NEWARK FOUGHT BACK TO RECORD AN UNLIKELY TRIUMPH

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Newark Rugby Club

Midlands One East – Saturday, Sept 6

Newark 38 Huntingdon 35

A last-gasp try from Newark debutant Ben Usher crowned a memorable comeback against Huntingdon who had led 35-7 early in the second half at Kelham Road.

Newark fought back to record an unlikely triumph thanks to a second-half recovery which saw Huntingdon capitulate due to the home team’s better fitness and the poor discipline of the visitors who had three players sin binned.

Usher, playing in his first league game, raced clear in the final moments after pouncing on a Huntingdon attack which broke down. The full-back ran 60 metres to score his team’s sixth try.

Captain Matt Clark, who had scored two of his team’s six tries, added the conversion to complete the turn-around. Newark’s other tries came from centre Chris Tate, who also scored twice, and back-rower Jon Webster.

Newark marked the first league game of the season by making a dreadful start in which mistakes helped Huntingdon establish a 28-7 lead by half-time.

Huntingdon led 12-0 before Newark woke up to the early calamities thanks to the first of Tate’s two tries. James Offer converted to cut the deficit to 7-14.
However, Newark conceded two more tries in the run to half-time which left Huntingdon 28-7 up.

Despite a stern half-time team talk, Newark continued in the same vein at the start of the second half by immediately conceding a fifth try which increased Huntingdon’s lead to 35-7.

The turn-around started soon after that try when Huntingdon had the first of three players sin binned.
Captain Clark pounced for Newark’s second try following a series of ‘pick and goes’ which proved to be a successful ploy throughout the final 30 minutes.

When Webster crashed over for a further try, which Clark converted, Newark began to chase at least a try scoring bonus point from an unlikely situation.
That landmark was achieved when Tate bustled over for his second try and his team’s fourth which Clark converted.

Newark’s better fitness was now beginning to be a big factor and Clark captured his second try which left the home team 31-35 behind going into the final stages.

However, Newark conceded a penalty which allowed Huntingdon to launch an attack to take play away from their half of the pitch.
Newark looked set for a narrow loss, which would have brought them two bonus points, but Usher had other ideas when he picked up a loose pass near his own 22.

Clark converted to complete a personal haul of 16 points.

To complete a good afternoon for the Clark family, brother Neil, in the back row, played a major part in his first league appearance since last autumn when he tore a bicep.

Besides Usher, Newark also included one other league debutant in hard working lock Adam Downing.

Newark travel to Ilkeston next Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Scoring sequence: 0-7 Huntingdon try & Con, 0-14 Huntingdon try & con, 5-14 Tate try, 7-15 Offer con, 7-21 Huntingdon try & con, 7-28 Huntingdon try and con, half-time. 7-35 Huntingdon try & con, 12-35 Matt Clark try, 19-35 Webster try & Matt Clark con, 26-35 Tate try & Matt Clark con, 31-35 Matt Clark try, 38-35 Usher try & Clark con.

Tries:
Tate (2),
Matt Clark (2),
Webster,
Usher.

Conversions:
Offer,
Matt Clark (3).

Newark team: Usher; Statham, Dixon, Tate, Galinski; Offer, Matt Clark (capt); Priestley, Chapple, Tinsley, Williams, Downing, Tatham, Neil Clark, Curry.

Subs: James Price, Webster, Brewer.

Rob Wildman