Speed and support brings 1sts reward

What a start! Newark 1sts left Sutton Coldfield in the starting blocks to record a handsome opening league win at Kelham Road by 10 tries to one.

This uplifting display – based around a pacey game and some neat off loading- had the visitors struggling from the early stages of the first half.

Wing Josh Ashe, back from his travels, contributed four tries and two came from man-of-the-match in No 8 James Brogden.

Ovi Gilder, on the other wing, crossed for the first try while prop Mattie Ashton who led a forward rush off a line-out, also scored in the first half. In the second half, substitute Waqalevu Aloesi and back-rower Will Seage got on the scoresheet.

Gilder, who made his league debut last season after an outstanding colts campaign, is part of a young squad which included a new face on Saturday in centre Tommy Williams, who has joined from Sleaford, and another emerging colt in Will Alexander.

Newark, matching some of the best performances from last season, quickly found their attacking game and had one try disallowed before Gilder finished off in the left corner.

That try plus one each from Brogden and Ashton earned Newark a 19-3 lead before Sutton Coldfield, who had tried to match the hosts for pace, grabbed a try back to cut the deficit to 19-10.

However, Newark finished the half in charge by grabbing two tries in the closing stages through the speedy Ashe on the right and Brogden, who raced clear from a break by captain Will Britten.

The second half brought more hesitant play and both teams had a player yellow-carded for offences under the new tackle regulations.

Sutton Coldfield has some pressure but any hope of a comeback ended mid-way into the half when Waqalevu, to the delight of home support, supported a midfield break to burst over for a popular score.

Ashe, not to be outshone by the Newark veteran, promptly topped that score through a memorable try from an attack which started in his own half.

To complete the afternoon, Seage wriggled clear from a maul to score to be followed by Ashe collecting two more tries in the closing stages.

James Tarbatt landed five conversions and James Archdale one, the full-back finishing needing treatment after he was hurt in attempting to catch a kick off. It was a downside moment on a good afternoon.

Newark : Archdale; Ashe, Williams, Walton, Gilder; Britten (capt), Tarbatt; Ashton, Chapple, Godfrey, Ellison, Alexander, Dodders, Seage, Brogden. Subs: Vinters, Bacon, Waqalevu.

Tries: Gilder, Ashton, Brogden (2), Ashe (4), Waqalevu, Seage. Conversions: Archdale, Tarbatt (5).

Other scores: Long Eaton 67, Wolverhampton 12-Matlock 16, Lichfield 25-Melbourne 31, Walsall 26-Paviors 24, Mellish 21-Tamworth 34, West Bridgford 29.

Next Saturday (Sept 9): home to Long Eaton, kick off 3pm.

All welcome, free entry, match-day programme £3.