The loose play was awesome

Newark Rugby
Notts, Lincs & Derbys Cup semi-final
Newark 17 Derby 10

Newark reached their first Three Counties final since 2009 helped by a second-half try from a driving maul off a line-out from 25 metres out.

The long-distance forward move in the 60th minute ended in a second try for flanker Lewis Cove and gave Newark a 17-10 lead over Derby.

A fine performance continued the club’s excellent season which sees the team needing to win at Aylestone St James next Saturday to seal promotion from Midlands Two East North.

Newark are set to meet old rivals Mansfield in the Three Counties Final on Sunday, May 20.

Derby, who lead Midlands One East North by eight points from Paviors, scored first after only five minutes in the tie at Kelham Road.

Newark, however, quickly fought back and a try by Cove which was converted by Matt Cox, following a period of forward pressure in the 15th minute, edged the home team ahead.

A try by wing Will Britten put Newark further ahead in the 35th minute only for Derby to pull back a touchdown just after the interval.

Newark’s winning move proved to be the line-out drive but they still needed to defend well in the closing stages and had two players sin binned in Fred Tatham and Aloesi Waqalevu.

Team: Tate (capt); Statham, Waqalevu, Moore, Britten; Cox, Clark; Jackson, Tomlinson, Gray, Primett, Tatham, Price, L Cove, C Coen.

Subs: Pick, J Barnsdale, Webster, Edlin.

Tries: L Cove (2), Britten.

Cons: Cox.

Sin bin: Tatham, Waqalevu.

Rob Wildman