1sts fade away after seizing early 20-0 lead

Saturday November 18
Regional Two North Midlands
Newark 25 Walsall 41

The 1st team endured a disappointing afternoon by losing a match they had led 20-0 at Kelham Road.

A good start built that advantage only for Walsall to strike back in the lead up to the half-time break.

Newark had scarcely been troubled by a Walsall side who struggled to play out of their own half in the early stages of the first half.

Walsall kicked off with a blustery wind behind them but within minutes, Newark won a scrum just in their own half and fed Josh Ashe whose speed took the defenders by surprise as he evaded their tackles to cross the line for a great opening try. James Tarbatt kicked a straightforward conversion to give a 7-0 lead.

Newark continued to exert pressure and Walsall conceded penalties before a high tackle on their 22 led to a penalty kick in front of the posts which Tarbatt slotted home.

At this stage it was Newark making all the running and captain Will Britten kicked ahead before re-gathering and spinning out of contact to cross for a try under the posts. The conversion was successful, and Newark were 17-0 ahead.

Once again, Newark came back and were soon awarded a penalty in the Walsall 22 for a tackle off the ball. The reliable Tarbatt kicked the penalty and Newark led 20-0.

The rain then blew in and it was the signal for Walsall to up their game. They won a line-out on their right in the Newark 22 and after the ball went loose, crossed for a try as a gap opened in the home defence.

Within minutes, they were on the attack again and Newark conceded a penalty on their 22 which Walsall kicked to give Newark a 20-10 lead at half-time.

Walsall came out for the second half in the same dominant way and quickly reduced the deficit with a penalty kick in front of the posts. Their pressure resulted in a charged down clearance kick by Tarbatt and Walsall crossed for an unopposed try which was converted.

It was now 20-20 and all the warning signs were there but Newark were unable to respond and raise the tempo of their game.

A long kick ahead by Ashe led to a knock on by a Walsall defender just short of the try line. Newark were unable to capitalise on the promising field position and Walsall broke out leading to a high tackle by Noah Catley who departed for ten minutes with a yellow card.

Walsall took advantage of their numerical advantage and, within a few minutes, scored two converted tries. Suddenly it was 20-34 and Newark looked shocked.

Another converted try was conceded and, to make matters worse, a re-start penalty conceded for backchat.

Newark seemed keen to kick ball away despite being a man down but kept pressing and earned a try by Catley in the corner after a good advantage played by the referee. 25-41.

The conversion was missed but Newark continued to fight back in injury time before unfortunately losing Jaymie Duncan to a red card for kicking out.

Team: Ashe; Catley, Williams, Walton, Gilder; Britten, Tarbatt; Ashton, Vinters, Wright, Ellison, Duncan, O’Leary, Dodders, Brogden. Subs: Godfrey, Dobson, Corcoran.
Tries: Ashe, Britten, Catley. Conversions: Tarbatt (2). Penalty goals: Tarbatt (2).
Next match – Saturday 2 December at Wolverhampton, kick off 2.15pm.
No match next Saturday (Nov 25): no league games scheduled.