NEWARK DOMINATED THE LAST 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE BREAK

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday, April 11

Midlands One East

Newark 29 Derby 30

A big crowd at Kelham Road helped inspire the Newark team to play some of their best rugby this season.

Though Derby edged victory in the final minutes, Newark played a big part in an excellent game to gain two valuable bonus points for scoring five tries and losing by fewer than seven points.

The two bonus points should help to keep Newark above the relegation zone in Midlands One East with one game to play, next Saturday at Huntingdon and District.

Newark, who are fourth bottom, are five points clear of Mansfield in 12th position and need one point at Huntingdon to be certain of maintaining 11th place.

This was Newark’s first match for 10 days following the Easter break and the team included a return of Ben Usher, the England Counties Under-18s wing, while Matt Cox continued at fly half after appearing in the Notts Cup defeat at West Bridgford.

Both Usher and Cox played key roles. They both scored crucial tries in the second half to give Newark hope of earning a much-needed win.

Derby had looked set for a comfortable win when leading 15-0 after the first quarter thanks to two tries, a conversion and penalty.

But Newark, helped by Matt Clark racing away for their first try from an interception, dominated the last 10 minutes before the break when they played some excellent rugby.
Usher finished off one move which came after an extended attack based around some good phase play and the running power of Lewis Cove, Mark Byrom and Aloesi Waqalevu.

Cox converted the first try by Clark to help reduce Derby’s lead at the interval to only 15-12. Newark continued on the attack after the break when the windy conditions were in their favour.

The pressure paid off because Cox burst clear from near halfway to score an excellent individual try which put the home team 17-15 up.

Derby’s forward strength took over for a short while and a penalty plus two tries restored the lead for the visitors at 27-17.
However, Newark were not down and out. They produced more attacking rugby which enabled Usher to break free on the left and for Mark Byrom to finish off another break which Cox converted the to put the home team 29-27 up.

In between the attacks, Newark had to defend heroically but both Cox and John Webster, a second-half replacement, were sin binned leaving the home team down to 13 men.

Derby took advantage and another forward drive brought a late penalty which was kicked to give the visitors a 30-29 win.

Before the match, a minute’s silence was held in memory of life member Tom Grocock and Brian Cooper, the popular ex-player and team official, who have died recently.

Newark team: Mark Byrom; Britten, Waqalevu, Tate, Usher; Cox, Clark (capt); Barnsdale, Chapple, Dunning, Williams, Primett, Tatham, Cove, Hubbard.

Subs: Tomlinson, Webster, Dixon.

Tries: Clark, Usher (2), Cox, Byrom. Conversion: Cox (2).

Sin bins: Williams, Webster, Cox.

Scoring sequence (Newark first): 0-3, 0-8, 0-15, 7-15, 12-15 (ht), 17-15, 17-20, 17-27, 22-27, 29-27, 29-30.

Rob Wildman