A cracking match

A cracking match saw Newark push league leaders Long Eaton all the way in the best match of the season so far at Kelham Road.

Will Britten’s improving squad had the consolation of two bonus points in giving Long Eaton a big scare.

Newark collected the bonus points by scoring four tries – two each for wings Josh Ashe and Scott Edmed – and for losing by seven or fewer points.

The last time these teams met Long Eaton had won in a canter at 38-7 in the NLD Shield Final. This time Newark’s increasing vigour upfront had the visitors at full stretch in the final stretches on Saturday.

When the visitors shot into a 14-0 lead early on the match looked like following a familiar course of Long Eaton dominance.

This time, however, the tide turned midway into the first half when Newark found their legs in attacking Long Eaton in midfield rather than trying to take them up unduly up front.

Edmed shot clear for the first try after latching onto scrum-half James Tarbatt who had made the initial break.

Tarbatt added the conversion to give home supporters a sense that Long Eaton were not going to have matters all their own way.

Home hopes rose further when another move outwide gave Ashe the opportunity to stride clear on the right for a further score improved by Tarbatt.

Newark could not continue the pace in the closing stages of the first half and Long Eaton regrouped to engineer a third try which was converted.

Long Eaton’s 21-14 lead at the break did not last long as Newark deployed substitute Waqalevu Aloesi to full effect in the second half.

The veteran centre, appearing for the first time this season, was a constant menace and brought a new attacking edge.

Waqalevu helped put Ashe over for a converted try which levelled the scores at 21-21.

However, Long Eaton’s consistent forward effort brought a fourth score to re-take the lead which they held for the rest of the half.

Though the influential Tarbatt added a penalty to reduce the gap, Long Eaton added a fifth try through their weighty pack before Newark finished on the attack, Edmed finishing off for his second try and Newark’s fourth.

That try put Newark within touch of Long Eaton and a further midfield move – Waqalevu this time acting as a decoy – gave Edmed a chance to outsprint the visiting cover which just managed to push the wing into touch.

Overall, it was an entertaining match and both teams deserved the round of applause at the end.

Newark Team: Rolls-Paewi; Ashe, Britten, Birch, Edmed; Walton, Tarbatt; Ashton, Vinters, Murray, Cooke, Ellison, O’Leary, Denning, Brogden.
Subs: White, Hales, Waqalevu.
Tries: Edmed (2), Ashe (2).
Conversions: Tarbatt (3
Penalty goal: Tarbatt.