AN ENTERTAINING GAME AT HUNTINGDON.

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday, April 19

Midlands One East

Huntingdon 31 Newark 24

Newark produced another good display to finish league season by gaining two bonus points from an entertaining game at Huntingdon.
The hosts surged clear at the start of the second half but Newark rallied to claim a fourth try which brought a try bonus point and another point for losing by seven or fewer points.

Newark finish the league season in 11th position – outside the relegation places – seven points clear of 12th-placed Mansfield who lost 97-7 at Kettering.

Injuries to Aloesi Waqalevu and Freddie Tatham meant Newark went into the match having to make two changes to the starting team which played well in losing 31-29 last week at home to Derby.

Matt Brewer, who scored two tries in the first half, came in at centre for Waqalevu while Jon Webster started in the pack for Tatham.

Newark, having enjoyed the best of a strong wind in the first half, needed a bigger lead than 17-10 at the break to withstand Huntingdon after the interval.

An early try from Brewer, finishing off some good attacking play led by Mark Byrom and Lewis Cove, put Newark in charge on a hard, fast surface.
Huntingdon quickly replied only for Newark to respond through Brewer again, following a break by Ben Usher, for a try which Cox converted.

A typical try by Usher followed afterwards, the wing wriggling clear on the left to put Newark 17-7 up.

That looked to be the half-time score only for Huntingdon to grab a penalty off the last kick of the half.

Huntingdon continued on the attack after the break and their dominance of the opening 20 minutes settled the contest. The home team scored three tries from some good play helped also by very shaky visiting defence.

To the credit of Newark, now 17-31 down, they had the better of the final quarter and gained a deserved fourth try when Rory Williams raced clear from halfway. Cox converted.

Fittingly, it was Williams, one of Newark’s most consistent players in a tough season, scored the try to bring the curtain down on the campaign.

Newark’s final action of the season comes next Sunday when the 2nds and 4ths are involved in Notts Cup finals at Kelham Road.

The 4ths face East Retford (kick off 12.15) in the Junior Shield while the 2nds (4pm ko) take on Paviors in the Ron Rossin Shield.

These finals, organised by Notts RFU, are all pay. Entrance is £3 per person including programme, under-16s free.

Team v Huntingdon: Mark Byrom; Britten, Brewer, Tate, Usher; Cox, Matt Clark (capt); Dunning, Chapple, Barnsdale, Primett, Webster, Williams, Lewis Cove, Hubbard. Subs: Tomlinson, Neil Clark, Mackie.

Tries: Brewer (2), Usher, Williams.

Conversions: Cox (2).

Scoring sequence (Newark first): 5-0, 5-7, 10-7, 17-7, 17-10 (half-time), 17-17, 17-24, 17-31, 24-31.

Rob Wildman