A busy Saturday brought victory for the 1sts and the women’s senior team but also a few tears for the 2nds who fell to another close defeat in their league campaign.

The double header at Kelham Road attracted plenty of spectators who watched the women’s team continue their unbeaten run over Hinckley, 41-15, while the 2nds, struggling to avoid relegation, lost out to Notts Casuals 1sts, 26-43 .

Over at Matlock the views made the trip always worthwhile and on the pitch a competitive match was a good finale to the league season.

Newark won by three tries to one in a victory for opportunism and some sharp finishing. It was also another afternoon to relish the speed out wide of Henry Allen and Ovi Gilder and the way the team have developed ways to move the ball in an effort to capitalise.

Allen struck twice, pouncing first by running onto a chip from Matt Walton after 11 minutes which was followed by a memorable moment when he outsprinted the Matlock cover for a second seven minutes before half-time.

His pace surprised the home defenders and the way he sped clear and kept himself ahead of his pursuers was a little bit like watching a spring lamb escaping into a field for the first time.

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And to cap an afternoon of youthful endeavour, teenage scrum-half Elliott Paley came on as a half-time substitute to record his third try in two appearances by dotting down from a ruck close to the line in a classic No 9 dummy and dive – straight from Ben Youngs’ play book.

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Photos - thanks to Colin, the snapper, at Matlock!

Ok, enough of the OTT phrases and on with the rugby. For the 1sts, victory gives them a very credible sixth place in the league table having recorded 11 wins and a draw from 22 games.

Against a bigger Matlock pack, they defended tenaciously throughout and led from the 11th minute when Allen raced onto that chip ahead.

Fly half George Leeson improved Allen’s second try and also converted Paley’s score as well. Matlock kicked a first-half penalty and gained a penalty try from fierce second-half pressure.

It made for a tense final quarter which was calmed by James Tarbatt, moved to centre to allow Paley, added a penalty after shrieks of instruction from the bench of “take the points!” Another good memory from a welcome afternoon in Derbyshire…we don’t get out much!

Newark team: Catley; Allen, Waqalevu, Walton, Gilder; Leeson, Tarbatt; Godfrey, Vinters, Hosking, Ellison, Clayton, O’Leary, Dodders, Denning.

Subs: Cobb, Corcoran, Paley.

Tries: Allen (2), Paley. Conversions: Leeson(2). Penalty: Tarbatt.

Up for the Cup…next Saturday (April 12)

Due to the decision of Southwell to cancel the friendly at Kelham Road because of Cup commitments, the 1sts will be at West Bridgford next Saturday (3pm kick off) to play the RFU Cup second round tie.

The match has been moved forward from the original date of Saturday 25 April. Both teams had received first-round byes.

The match is at West Bridgford RFC - Stamford Road, West Bridgford NG2 6GF

Apologies to all spectators and supporters for the fixture confusion in recent days and please watch out for a further (hopefully final!) announcement this week coming.