The team got off to the worst possible start

Newark created plenty of second-half pressure but failed to finish off against their Lincolnshire rivals at Kelham Road.

The only reward in the second half was a penalty try which followed a first-half effort from centre Kent Birch.

Although Newark have tended to start well this season the team got off to the worst possible start when conceding a converted try in the first minute. Rasen added a penalty soon after to give them an early 0-10 lead.

However, from the re-start Jaymie Duncan rose high to take the ball and from the resulting maul the ball was moved right for centre Kent Birch to run in from 30 yards out to put Newark back in the game.

Rasen extended their lead after 20 minutes with another penalty to make it 5-13. Newark dug in and the game opened up but Newark struggled to contain the visitors at the breakdown.

Newark’s run of bad luck with injuries continued when scrum half Sam Booth broke from a central maul and made good ground towards the posts before he was hauled down and landed heavily on his shoulder and that was the end of his game.

Rhys Overland, who had showed up well with his pace from full-back, showed his versatility by moving to scrum-half, winger Guillaume Pauvert switched to full-back and Will Seage, normally a second row, came on to fill the wing position.

With half-time closing in the visitors pretty much closed the game out with a converted try and another try at the beginning of the second half.

So after 41 minutes Newark were 5-25 down. Newark pressed hard but conceded another try when their attack broke down and Rasen hacked through to go over in the corner.

Logan Watt had replaced James Brogden but Brogden’s rest was short lived when Duncan fell heavily and Brogden was back on as Duncan could take no further part.

To their credit Newark pressed hard and put enormous pressure on, but as last week at Loughborough could not seem to make the last couple of yards count to get over the line.

Rasen were defending desperately and were conceding penalty after penalty and picked up two yellow cards in the process.

Newark were rewarded for the pressure with a penalty try to make the score 12-30 but Rasen had the last word when they went over for their 5th try to give a final score of 12-35.

Newark team v Rasen: Overland; Pauvert, Britten, Birch, Spurr; Hunter-Shaw, Booth; Coulam, Himsworth, Appleton, Williams, Ellison, Brogden, Duncan, Garland.

Subs: Wells, Watt, Seage.

Tries: Birch, penalty try.

Next Saturday (Nov 10)

NLD Shield second round match at Spalding, kick off 2.15pm.