Newark finished the 1st half by scoring a third try

Newark Rugby Club

Midlands One East

Newark 45 Spalding 10

Newark made an excellent start to their home league fixtures this season sweeping aside Spalding by six tries to one at Kelham Road.

Good running and support, a feature of the unbeaten campaign last season which brought promotion, proved a winning formula.

The win, backing up the success at Kettering last week, leaves Newark unbeaten after two games alongside leaders Ilkeston, Old Northamptonians and Peterborough Lions.

Newark led from the fifth minute when Danny Coen kicked a penalty try. The first try came in the 15th minute thanks to a typical burst of powerful running from centre Alex Moore from a move which started near halfway.

Coen converted Moore’s try and improved Newark’s second try in the 20th minute following Johnny Statham’s coming off his wing to crash through from possession gained at a line-out.

Spalding grabbed their first points via a 23rd-minute penalty before Newark finished the half by scoring a third try this time by captain Chris Tate. Coen converted for a 24-3 half-time lead.

Spalding played their best rugby straight after the interval which earned a try and conversion to cut Newark’s lead to 24-10.

However, the try spurred Newark into action. Some good pick and go play brought a try for Matt Clark in the 60th minute to be followed by further scores from Lewis Cove, in the 68th minute, and substitute Matt Cox who spotted a weak link in the Spalding defence to dart clear.

Cox converted his own try to add to the five kicked by Coen. Newark, used the interchange substitutions to give prop Devan Priestly his first league action.

Newark travel to Peterborough next Saturday for their third league game of the season, kick off 3pm. The second team had no fixture due to cancellations but should resume next Saturday in a home club fixture against Ampthill, kick off 3pm.

Team:
Tate; Statham, Mark Byrom, Moore, Britten; Danny Coen, Matt Clark; May, Barnsdale, Gray, Primett, Evans, Fotheringham, Lewis Cove, Webster.

Subs: Priestly, Neil Clark, Cox.

Tries: Moore, Statham, Tate, Matt Clark, Lewis Cove, Cox.

Conversions: Coen (5), Cox.

Penalty goal: Coen.

Rob Wildman