Sharpness proved crucial in the second half

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday, Nov 2

Midlands One East

Spalding 26 Newark 53

Newark made it two wins on the bounce by outpacing Spalding in the second half of a high-scoring league encounter.

Three tries from Will Britten fired Newark to another win following the success over Paviors last week.

Newark won by nine tries to five and made sure of victory after the interval by overturning a half-time deficit of 19-12. Fly half Chris Tate kicked four conversions
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A good win was made more memorable by some outstanding tries especially in the second half when some top-notch handling brought a score for full-back Mark Byrom after most of the team had handled in a build-up starting in their own 22.

Newark have gained confidence in recent weeks by the inclusion of a new centre pairing in James Challenger and Dan Ireland.
This pair again proved dangerous throughout giving Britten, back from university, the chance to show his pace outwide.

The win keeps Newark third from bottom but still amid a group of seven teams within five points of each other.

Newark started well though that did not stop them conceding three soft tries to Spalding in the first half giving the home team a 19-12 lead at the break.

After Spalding had opened the scoring from an interception, Newark levelled through the first of Britten’s tries, the wing breaking clear through a thicket of opponents.

Spalding struck twice when Newark had flanker Freddie Tatham sin binned to notch up a 19-7 lead.
But a second try from Britten, made by good passing from Tate and Challenger, showed the potential of Newark’s attack.

That sharpness proved crucial in the second half when, despite the loss of lock Adam Downing to the bin, Newark scored six tries without reply to take hold of the match.

Ireland burst clear off an interception to be followed by James Price taking charge at a tapped penalty to bundle his way over.
Newark maintained the pressure and Challenger finished off next to be followed by the best score of the match when some 12 pairs of hands helped Byrom mark his comeback match in a five-pointer.

Those tries put Newark 36-19 ahead and two more – from wing Ben Dixon and lock Rory Williams – hammered home Newark’s ascendency.

Though Spalding grabbed a consolation, Britten had the last word by scoring his third to end a good afternoon for Newark.

Next up for Newark is a home tie against Mansfield next Saturday in the Notts, Lincs & Derbys Cup.

The second team are also set to host Mansfield in the Ron Rossin Shield.

Scores: 0-7 Spalding try & con, 7-7 Britten try & Tate con, 7-12 Spalding try, 7-19 Spalding try & con, 12-19 Britten try, half-time. 19-19 Ireland try & con, 24-19 Price try, 31-19 Challenger try & Tate con, 36-19 Byrom try, 41-19 Dixon try, 48-19 Williams try & Tate con, 48-26 Spalding try & con, 53-26 Britten try.

Team: Mark Byrom; Britten, Ireland, Challenger, Dixon; Tate, Clark; Dunning, Tomlinson, Price, Downing, Williams, Tatham, Bartsch, Webster.

Subs: Barnsdale, Fotheringham, Galinski.

Tries: Britten (3), Williams, Dixon, Byrom, Challenger, Price, Ireland.

Conversions: Tate (4).

Sin bins: Tatham, Downing.

Rob Wildman