Seconds make it FOUR on the bounce

Team L Gillatt J Tinsley D Dawson M Staines D Price J Chappell D Fotheringham N Clarke J Dyson M Brummitt J Hare S Sibilski J Badley T Edlin T Bridges

Replacements J Andrews J Witton M Spurr R Byrom

On a beautiful sunny afternoon in Matlock, Newark arrived keen to avenge their defeat at the end of last season and maintain their run of good form-3 pennant victories on the 'trot'.

Newark started well and after good forward play the ball was moved to the left wing quickly and Joe Hare darted over for the first try. With such a good start and Newark well on top it looked like it was going to be a relatively straight forward afternoon for the blue and whites.
However Matlock had other ideas and soon they started to dominate the set piece and good linking play from their forwards and backs coupled with poor tackling from Newark let Matlock in for 2 scores in rapid succession, the home side were in front 12-5.

However back came Newark and after a good break from Toby Edlin, excellent support from the Newark forwards, the ball was spun wide and a sublime pass from Jack Badley found Joe Hare in space to score his second try (His fifth in 2 games).
Martin Brummitt added the extra points and it was now 12-12.

Newark started to take control again and after constant infringements at the break down by Matlock, a quickly taken penalty by Toby Edlin led to a third try being scored on the stroke of half time

17-12.

Into the second half and the game continued to see-saw, early on Matlock gained the upper hand and scored a try to go 19-17 up, they then added a penalty to make it 22-17.

On came replacements Josh Witton and Max Spurr (first senior game) and good interplay from forwards and backs led to Tommy Bridges scoring and Brummitt added the extra points.

Newark in front 24-22.

Matlock then had a chance to take the lead but a penalty kick hit the post.

Newark then produced the best move of the game, a charging run from Neil Clarke (who had worked tirelessly all afternoon) and an overlap was created to put Toby Edlin in for his second try,

Newark 29 Matlock 22.

With only three minutes left Matlock really applied the pressure but Newarks defence held out for their fourth win on the bounce.

Derby at home next week- a real tester

Richard Byrom