Newark challenge disintegrated

Newark RUFC

RFU Intermediate Cup second round (Midlands section)

Peterborough Lions 39 Newark 15

A poor second-half performance put paid to Newark’s hopes of progressing in the Intermediate Cup.

The Lions scored four tries in the final 30 minutes to run out easy winners after Newark had looked set to make a contest of the second-round tie.

When Buddha Waqalevu raced over for Newark’s second try two minutes after the interval, the Peterborough team led 15-10.

But the expected Newark challenge disintegrated as the Lions opened up the visiting defence on four occasions.

Newark did grab a score from captain Chris Tate after the Lions’ first two tries in the second half but the home team responded again to finish on top.

Earlier, Newark had scored first in the second minute when Matt Cox landed a penalty goal. However, from the 15th minute the Lions led when they recorded their first try in a half which saw Newark enjoying good spells of pressure.

Newark were not helped by having to field a team showing seven changes from the previous week’s win at Market Bosworth.

Former captain Ed Collishaw made his first appearance of the season in a re-jigged backline that featured Cox at centre and Toby Edlin on the left wing.

The absence of scrum-half Matt Clark brought a change at halfback in Danny Coen moving to No 9 to allow Mark Miller to start at fly half.

In the pack, James Price came into the back row while in the front row Ian Tomlinson was at hooker and Shaun Mat at prop.

Newark used all three substitutes. Lock Mark Staines played a full 70 minutes after Richard Primett sustained a hand injury. Prop Dunc Dawson and wing Tom Bridges were also called upon in the second half.

Next Saturday the 1st XV return to league action at home to Oakham, kick off 3pm.

Team: Tate (capt); Waqalevu, Cox, Collishaw, Edlin; Miller, D Coen; J Barnsdale, Tomlinson, May, Primett, Evans, Price, L Cove, Webster. Subs: Dawson, Staines, Bridges.
Tries: Waqalevu, Tate. Conversion: Cox. Penalty: Cox.
Sin bins: Edlin & Webster.

Rob Wildman