Newark made sure of victory

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday, Sept 19

Midlands One East

Matlock 10 Newark 23

Two surging breaks in the second half swept Newark to a first league win of the season at Matlock on Saturday.

Tries by Aloesi Waqalevu and Josh Hubbard, both stemming from attacks from long distance, sealed victory by four tries to one.

Newark, for once, made a good start to establish control in this third match of the season following defeats by Kettering and Market Rasen.
Tries from Jon Webster, from a pushover effort by the forwards, and Callum Slack, after another break by Waqalevu, put Newark in charge.

With fly half Dan Mackie adding a penalty in the opening quarter, Newark led 13-0 and were never headed despite a comeback by Matlock before half-time which produced a converted try and penalty.

However, Newark made sure of victory in the second half to extend a half-time lead of 13-10.

Waqalevu, who was making his first start of the season, swept through the midfield to score followed by Hubbard, the back row forward, galloping clear from inside his own half to score the fourth try which also clinched a bonus point.

Hubbard, part of the club’s successful youth team last season, was backed up by another colt in flanker Tom Crosby who gained the man-of-the-match award.
Crosby had taken over in the back row from the injured Rory Williams while in the backline James Stark came in on the wing alongside Waqalevu and centres Tom O’Leary and Luke Tupholme.

Injuries kicked in after half-time when Fred Tatham went off to be replaced by James Price. When Webster hobbled off, the replacement was veteran hooker Matt Cove, who is now part of the coaching team.

Cove filled in at No 6 as Newark made sure in the closing quarters to grab those tries from Waqalevu and Hubbard.

Next stop for Newark is Wellingborough next Saturday, kick off 3pm.

The next home league game is on Saturday, Oct 3, against Newbold-on-Avon.

Team v Matlock: Callum Slack; Stark, O’Leary, Tupholme, Waqalevu; Mackie, Clark (capt); Priestly, Tomlinson, Chapple, Tatham, Primett, Hubbard, Crosby, Webster.

Subs: Cove, Price, Stark.

Tries: Webster, Slack, Waqalevu, Hubbard.

Pen: Mackie.