Newark ll's slide to second consecutive defeat away to Ilkeston

Newark started well against a steep slope and confident Ilkeston. Although there was much improvement in terms of tackling, defence and motivation, Newark could not make any penetration in the mid field and the forwards were constantly driven off the ball. We could not make any real impression on their well organised opponents

Playing with the slope, Ilkeston were 18 points to nil ahead after converting two penalties and scoring two tries, the later converted from under the uprights. Newark's task was made harder when our best player, George Seabrook, was carded and missed the last 10 minutes of the half as well as 3 minutes of the second half due to "Mickey Mouse" timing.

Newark worked harder in the second half and they had to weather a significant amount of pressure from a team looking to press home their advantage even though we were playing down the slope. The lack of an experienced fly half did not help the cause as we were unable to put in any terriory winning kicks to force Ilkeston back into their own half. After 72 minutes of play Ilkeston scored their final try and although Newark pressed to put some face saving points on the board, the game ended as a painful loss at 23-0.

Good points. Youngsters; Gilchrist, Seabrook, Strellis (debut), performed very well and Richard Primett was outstanding. Jonno Marshall entered the fray for his first 2nd team apearance and showed some good potential.

Bad Points. After lossing Reece Hodnett to injury last week, Mark Miller injured his knee in the pre match warm up and a hard working Tommy Bridges injured his hand and looks doubtfull for the next couple of games.

We travel to Dinnington for a club game on Saturday. This is an opportunity to improve and get back on the tram lines through good discipline, "doing the dog", and playing for each other. This did not hapen at Burnt Stump and although we improved significantly in comparison at Ilkeston we "can do better!" I have 200 plus photo's of the Paviors game, they are very strange, the Paviours team members are bright, vivid and in your face, Newark players were a mere shadow of themselves!

Team.

AJ, (Capt) Gilchrist, Dunning,
Staines, Fisher, Primett,Naylor, Seabrooke, Bartch, Fothringham,Overland, Marshall,Bridges, Stark, Cormack, Strellis, O'Leary, Byrom