Great day for club capped by Max Spurr’s try…

It also helped Newark maintain an unbeaten start to the league season which puts them top of the table, a point ahead of Melbourne and Market Rasen.

Spurr started at flanker, but an early injury to scrum-half Billy Charles meant he was quickly moved to the wing where his pace earned him a crucial try early in the second half.

Charles’ departure forced a reshuffle all round with Jaymie Duncan coming off the bench to shore up the pack and full-back Robbie Hunter-Shaw moving to scrum-half.

Spurr’s break and finish thrilled the good crowd and put Newark 18-0 up and well en-route to a third victory of the season.

Newark’s early reshuffle when Charles injured an ankle continued a pre-match build-up of changes including a recall for wing Aloesi Waqalevu and a place on the bench for Tom O’Leary.

Waqalevu, who moved to centre when Charles was injured, had little opportunity in a match where Newark always held the upper hand through an early for No 8 Dave Garland.

Two penalty goals from Cox kept building Newark’s lead before Spurr took off just after the break to put Newark in control.

Cox converted and added a third penalty goal to put Newark 21-0 up before Ilkeston fought back to score two tries as the home team faded.

Newark also finished a man short, wing Josh Watts sent off for a dangerous tackle.

It was a tough decision on the wing and Ilkeston almost took advantage. Their second try came in the final minute and a successful conversion would have brought a losing bonus point but the kick went wide.

Team v Ilkeston: Hunter-Shaw; Watts, Britten (capt), Birch, Waqalevu; Cox, Charles; Coulam, Bartsch, Hempstead, Ellison, Matthysz, Brogden, Spurr, Garland.

Subs: Duncan, Williams, O’Leary.

Tries: Garland, Spurr.

Conversion: Cox.

Penalty goals: Cox (3).

Max Spurr - our try scoring hero awarded the Skinny Brands Newark man-of-the-match presented by Tony Rose of NEWARK STORAGE who were match sponsors.