Newark could not sustain an excellent start

Newark could not sustain an excellent start at Loughborough after building a 10-0 lead in this league match.

A reshuffled team included debuts for hooker Mark Allen and substitute Will Clayton while scrum-half Alex O’Dell tool over the captaincy from the unavailable Will Britten.

Newark led despite facing a stiff wind after an early Loughborough attack broke down. Wing Billy Charles at first hacked the ball clear and followed up at a line-out by taking a quick throw.

The mad dash started in O’Dell darting away before the supporting Alex Scott put Charles over under the posts for a converted try and a 7-0 lead.

More Newark pressure forced a penalty which O’Dell converted to make that lead 10-0 before Loughborough had a chance to reply.

The home team eventually replied strongly and exerted huge pressure which brought an unconverted try to give a half-time score of 10-5 to Newark who had the conditions in their favour for the second half.

However, the optimism was short-lived as a Newark clearing kick was charged down and a nicely timed pass put the home side over under the posts for a 12-10 lead.

The home pack were becoming more dominant and scored again from close range following a series of mauls near the Newark line.
With a score of 17-10 Newark were still very much in the game, but the momentum was with the home side.

A come back looked less likely when the influential Sean Denning had to leave the field with what looked like a serious knee injury.

Loughborough extended their lead with another converted try to make it 24-10 but to their credit Newark kept fighting and after good pressure from Jonathan Webster, Rhys Overland went over in the corner to make it 24-15 and the visitors felt there was a chance of a losing bonus point.

That hope was extinguished when captain O’Dell was somewhat harshly given a yellow card when going for an interception.

The home side scored the last try from the ensuing penalty to give a final score of 31-15 and left the visitors nothing to show for their efforts.

Newark team v Loughborough: Hunter-Shaw; Overland, Waqalevu, Taylor, Charles; Scott, O’Dell (capt); Coulam, Allen, Hempstead, Ellison, Woodman, Denning, Dobson, Webster.

Subs Godfrey, Clayton, Booth.

Tries - Charles, Overland.
Conversions: O’Dell.
Penalty goals: O’Dell.

Newark must regroup quickly as they face Paviors in the Notts Cup semi-final on Tuesday evening, kick off 7.45pm, at Burntstump.

Next Saturday they are away again in the league, at Long Eaton, kick off 3pm.