Saturday April 1 2023

Newark 26 Peterborough 33

Newark produced their trademark fizz and pace a bit too late to pip a strong Peterborough team in the first round of the RFU knock-out competition.

Two tries late on from substitute flanker Alex Tuscher cut Peterborough’s lead to make for a tense finish to a good contest.

The speedy Tuscher, back from university in Leeds, finished off twice to go alongside earlier tries from captain Will Britten and wing Scott Edmed. Alex O’Dell kicked three conversions.

Peterborough proved too powerful upfront and took an early lead through two tries for a 14-0 advantage.

That scoreline looked to be the half-time mark until Newark struck in the final moments, fly half Potene Rolls-Paewai skifully working Britten through a narrow gap for a much-needed score.

Peterborough started the second half on the attack and looked set for a third try only for a cover tackle from full-back Alex Scott to stop the break.

The visitors finally broke through in the 50th minute for a 19-5 lead. It prompted a Newark revival and a speedy counter-attacked engineered a try down the right which ended in a try for Edmed, the wing collecting Matt Walton’s pass. O’Dell added the conversion.

Peterborough used their forward power to gain a fourth try which put them well clear at 26-12.

Newark finished the match trying to pin back the deficit and Tuscher dashed clear twice in between a further try from Peterborough.

Team: Scott; Walton, Britten (capt), Hepi, Edmed; Junior, O’Dell; Godfrey, Vinters, Chapple, Ellison, Hales, Dodders, O’Leary, Dobson.
Subs: White, Seage, Tuscher.
Tries: Britten, Edmed, Tuscher (2).
Conversions: O’Dell (3).