It was a bruising finish for the visiting team

Newark posted a first away win of the season in a closely fought match on Leicester Forest’s all-weather pitch.

The 1sts were continuing a good afternoon for the club as the 2nds and 3rds also win while the under16s had beaten Leicester Forest opposition in a warm up match.

Victory lifts the 1sts up the table and continues to show the squad can compete at this higher level this season.

Newark mixed good attacking play and stout defence to hold on in a match which saw them down to 13 men for a spell in the second half.

Two penalty goals by Alex Scott rewarded a bright start for Newark before the home team responded to lead 7-6 via a converted try.

A cutting Newark counter-attack regained the lead when scrum-half James Tarbatt finished off a break by back-rowers Sam Dobson and James Brogden.

Leicester Forest finished the half stronger and a second converted try put them back in from at 14-11.

Newark’s counter-attacking gradually became more of a feature in the second half and tries in close succession from No 8 Dobson and Matt Walton, the fly half gliding in from a move off line-out possession built a lead of 25-14, Scott adding both conversions.

Leicester Forest once more responded and tried to dominate through a stronger scrum which brought sin bin offences for front-rowers Haydn Godfrey and substitute prop Sam Cobb.

It was a bruising finish for the visiting team but a Scott penalty helped maintain the lead despite two more tries from the home team.

Though a terrific all-round effort gained the winning points, special mention must go to the non-stop work of No 8 Sam Dobson which must have been inspiring for his pack colleagues.

Newark team: Scott; Ashe, Britten (capt), Hepi, Edmund; Walton, Tarbutt; Godfrey, Vinters, Murray, Duggan, Ellison, Brogden, Stamp, Dobson.

Subs: Cobb, Hilliam-Cooke, O’Leary.

Tries: Tarbatt, Dobson, Walton. Conversuins: Scott (2). Penalty goals: Scott (3)
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Next Saturday – home to Long Eaton, kick off 3pm.