck at it and gained a lot of respect from their opponents,” he said.
Newark now return to action in Midlands Two East tomorrow, but a difficult trip to Matlock is in prospect because of mounting injuries and unavailability.
Lewis Cove is sidelined by a fractured thumb sustained against Syston two weeks ago, and lock David Rhodes is suffering from a shoulder injury.
To compound those worries outside-half Michael Dobson and flanker Charlie Claydon are unavailable this weekend.
Newark have been informed by league officials that the outstanding match against Ampthill must be played on Saturday December 13 at Kelham Road.
The two teams did meet in October only for the game to be declared abandoned because it finished in uncontested scrums between the two teams.
The game can be played on December 13 because both teams are out of the national cups, with Ampthill losing to Mansfield in the Intermediate Cup on Saturday.
A second half comeback gained Newark 3rds a draw in this Pennant match, with Dan Harrison leading the way by scoring two tries and converting two. The other try came from Tom Lee.
Newark 4ths 29 - East Retford 15
A second successive win has improved Newark 4ths’ standing in the Pennant table. Alex Jackson, the club’s 2nd XV captain, supplied two tries on an afternoon when his team rested because of the big numbers watching the club’s cup game at Preston.
The other tries came from flanker Darren Boddy, prop Jason Barnsdale and centre Will Morris, who also kicked a conversion alongside one from Jock MacKinnon.
Newark Colts 59 - Loughborough 7
A hat-trick from number eight Alex Calder was the highlight of an encouraging win for Newark Colts who play Nottingham at home on Sunday, kick- off 11am at Kelham Road.
Newark put some pleasing open rugby together in a win that saw them amass ten tries, with the other scores coming from Mark Byrom (2) Jonny Watson, Allister Waring, Ted Bunn, Chris Mason and Marcus Cambridge.
Minis and Youth
Newark Under-15s v Chesterfield W15-7 (tries — Rowan Allen, Will Britten; con — Alex Hales; pen — Hales).
Newark Under-10 Roundheads v Mansfield D40-40 (tries — Jonathan Campion, Harry Cunningham, Sam Foskett, Scott Levers, Ben Parks, Sam Towers, Matthew Walton, Casey Watson).
Worksop 22 - Southwell 2nds 12
Southwell travelled to Worksop and came up against a strong home side that was further strengthened after the break by 1st XV players left without a game after their opposition failed to show up.
Worksop scored three unanswered tries before the break before the Redmen got their act together and replied with tries from Toby Shearwood and Paul Richards, plus a Richard Wagstaff conversion.
West Bridgford 47 - Southwell 3rds 15
Southwell 3rd XV travelled to West Bridgford and also came up against a tough side as they went down 47-15 despite two tries from winger Reece Dixon who was making his debut at senior level. James Thomas got the other on his return to playing after a four-week lay-off.
Southwell fought hard and, although man for man they were much lighter than the opposition, it was organisation and communication that were the mainstays of Bridgford’s play as they re-aligned quickly and attacked even quicker.
Loughborough 5 - Southwell U-17s 50
The bleak cold and wet weather hardly filled the coaches, parents and under-17 players with optimism, but they were all warmed by an excellent all-round display from this fine young side.
Skipper and number eight Dan Benson scored his fifth try of the season with a well-timed try to break the deadlock, and tries followed from player of the match Josh Hart (2) Ollie Stanford (2) Henry Perks, Alex Berry and Jack Skill, and three Ben Birch conversions and two from Stanford.
The value of support from the sidelines cannot be underestimated and was greatfully received by the players as they responded in style with some strong rucking, tackling and running that tore the home defence apart.
There was still time for Loughborough to come back to score a well-deserved consolation try as they continually fought for every ball and tackled strongly throughout.
