THREE LATE TRIES LIFTED NEWARK

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Midlands One East

Newark 30 Belgrave 17

Three late tries lifted Newark to an important victory over fellow strugglers Belgrave and out of the relegation zone with three games left to play.

Matt Brewer, who had scored in the first half, and one each from Ian Tomlinson and captain Matt Clark, in a comeback cameo, put Newark back in control after Belgrave had levelled at 10-10 midway through the second half.

Clark, who is recovering from a broken thumb sustained in the win over Mansfield in January, came on for the last 30 minutes to guide his team to a win which lifts them into 11th place, four points ahead of third-bottom Mansfield who lost at home to Derby, 50-5.

Three teams are due to be relegated at the end of season.

Newark fielded a much-changed team from the previous league game at Bedford Athletic two weeks’ ago. Will Britten, James Stark, Harry Hinchley were recalled to the backline while up front Joe Tinsley, Jon Webster, Lewis Cove and Daley Edwards were all starters.

Despite all the changes, Newark should still have put the game out of sight by half-time but only had two tries from Brewer and flanker Josh Hubbard to show for the pressure.

Brewer had struck straight from the kick off, sprinting clear after an excellent combination of passes down the blindside inside the first minute.

But Newark were guilty of missing other chances as the half went on, Brewer and No 8 Daley Edwards held up over the line.

Hubbard finished off when Newark’s pressure eventually brought a second try, Aloesi Waqalevu putting the flanker clear on the left.

Belgrave, despite having two players sin binned, recovered from a one-sided first half to grab a try in the first quarter through a push over effort. They also added the conversion and kicked a penalty to draw level at 10-10.

To the credit of Newark they regained their composure to dominate the last 20 minutes. Some good support play, following a counter attack led by Mark Byrom, ended in Brewer choosing a good angle to break the Belgrave line again.
Dan Mackie, a second-half substitute alongside Clark at halfback, added the conversion and later kicked a penalty.

Newark’s crucial fourth try came from another good counter-attack which ended in Waqalevu giving Tomlinson the scoring pass on the right.

Though Belgrave grabbed a second try which was converted, Newark had the last word when Clark finished off after a driving maul from a line-out.

Team: Britten; Stark, Waqalevu, Tate, Brewer; Hinchley, Mark Byrom; Dunning, Tomlinson, Tinsley, Williams, Webster, Hubbard, Lewis Cove, Edwards.

Subs: Barnsdale, Mackie, Matt Clark.

Tries: Brewer (2), Hubbard, Tomlinson, Clark.

Conversion: Mackie.

Penalty goal: Mackie.

Scoring sequence (Newark first): 5-0, 10-0, 10-3, 10-10, half-time, 17-10, 22-10, 25-10, 25-17, 30-17.

Rob Wildman

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