Since then Newark have put together an unbeaten run of eight wins in Midlands Two East North to signal they are on course for a return to the higher league next season.

Newark’s decision to field Aloesi Waqalevu at centre paid off as ‘Buddha’ had one of his best afternoons in a blue and white jersey.

His tackling skills gave a changed Newark team confidence and he capped the display by adding a try in the 45th minute.

Newark had started well through a second-minute try from wing Will Britten who burst clear following a turnover. Fly half Matt Cox added the conversion and a penalty in the 14th minute.

Matlock fought back in the second quarter of the half by scoring two tries to lead 12-10 at the interval.

When Waqalevu struck five minutes into the half followed by Cox’s conversion Newark regained the lead at 17-12.

However, Matlock rallied again to gain a third try and conversion for a 19-17 advantage. That scoreline stood until Cox landed a penalty in the 70th minute before Tate raced clear a minute into injury time.

Cox, somehow, then missed the easiest conversion of the afternoon, but Newark stayed ahead through the closing stages.

Newark fielded a much-changed team to the one that had gained the last league success at Ashbourne the previous week.

Mark Byrom fitted in at scrum-half in the absence of Danny Coen while there was also a new back-row permutation in Will Naylor, Hodnett and James Price at No 8. Outwide, Bradley Eames, a member of the club’s successful under-18s team last season, was on the wing.

Team: Tate; Eames, Waqalevu, Moore, Britten; Cox, Mark Byrom; May, Tomlinson, J Barnsdale, Primett, Evans, Naylor, Hodnett, Price. Subs: Jackson, Tatham, Edlin, Webster.
Tries: Britten, Waqalevu, Tate. Conversions: Cox (2). Penalty goals: Cox (2).

Rob Wildman