A muddy pitch and wet conditions did not help a Newark team who like best to play on a good surface.

Matlock finished winners by four tries to one, Robbie Hunter-Shaw grabbing Newark’s score in the final minutes.

Newark fielded a team showing three changes from the win over Loughborough, fly half Alex Scott, lock Ash Bagga and flanker Arran Riley coming in for the unavailable Matt Clark, Mikey Boyd and Max Spurr.

Newark put up a brave performance and never gave up led by match-day captain Dave Shiels at prop.

However, Newark needed more from a first half in which they held the upper hand for good periods producing chances created by the running of Will Britten and Kent Birch.

Matlock scored the only try of the half after seizing on a Newark line-out throw to score outwide on the right after the home cover struggled to control a kick ahead.

Newark started well after the interval and a penalty from Scott cut the deficit to 3-5 in Matlock’s favour.

Matlock settled the contest in the next 20 minutes when they grabbed the initiative to score twice.

Newark continued to attempt to play from deep positions but never built the same pressure as the first half.

Matlock scored a fourth, once more putting together some good handling in the conditions, while Newark pounced late on when Hunter-Shaw finished off on the right after some good forward pressure.

Newark dropped down one place in the League to 4th, with Matlock one point above them behind second-placed Dronfield, who beat bottom-placed Bakewell, 66-0, and leaders West Bridgford whose home match against Coalville was postponed.

Newark travel to Bakewell next Saturday (Feb 10) for the league game first postponed in December. The next home game is against Bridgford on Feb 17, kick off 2.15pm.

Team v Matlock: Britten; Hunter-Shaw, Waqalevu, Birch, Tweedie; Scott, Charles; Shiels (capt), Jed Chapple, Hempstead, Ellison, Poulson, Riley, Bagga, Coulam.

Subs: Matthysz, Max Chapple, Fotheringham.

Try: Hunter-Shaw.

Penalty goal: Scott.

Notts Cup

Please note that we have a further home game on Saturday 24 February when we host Paviors in the Notts Cup.

This match has been confirmed unless there are further league postponements. The kick off is set for 2pm to cater for extra-time and a 4.45pm ko for England -Scotland.