A hard match for an injury-hit squad

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Notts, Lincs & Derbys Cup - semi-final – Saturday, Jan 24

Scunthorpe 76 Newark 12

Second-half tries from Tom O’Leary and Mark Byrom lifted Newark’s tough afternoon at Scunthorpe in the semi-final of the Notts, Lincs & Derbys Cup.

O’Leary raced clear off an interception from midfield to score Newark’s first try. This was followed by Byrom, at fly half, who beat several Scunthorpe defenders for the second. O’Leary converted his own try.

But, overall, this was a hard match for an injury-hit squad who had to face strong opponents who play a league higher in National Three Midlands.

Newark fielded a team featuring a new back-row and back three from the previous week’s league match at Market Rasen.

Among the players called in were Andy Downing, Neil Clark and Daley Edwards in the back row while a new back three saw wings Richard Bevan and Tom Hill partner Andy Hill at full-back.

Injury to Matt Cox also meant a change at fly half with Byrom moving up from full-back to partner Dan Mackie, the scrum-half.

Newark had a dozen or so players either out injured or unavailable. Wing Ben Usher and flanker Josh Hubbard were absent at a Midlands Under-18s trial weekend.

Scunthorpe dominated for long periods scoring 11 tries in all. They led 43-0 at half-time before Newark mounted something of a second-half revival.

Newark resume league action next Saturday at Syston, kick off 2.15pm.

Team v Scunthorpe:
Andy Hill; Tom Hill, O’Leary, Tate, Bevan; Mark Byrom, Mackie; Tinsley, Tomlinson, Barnsdale, Primett, Williams, Downing, Clark, Edwards.
Subs: Dunning, Chapple, Duncan.
Tries: O’Leary, Byrom.
Conversion: O’Leary.

Rob Wildman