NEWARK’S BEST PLAY CAME AT THE START OF THE SECOND HALF

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday Jan 23

Midlands One East

Newbold 61 Newark 0

Newark’s first trip to Newbold-on-Avon for a league game proved to be difficult.

An injury-hit team struggled after an early penalty could have given the visitors the lead.
However, the kick was missed and once Newbold got hold of the game the first of nine tries started a one-sided game.

Newark had started without captain Matt Clark, who has a shoulder injury, and lost both centres in Kent Birch and Luke Tupholme in the days leading up to the game.

A reshuffled backline included a first chance at fly half for the competent Jordan Slack while Dan Mackie moved to scrum-half to cover for Clark.

Pat Ford and Max Spurr formed a new centre partnership with Connor Slack and Joe Green on the wings.

Newark paid dearly for a poor start and were 19-0 down within 15 minutes. They briefly rallied and held their own only to concede two more tries to be 33-0 down at half-time.

Newark’s best play came at the start of the second half yet could not force a score. Newbold dominated the final quarter to compete a very easy win.

The league season continues next Saturday (Jan 30) when Newark host Northampton Old Scouts at Kelham Road, kick off 2.15pm.

Team: Scott; Connor Slack, Spurr, Ford, Green; Jordan Slack, Mackie; Chapple, Tomlinson, Dunning, Webster, Fotheringham, Duncan, Coen, Hubbard.

Subs: Priestley, Cove, Byrom.