When full-back Callum Slack sped over just before half-time Newark were only 12-17 down against Rasen who had dominated the early stages to score two tries.

However, Newark’s hopes of gaining something from the contest evaporated in the second half as Rasen scored two more tries midway through the half.

Amid the disappointment of a second successive defeat, Newark’s positives were led by some excellent spells of back play which brought Slack his try, after strong running from Ben Dixon and Luke Tupholme, and one by fly half Dan Mackie.

The pack also stood up to their Lincolnshire rivals helped by the return to a starting place for flanker Jon Webster.

Newark’s biggest problem was their failure to retain possession and Rasen were always in control from the opening minutes when they scored twice.

A knee injury to prop Rob Dunning disrupted Newark early on while a second-half yellow card for lock Fred Tatham did not help the home cause.

Newark finished the match on the attack and looked to have scored a third try but captain Matt Clark was adjudged to have been held up over the line.

A few minutes earlier Slack also looked set for a second try after Dixon and the full-back had swooped on a loose ball.

However, Slack just failed to touch down after hacking the ball on only for the ball to run out of play over the deadball line.

Newark next Saturday travel to Matlock, kick off 3pm.

Newark team: Callum Slack; Ford, Tupholme, O’Leary, Dixon; Mackie, Clark (capt); Dunning, Tomlinson, Chapple, Tatham, Primett, Williams, Webster, Newman.

Subs: Priestly, May, Stark.

Tries: Mackie, Slack. Conversion: Mackie.

Scoring sequence: 0-5 Rasen try, 0-10 Rasen try, 7-10 Mackie try & con, 7-17 Rasen try & con, 12-17 Slack try, 12-22 Rasen try, 12-27 Rasen try.