Pacy backs continue upward climb for first team

Four first-half tries put Newark on course for victory in another confident show of attacking rugby at Kelham Road.

A week on from pushing league leaders Long Eaton close, Newark continued their improved form by overpowering Sutton Coldfield to win by five tries to four.

A minute’s silence was held before the start in honour of life member John Harris who died last week at the age of 92.

John played a big part at Kelham Road and was one of the key figures in helping to develop the old clubhouse in the 1950s and 60s.

Newark led 22-10 at half-time which gave them a cushion to withstand a tighter second half where the visitors came back to grab losing bonus points.

Top marks in another good team display went to the finishing of the backline to give the home crowd good entertainment.

Wings Josh Ashe and Scott Edmed continued their scoring streak by providing three alongside one each centre Matt Walton and scrum-half James Tarbatt.

Tarbatt started the scoring in the 12th minute by pouncing at a ruck to surprise the Sutton Coldfield defence on their line.

It heralded a loose first half which brought five more tries in a giddy 40 minutes. Sutton Coldfield responded to that first try by scoring two in close succession down the right flank.

Newark regrouped to dominate the rest of the half in some confident attacks. A sweet pass, flicked behind his back, from fly half Potene Rolls-Paewai, released Edmed on the left in a move which ended a try for Walton.

The attacking edge was maintained in the closing minutes of the half as well. Full-back Alex Scott burst clear to start an interchange between Edmed and Ashe which ended in a try for the latter.

And to finish the half Edmed burst clear from inside his own half, following a breakdown of a visiting attack, to race in for Newark’s fourth try.

The second half was far more stodgy as Sutton Coldfield held a territorial advantage to grab a third try mid-way through the half.

At 22-17 up, Newark were in danger of allowing the lead to slip and needed Ashe’s second try to keep them clear of a visiting team who scored a fourth from a further period of pressure.

Newark copied these methods in the closing stages when prop Josh White was held up over the line.

White’s bustling play was one feature of a pack which stood up to bigger opponents despite a first-half injury for hooker Jamie Vinters.

The home pack were also backed up by substitutes in Haydn Godfrey, Ollie Dodders and Sam Dobson who was back in his forceful style after missing the Long Eaton match.

Overall, it was an encouraging afternoon for the Newark team who are now seventh in the table having posted four wins so far this season.

Newark Team: Scott; Ashe, Britten, Walton, Edmed; Rolls-Paewai, Tarbatt; White, Vinters, Murray, Ellison, Duggan, O’Leary, Denning, Brogden.
Subs: Godfrey, Dudders, Dobson.
Tries: Tarbatt, Walton, Ashe (2), Edmed.
Conversion: Scott.