Twice Newark led

Written by Rob Wildman

Saturday Oct 15

NLD Cup – 1st rd

Ilkeston 39 Newark 29

Newark 1sts helped put on an entertaining Cup game which yielded 11 tries – the visitors supplying five in a fluctuating encounter.

Twice Newark led in the second half following tries by the centre partnership of Chris Tate and Aloesi Waqalevu.

Waqalevu had also scored in the first half and his second try put Newark in a 29-26 lead. However, Ilkeston finished the stronger landing two penalties and a late try.

Newark paid for a slow start when they conceded two early tries but a break-out – following a turnover by lock Johnny Statham on the away try line – ended in a score at the other end by Billy Charles, who started at scrum-half after making his debut this season on the wing.

Ilkeston led 19-17 at half-time, Waqalevu having scored Newark’s second and new boy Robbie Hunter-Shaw, at full-back, grabbing one as well.

Newark used this Cup tie to look at new personnel, especially in the pack where Dave Garland and Jaymie Duncan returned and there was a welcome back for Akash Bagga following his return from a stint at Scunthorpe. Substitute Jonathan Swift also made a first appearance.

There is a return to league action next Saturday when Newark visit Notts Casuals, kick off 3pm.

Team v Ilkeston: Hunter-Shaw; Dixon, Waqalevu, Tate, Stark; Clark (capt), Charles; Dunning,Tomlinson, Edwards, Boyd, Statham, Duncan, Bagga, Garland.

Subs: Hempstead, Swift, Padgett.

Tries: Charles, Waqalevu (2), Hunter-Shaw, Tate.

Conversions: Hunter-Shaw (2).