Hat-Trick of Tries....... by Front Row, consign Ashbourne’s early lead to a fleeting memory, behind a further 5 tries conjured up by Newark’s willing warriors.

Ashbourne surprised Newark with a well taken opportunity to score under the posts after only 3 minutes play, yet again Newark were caught napping but it only took a further 4 minutes to reply after forcing a 5 meter scrum they won clean quick ball that was delivered to the backs and inside centre Bradley Eames scored just outside the uprights. Robin Burton Waring converted the first of his kicks to pull the scores level.
Two minutes later several Ashbourne players were left in disaray as wing three quarter Rogi battered his way into their 22, momentarily halted by 3 defenders, Rogi released the ball to Richard Byrom in support who fed rampaging Freddie Tatham who rushed on, before putting the ball into the path of Captain AJ’s grateful hands. The prop switched on the speed and power developed through his regular hard training, to steam in a couple of meters to the side of the opposition posts. Robin BW added the extras and Newark take control 7-14.
Rhys Overland at 9, proving to be a handful with his sniping runs and pressure on the opposing scrum half, spots a gap and makes a speedy break, linking with James Stark on the wing. Stark, steps inside and cuts a fast 20 meter diagonal run towards the opposition line before offloading to Will Naylor in support, brushing off 2 defenders, he powers in under the posts. Robin BW adds his third conversion taking the score to 7-21, after 20 minutes of blistering play.
Ashbourne rallied after this score and threaten strongly in Newark’s 22 with several attacks held up on the line by fine defence. A good clearance kick by Mark Miller after an Ashbourne transgression, put Newark back on the attack with a line-out deep in Ashbourne’s 22. A javelin like throw to the back of the line by Matt Cove, caught by Naylor at full stretch, and delivered downwards onto the peeling Duncan Coote who took the ball at speed to pierce and outstrip the Ashbourne defence, (yes, another speedy front row player showing what hard training can achieve), grounding his special try, taken straight off the training ground. Robin BW claimed another 2 points and the score is taken to 7-28 after 27 minutes.
Instead of crumbling, Ashbourne restarted strongly and with aggression, a trait they had not lacked throughout the game, only Newark had matched this with a will to win, respect for their team mates, a desire to compete and to work hard throughout the game, more so than any other game this season.
Hard tackles, abrasive rucks and mauls were leaving an impression on many players, primarily Ashbourne, but after 30 minutes of play Physio Charlotte was called into play to tend the “rude” contusion suffered by Bradley Eames that led to him being replaced by Ted Bunn. (He was a bit “knackered”) But it was Ashbourne who were frustrated and angry and they resorted to spoiling the play and after a set of fierce encounters the referee decided to settle the game down. It was the unfortunate James Price who, having played his best 34 minutes of the season with good discipline, controlled aggression and selfless running and carries, who was dismissed for ten minutes after a very questionable application of the rules. However, Price and the other astonished Newark forwards kept their tongues and defended the resulting penalty well.
Unfortunately, as they were playing out of their own half, the backs miss timed a pass which was intercepted and with “no one at home” at full back, the Ashbourne Centre ran in unopposed under the posts for their second try of the afternoon. The conversion was a formality.
Half time score 14 – 28
The second half carried on where it left off with Newark unable to take the game back into their control. Price returned to the fray and O’Leary was introduced at 55 minutes as a straight replacement for Stark on the wing. Ashbourne continued to scrap and spoil but then, a now familiar blast of Fijian power from Rogi, ploughed a furrow deep into the Ashbourne half, Price wrestled the ball from the ensuing maul and drove into the massing defence, pushing them back whilst support arrived to secure the ball for a quick delivery that found Matt Cove in the line, he delivered a perfectly timed pass to Bunn on his shoulder who sprinted the final 15 meters to score to the left of the uprights. Robin BW converted.
With 18 minutes left to play Newark were back in control at 14-35. The forwards started to stamp their authority on the game and a few minutes later a forward stack and drive saw James Price score a well deserved try in the corner. The conversion failed. 14-40.
Instead of mentally shuffling off as has occurred in previous games, Newark stepped up the pressure and Saini “Rogi” Mocevaka sealed another fine rampaging personal display by scoring the seventh Newark try.
Bradley Eames returned to the field at full back and the days try fest was completed following a Miller clearance kick, chased by Robin BW who tackled the retrieving defender into touch close to Ashbourne’s line. A clean catch, stack and drive saw Matt Cove ground the ball in another score for a front row forward with a text book training ground try. Three tries for the front row, 8 for Newark and a 14 – 50 away victory. No quarter given, no prisoners taken!
100 percent record intact with an away trip to Derby to come. That encounter will be keenly fought by a Derby team that are a far more formidable force than their shire neighbours. Newark will need to up their game and play to all their strengths with courage, discipline and solid team play to ensure we maintain our momentum and not just earn respect but strike fear into the hearts of our remaining Pennant opponents.
Young blood, such as Tom Gilchrist, woken up to be told he was to get to the bus within 40 minutes to play out of position at flanker, and battling old faithful work horses such as Mark Staines, who is side stepping opposition centres, combined with their team mates to show what this squad can do.
We have not fielded the same team once this season, yet we have proved that when we are awake, aware and adopt the right attitude we have the players with the skill, power and determination to play devastating rugby when we put it all together and play for each other.

Team
Coote, Cove, Jackson (Captain), Staines, Tatham, Gilchrist, Naylor, Price, Overland, Miller, Stark, Eames, Burton Waring, Rogi, Byrom, Bunn, O’Leary