Next up is a tough away trip against third-placed Melbourne next Saturday (8 Feb) in a re-arranged fixture after bad weather forced a postponement in January.

Full-back Alex Scott led the way kicking 11 points and helping to give wing Ovi Gilder the opportunity to dart over for two of the five tries. The other try scorers were lock Will Ellison, flanker Ed Clayton and scrum-half James Tarbatt.

A riveting contest was played out before a large crowd on a dull but dry afternoon. Scott set the tone by making the first try for Clayton after No 8 Sean Denning had taken a quick tapped penalty to get Newark on the attack.

Scott then chipped over the oncoming defence and the alert Clayton ran through to collect the bouncing ball and dot it down under the posts. Scott converted for a 7-0 lead.

Ilkeston proved determined opponents throughout and exerted considerable pressure to force a penalty five metres out. Their scrum half stood over the ball and then decided to tap and go and wriggled over for a try which levelled the scores.

Newark quickly responded and exerted pressure of their own ending in a try for Ellison who powered over from short distance to put Newark ahead at 12-7.

That advantage was short lived as Ilkeston came back within a couple of minutes and drew level at 12-12 as their winger squeezed in at the left hand corner.

Newark weren’t finished though and had the last word of the half. They moved the ball from deep and the attacked ended in Scott finding Gilder who had too much pace and went over in the corner. Scott converted from the touchline to give Newark a deserved 19-12 lead at half-time.

Newark started the second half well and Scott added two penalties in the first 10 minutes to keep the score board ticking over for a lead of 25-12.

Any thoughts that the game was over were quickly dispelled when Ilkeston nearly went over in the left hand corner.

Newark conceded a penalty from the line-out and the Ilkeston scrum half gave a neat inside ball to a runner who went in under the posts. The conversion brought the score back to 25 – 19. Scott added another penalty to make it 28-19 before arguably the try of the match.

Newark won a penalty in a central position just outside the 22 and the ever alert Scott tapped and moved left to find Gilder. The wing was still on his own 10 metre line, but he had too much pace for the covering defence and went over for a try which delighted the home supporters.

The score was now 33-19 with quarter of an hour to go but Ilkeston were still determined. They were awarded a penalty and despite two home players down the referee allowed the penalty to be taken and the visitors went in under the posts to make it 33-24.

It made for a tense finish but Ilkeston conceded a penalty on their 10-metre line which Scott opted to go for a speculative shot at goal. That attempt missed but it forced Ilkeston to run the ball back and the counter-attack ended when prop Harry Wright produced a good tackler to stop the opposing wing under his own posts.

In desperation Ilkeston tried a long miss pass and the alert Tarbatt picked off the interception and flopped over the line. It made the final score 38-24 and a deserved win which keeps Newark in sixth spot.

Newark team v Ilkeston: Ashton, Vinters, Wright, Ellison, Jackson, Clayton, Dodders (capt), Denning, Tarbatt, Catley, Gilder, Walton, Waqalevu, Allen, Scott.
Subs: King, Leeson.

Tries: Gilder (2), Ellison, Clayton, Tarbatt.
Conversions: Scott (2).
Penalty goals: Scott (3).

Next match – Saturday (8 Feb): away to Melbourne, kick off 2.15pm.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GAME CAN BE FOUND "HERE"

PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CAN BE FOUND "HERE"

RFU LEAGUE TABLE CAN BE FOUND "HERE"

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