An exciting finish saw Matlock steal a win

Midlands One East

Newark 18 Matlock 24

Newark lost out in an exciting finale in their latest league game at Kelham Road eventually going down to Matlock by four tries to three.

An exciting finish saw Matlock steal a win thanks to a late try after Newark went into the final minutes only 19-18 down.

Matlock struck for the crucial score after Newark had missed out on a potential try-scoring breakaway which could have brought a winning score.

Instead, Matlock finished on top and struck for their fourth try to deny a valiant Newark effort even a losing bonus point from a competitive performance.

Newark had started really well and looked set for profitable afternoon in the fourth minute. A cutting break ended in Johnny Statham, appearing at centre, finishing off to chalk up a 5-0 lead.
Matlock, however, quickly struck back to gain a converted try in the 11th minute followed by a second seven-pointer six minutes later.

That put the visitors 14-5 ahead only for Newark to keep in the contest via a catch and drive move which brought a try for No 8 James Price.
Newark looked to be back in the game at 14-10 down only to concede a third try just before the interval.

Matlock continued the pressure straight after the break but the sustained play did not bring any more points and ended in Newark fighting back to register a third try themselves, this time when fly half Matt Cox led a break-out to touchdown himself.

When Cox kicked a penalty in the 60th-minute it left Newark only a point behind and looking confidently to gain at least a point from the match.
But the home team failed to finish off another attack which should have brought a try and then conceded Matlock’s fourth try in the late stages.

Scoring sequence: 4 mins, 5-0: Newark, Statham try; 11 mins, 5-7 Matlock try & con; 17 mins, 5-14 try & con; 30 mins: 10-14: Newark, Price try; 39 mins: 10-19 Matlock try; 54 mins: 15-19, Newark Cox try; 60 mins: 18-19: Newark, Cox pen; 78 mins: 18-26 Matlock try & con.

Team: Mark Byrom; Tate, Statham, Collishaw, Badley; Cox, Matt Clark; Tinsley, Tomlinson, Shiels, Evans, Primett, May, Neil Clark, Price.

Subs: Barnsdale, Chapple, Edlin.

Tries: Statham, Price, Cox.

Penalty goal: Cox.

Rob Wildman