This is the second in a series on the various age group teams at the club.
The article first appeared in the match-day programme for the visit of Loughborough on November 6.
These happy lads are among a 30-strong squad who are working towards the Notts, Lincs and Derbys Cup which starts in January.

Having missed out last season because of Covid, they are keen to make up for also failing to ‘finish the job’ when the virus intervened to stop rugby.

Head coach Alan Staines writes:
Our large squad have continued to develop both individually and most importantly as a team throughout the Covid pandemic and into the 2021-22 season.

They made the most of the adapted laws format last season finishing with a successful record of 10 from 10, boasting an impressive record of 490 points with only 95 conceded
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You’ll recognise some familiar faces in no less than seven second-generation Newark players with Reuben, my son, Calum - Rushy, Ted - Danny Coen, Joshi – Buds, Joe – Tim Doubell, Harley – Jamie Matts and Dom – Charlie White.

The boys continue to work extremely hard which has always been reflected in the excellent numbers at training.
With an unprecedented nine players currently on the Tigers DPP Development Player Programme (Ethan Blackmore, Freddie Booth, Ted Coen, Joe Doubell, James Eggerton, Noah Marshall, Harley Matts, Frazer McCory and Mo Ratnage).

The lads benefit from a committed, competent, and balanced coaching and support team led by myself, forwards coach Rushy, guest coaches Danny Coen and Micky Barker supported by Richard Marshall, Vince Corley, Nigel Buck and Jason Harrison.

Ann Gooden is the Team Manager while husband Ian is the match official when needed.

So far this season the squad has an unfamiliar record of 4 wins from 6 games, having lost to a strong West Park Leeds side with a weakened squad and narrowly the wrong side of a 20- 19 hotly contested game away to Derby played on their 4G pitch.

Last Sunday, we hosted our noisy neighbours from Southwell and in truly shocking weather conditions the lads displayed some first- first-class handling to win 58-0.

Before the squad start NLD games in January, they have some challenging opposition in the coming weeks and an opportunity, on December 19, to set the record straight when they host Derby.

One player to watch out for is Elliott Hayward, a recruit from our Local Schools Programme who was awarded best newcomer after scoring 5 tries in his first season and is a force to be reckoned with packing down at prop.

The future’s bright for these young players.