Newark found their best form in the final quarter.

Newark Rugby Club

SSE Midlands One East

Newark 18 Market Rasen 24

Newark grabbed a losing bonus point thanks to a second-half comeback led by tries from scrum-half Matt Clark and captain Chris Tate.

Market Rasen had turned round 17-6 up and a further try, two minutes after the interval, put the visitors 24-6 ahead having also secured them a bonus point for scoring four tries.

Newark found their best form in the final quarter led by Clark touching down after a series of pick and goes.
That score put Newark back into the match and a try by Tate, following a piercing run, and a conversion by Matt Cox closed the gap to six points.

It gave Newark 10 minutes to close the gap further, but despite plenty of possession Rasen held on to avenge a defeat in the first league game between the clubs last October.

Rasen had taken control from the fifth minute when scoring their first try which was converted. By the time Newark responded, the visitors were 12-0 clear having grabbed a second try.

Newark’s first-half points came from two penalty goals by Cox to reduce the deficit to 12-6. But Rasen took control again just before the break to engineer a third try.

The league fixtures continue next Saturday when Newark travel to Ilkeston for a re-arranged game. Kick off 2.15pm. The match was first postponed last month.

Scoring sequence: 5 mins 0-7 Rasen try & conversion, 12 mins 0-12 Rasen try, 20 mins 3-12 Cox pen, 30 mins 6-12 Cox pen, 40 mins 6-17 Rasen try. Ht: 42 mins 6-24 Rasen try, 56 mins 11-24 try Matt Clark, 70 mins 18-24 Tate try, Cox conversion.

Team: Byrom; Tate, Collishaw, Badley, Statham; Cox, Matt Clark; Dunning, Tomlinson, Gray, Evans, Primett, Tatham, Tom Coen, Price.

Subs: Priestley, Neil Clark, Edlin.

Rob Wildman