IT WAS AN UPLIFTING AFTERNOON

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday, Oct 17
Notts, Lincs, Derbys Cup 1st rd

Market Rasen 31 Newark 34

Newark overturned league form to post a heartening win at Market Rasen in a Cup game which provided rich entertainment from an afternoon of 10 tries, five for each team.

Old and new figures fired Newark to success which avenged a league defeat earlier this season.

Waqalevu Aloesi, a formidable force at centre, and Connor Slack, in his first senior season and one of three brothers in the squad, contributed two tries each while Jaymie Duncan, an emerging back-rower, scored one.

Newark deserved victory for an excellent first quarter and the way they fought back after Rasen had inched themselves in front around the hour mark in a second half which lasted some 53 minutes.

Besides the try-scoring prowess of Waqalevu and Slack, Newark were inspired from the start when their good running and support surprised Rasen who concentrated on trying to steam-roll their visitors into the Lincolnshire turf.

For Newark supporters, it was an uplifting afternoon to see a mix of old and new combining for a success after some difficult weeks in the league.
Newark demonstrated their intentions to attack from the start and an opening penalty by Alex Scott warmed up Rasen’s electronic scoreboard for a busy afternoon.

Waqalevu struck for his first try in the 10th minute when finishing off an excellent attack which started near halfway and featured Slack on the right.

Rasen quickly struck back via their pack to cut the lead to 8-5 only for James Price to open up the home defence again by taking a tapped penalty and making the initial inroads before Duncan finished off.

Dan Mackie converted to put Newark 15-5 ahead which sparked Rasen into dominating up to half-time.
The pressure eventually paid off when they scored another try following a forward rush.

Newark turned round 15-12 ahead and fell behind 10 minutes into the half as Rasen capitalised on a mistake to score down their right to lead 15-17.

However, instead of Rasen grabbing hold of the match through their forwards it was Newark’s spirit and flare which proved the decisive factor in a topsy-turvy finish.

Slack popped up on the right to skirt through the Rasen cover for his first try which Mackie improved from the touchline.
The 22-17 lead lasted only a few minutes before the home team replied through a converted try for a 22-24 advantage.

Newark came back again and posted two tries in quick succession through the nimble Slack, who wriggled thorough the Rasen cover, followed by Waqalevu crashing over near the posts for Mackie to convert.

At 24-34, Newark thought they had done enough to win but a prolonged period of injury time stretched visiting nerves and helped Rasen find new momentum which brought a final try.

But a final, final flourish was repelled by Newark with enough bodies under a pile of Rasen men to stop a try for the home side on the whistle for full time.

Newark return to league action next Saturday, at home to Old Laurentians.

It is a 2pm kick off because of World Cup semi-final, New Zealand v South Africa, on clubhouse TVs at 4pm.

Scoring sequence: 0-3 (Newark) Scott pen, 0-8 try Waqalevu, 5-8 Rasen try, 5-13 Duncan try, 5-15 Mackie con, 10-15 Rasen try, 12-15 Rasen con (ht); 17-15 Rasen try, 17-20 Slack try, 17-22 Mackie con, 22-22 Rasen try, 24-22 Rasen con, 24-27 Slack try, 24-32 Waqalevu try, 24-34 Mackie con, 29-34 Rasen try, 31-34 Rasen con.

Newark team: Hill; Connor Slack, Waqalevu, Tupholme, Connor Slack; Scott, Mackie; Chapple, Tomlinson, Price, Primett, Williams, Duncan, Hubbard, Newman.

Subs: Barnsdale, Jordan Slack, May.

Tries: Waqalevu (2), Slack (2), Duncan.

Conversions: Mackie (3).

Penalty goal: Scott.