A GOOD START GAVE NEWARK THE EARLY IMPETUS

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday December 19

Midlands One East

Newark finished 2015 on a high by winning a first league game since the end of October to give themselves hope of avoiding relegation in 2016.

Three tries from substitute Ben Usher, who was making his first appearance for Newark since the opening weekend, was the highlight of an excellent team performance.
Usher was part of a rejigged squad which included call ups for Dave Garland, in place of the injured James Price. The No 8 was part of a hard-working back row alongside flankers Tom Crosby and Tom Coen.

Newark also overcame the loss of Rory Williams, who is heading for Australia to play, by pairing two back-rowers at lock in Jon Webster and Jaymie Duncan.

Usher’s pace and finishing power helped Newark to post a second successive win over their Lincolnshire rivals following the 34-31 victory in the Notts, Lincs Derbys Cup in October.
The following week Newark beat Old Laurentians in the league and they had not won since that day – a run of six league defeats.

A good start gave Newark the early impetus and they almost scored early on when Callum Slack was stopped short of the line in the left corner.
Slack needed to go off for treatment which gave Usher, back home from Newcastle University, the chance to reclaim his left wing berth.

From then on, Usher was a constant menace and helped make the first try from flanker Crosby which was triggered by prop Jordan Hempstead offloading in midfield to keep the move going.

Usher claimed the second try after another cutting Newark attack and a third try in the opening 25 minutes, this time from Alex Scott, put the visitors 21-0 up, Scott having converted all three.

Rasen, like the Cup game in October, came back strongly just before the interval to cut the arrears to 21-7 at half-time. A further penalty early in the second half reduced the gap but Newark did not fold.

Another concerted attack brought Usher a simple touchdown in the left corner which Scott narrowly failed to convert.

Newark maintained the pressure and produced the best try of the game – their fifth – when Slack, who had come back on, combined with Usher on the left to set up the wing’s third try.

Scott converted for a lead of 33-10 which made the game safe though Rasen fought back well to score two tries in the gathering gloom.

This third league win of the season leaves Newark only three points behind Matlock and Rasen in what looks to be a four-way fight to avoid the three relegation places.

Old Laurentians remain bottom, nine adrift of Newark.

The next round of league games is on Jan 9 when Newark host Matlock at Kelham Road, kick off 2.15pm.

Match Details

Scoring sequence (Rasen first): 0-7 Crosby try & Scott con, 0-14 Usher try & Scott con, 0-21 Scott try & Scott con, 7-21 Rasen try & con, 10-21 Rasen pen, 10-26 Usher try, 10-33 Usher try & Scott con, 17-33 Rasen try & con, 24-33 Rasen try & con.

Team: Scott; Ford, Waqalevu, Birch, Callum Slack; Mackie, Clark; Hempstead, Tomlinson, Chapple, Duncan, Webster, Coen, Crosby, Garland.

Subs: Dunning, Hubbard, Usher.

Tries: Crosby, Usher (3), Scott.

Conversions: Scott (4).