Derby Day Clash of Fierce Rivals. Report By Mike Fagan

The day was a typical November day for rugby dark, swirling wind and dismal. The heavy pitch would not really suit a fast open game. Derby had organised a well drilled side which confirmed the seriousness with which they approached the game.
Playing with the wind in the first half, Newark started solidly but did not impose themselves early in the game in the way it would have been liked having to soak up early pressure from Derby. Fortunately on quarter of an hour a Derby infringement at the breakdown gave Newark a penalty, slightly right from the Derby 10 metre line. Assisted by the wind Robin Burton Wareing stepped up and easily gave Newark 3 points from an easy looking kick. This seemed to ignite the Derby side who reposted 10 minutes later with a well worked try scored by the left wing. Newark failed to pick up a player coming into the line executed a well worked 2 on 1 into the corner which was converted. Appreciating the contest Newark looked to play the game in parts of the pitch which would place the Derby side under pressure and from more than one well earned penalties found themselves in a good position in the Derby 22 and decided to kick into the corner. The lineout could not have been better. Deciding to use the middle Mark Staines helped to set up a driving maul which resulted in Duncan Coote scoring a well worked forwards try which was also converted by Robin making the score 10 points to 7 to Newark. This is how it remained until despite Derby missing a difficult penalty on the stroke of half time.
Newark knew it would be a hard task to keep the score in their favour at full time against a wind which appeared to even increase slightly after half time. Several good tactical kicks pinned Newark Back in their 22 and they found themselves having to play back into the Derby half too often. Little errors punished Newark and they found it increasingly difficult to unleash the wings and play in areas of the pitch from which it would be possible to launch a final assault. It was good to see Jamie Sizer back in Newark colours and added a little more tempo to the game after half time with a clever use of tap penalties. When the Newark team played with tempo and worked offloads they looked dangerous and made the well structured Derby side uncomfortable. After equalling the score from a penalty the second Derby try came from a midfield scrum about half way. Deciding to attack the large blindside, with the Newark 9 on the wrong side the Derby 8 picked up offloaded out of the tackle leaving the 9 and right wing who operated a good 2 on 1 on the Newark left wing to again score in the corner. A good conversion made the score 17-10 to Derby. Although Robin Burton Wareing scored a well converted penalty to close the score once more, Newark rarely threatened and the aim was rapidly becoming not to allow Derby to get more than 7 points ahead in order to make sure a well earned bonus point was possible. Although Derby converted a final penalty to make the score 20-13, Newark should be congratulated for the way they did not let the Derby side make further use of the wind. The Captain Mark Staines congratulated the side at the end for the way the Newark side had “manned up” and played for each other.
Both sides should be congratulated for the way in which the game was played with the second converted try for Derby being the difference between the teams. Newark can feel proud of the way in which they kept in the game which could really have gone either way at half time. Perhaps the game had really been won last Thursday night because if Newark had used their combinations better and not suffered last minute “call ups” to the first team then it was a game which could have been won. This now sets up a good game at Newark in February and with Derby side gaining 3 points from this fixture to Newark’s 2 points.

Team: Tom O’Leary , James Stark, Robin Burton Waring, David Fagan, Saini Rogi, Mark Miller, Rhys Overland, Duncan Coote, Matt Cove, Harry Pick, Mark Staines (Captain), Ben McCarthy, Tom Gilchrist, Aaran Riley, George Seabrooke, Gareth Bartch, David Fothringham, Sizer.