Ready for final battle

Newark Rugby Club runs out on Sunday for its first appearance in the Three Counties Cup final for 18 years.

The club’s first XV will face Scunthorpe in the final, to be played at Derby.

The last time the team reached the final of the Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbysshire Cup was in 1990 when Charlie Fehrs’ squad won.

Success should ensure a place in the National Trophy next season.

But the team goes into the game on the back of a 36-5 defeat to Kettering at the weekend, a loss that brought to an end a five-match unbeaten run.

Though Newark competed well up front, they found the pace of Kettering — the leaders of Midlands Two East — too strong and were behind from the start when the home team scored two quick tries to take the initiative

A try by Newark’s Matt Brewer reduced the deficit when the flanker was driven over by his fellow forwards.

However, Kettering scored again before half-time and pulled further clear in the second half when they grabbed two more tries.

For Kettering, the victory almost secures the Midlands Two East title.

Newark look set for fourth place, their highest position since returning to the division four years ago.

They have two more league games to play, at home to Banbury a week on Saturday and then away to Matlock.

The defeat at Kettering ended a run that included two wins over Mansfield to reach the finals of the Three Counties Cup and the county competition, which will be played on Sunday, May 11.