NEWARK WENT OUT TO PLAY AN ATTACKING GAME

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday March 20

Midlands One East

Some adventurous play helped Newark gain a try bonus point in an entertaining encounter at second-placed Derby who won by eight tries to four.

Three tries from wing Ben Dixon and one by Aloesi Waqalevu earned the bonus point for scoring four tries or more.

However, that positive outcome was overshadowed later by the wins for relegation rivals Market Rasen and Old Laurentians.

Three teams are set to be relegated from Midlands One East and Market Rasen look to be nearing safety in fourth bottom place after a 32-3 win at Ilkeston.

Rasen are now nine points clear of Newark, who are second bottom, while Old Laurentians, one point ahead of Newark, have jumped into third bottom place after a 38-31 win at Paviors.

Newark went out to play an attacking game against Derby and it made for some good rugby from both sides.

Dixon, back at the club from university, gave Newark some midfield punch and his first try cancelled out Derby’s opening effort.

Newark played their best rugby in the opening 20 minutes and should have scored more than Dixon’s try and one from Waqalevu.

Derby built a 22-12 lead but Newark closed the gap again when Dixon finished off another attack to reduce the deficit to 22-17 by half-time.

Newark lost any hope of victory in the opening minutes of the second half when Derby scored three tries in quick succession.

The hectic nature of the game continued into the final quarter and Dixon completed more good play by the visitors for his third try.

And Newark should have grabbed a fifth only for Jed Chapple to be tackled in stretching for the line after good linking play by Waqalevu and Dixon.

Newark have an Easter break next weekend before resuming league games on Saturday, April 2 at home to Huntingdon, kick off 3pm.

Team v Derby:

Scott; Waqalevu, Birch, Spurr, Dixon; Mackie, Clark (capt); Dunning, Jed Chapple, Hempstead, Webster, Duncan, Fotheringham, Crosby, Hubbard.

Subs: Tomlinson, Cove, Max Chapple.

Tries: Dixon (3), Waqalevu.

Conversion: Mackie.