NEWARK TOOK CHARGE

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday Feb 20

Midlands One East

Newark grabbed a much-needed tonic by toppling Paviors in another tight contest between the Nottinghamshire rivals.

A dramatic injury-time try and conversion gave Newark a fifth win of the campaign and follows last season’s league game at Kelham Road which ended in a 33-32 home win.

After the trauma of a disastrous defeat at bottom-placed Old Laurentians last week, Newark delivered a sustained performance to give Matt Clark’s team hope they may yet avoid relegation.

The match-winners were Alex Scott, an assured full-back, who landed three penalty goals and a conversion following a try by bustling centre Kent Birch from the final move.

Paviors looked to be the likely winners at half-time having built a 14-3 lead but Newark rallied in the final 20 minutes led by the never-say-die backrowers Dave Garland and Tom Coen.

The pressure brought errors from Paviors and Scott landed two penalty goals to give Newark at least a losing bonus point.
However, Newark maintained the momentum, despite missing out on one chance to put a penalty into the corner.

Another attack, this time led by Alosei Waqalevu, gained another opening and from a tap penalty move Birch slithered over on the left side.

Scott then demonstrated he was the coolest player on the park by landing the conversion to trigger jubilant home celebrations.

Scott had started the match by giving Newark an early lead through the first of his penalty goals before Paviors bossed the rest of the half, scoring two tries and believing they should have had a third.

Paviors kept pressing at the start of the second half and thought they had scored a further try only for the referee to blow up for an earlier infringement.
It proved to be a decisive call because Newark took charge after that and never allowed Paviors another chance.

Newark started to win crucial line-out ball and brought wings Connor Slack and Ben Usher more into the action.
A succession of penalties from Paviors, including one sin bin offence, built the pressure which Newark capitalised on.

Victory keeps Newark in the mix to yet avoid relegation from Midlands One East. Three teams are set to be demoted and the struggle has become a four-way fight between bottom-placed Old Laurentians, Matlock, Newark and Market Rasen.

This win lifts Newark into 12th place but Rasen are four points clear in 11th place after defeating Bugbrooke 30-10.

Newark head for leaders Bedford Athletic next Saturday (Feb 27), followed by a home game against Bugbrooke (Saturday March 5).

Team: Scott; Usher, Jordan Slack, Birch, Connor Slack; Mackie, Clark (capt); Dunning, Tomlinson, Chapple, Price, Webster, Hubbard, Coen, Garland.

Subs: Hempstead, Duncan, Waqalevu.

Try: Birch.

Conversion: Scott.

Penalty goals: Scott (3).