A strong start brought Newark plenty of pressure but!

Midlands One East
Peterborough 25 Newark 8

Newark missed an early chance at Peterborough and never regained the initiative to lose their first game in Midlands One East this season following wins over Kettering and Spalding.

A strong start brought Newark plenty of pressure but they missed out on a try when wing Alosei Waqalevu injured a hamstring in dashing for the score.

Waqalevu had to be replaced and Newark’s injury problems continued later in the game when prop Darren Gray hurt an elbow.

The injuries added to Newark having to field a team showing six changes from the one who beat Spalding the previous week. Among those called up were two youth players in centre Jack Badley and prop Devan Priestly.

After Newark’s bright start, Peterborough quickly responded and scored the first try of the game in the 10th minute.

Peterborough added the conversion and two more penalties for a lead of 13-0 after 26 minutes.
Newark did finish the half on top and were disappointed not to gain an opening try just before half-time when the referee ruled that a driving maul had been held up over the Peterborough line.

Centre Mark Byrom eventually put Newark on the scoreboard four minutes into the second. But the good work was overturned by the concession of another Peterborough score immediately afterwards.

Peterborough made certain of victory in the 54th minute through a fourth try. Newark’s final points came from a Matt Cox penalty but the late pressure could not bring a further try.

Newark host Market Bosworth in the league next Saturday at Kelham Road, kick off 3pm.

Team: Tate; Waqalevu, Byrom, Badley, Britten; Cox, M Clark; Gray, Barnsdale, Priestly, Evans, Primett, N Clark, Fotheringham, May.

Subs: Staines, Bridges, Tomlinson.
Try: Byrom.
Penalty: Cox.

Rob Wildman