The first team’s testing season continued at leaders Dronfield on Saturday where some whole-hearted defence shone through.
Dronfield, who lead the league by two points from West Bridgford, dominated after Newark had almost scored in the opening stages having had first use of the wind and slope.
Unfortunately, on a tough afternoon, captain Matt Walton was halted from breaking down the left by a forward pass.
After the early high point, Dronfield took complete control. A penalty in front of the posts was swiftly followed by an unconverted try.

Dronfield were a bigger, stronger and more direct outfit and they quickly added another which was duly converted. Their weight supremacy was reinforced by a pushover try.

A rare Newark incursion into the Dronfield half looked likely to yield a score, but a predictable pass was latched onto by the home winger who sped the length of the field to score.

The half finished with slick hands in the Dronfield backs and a final try which was converted to leave a half time score of 34-0.

The second half started ominously with an early Dronfield try and it looked as if the final score might be an avalanche.

However, the Newark side were spirited throughout and continually tried to play rugby, despite the odds. Dronfield pressed home their advantage, taking full use of the incline.

To the team’s credit, it could have been significantly more but their defence and determination prevented this.

It was great to see two Waqalevu brothers – centre Joshie and forward Byron – in a first team squad together for the first time and a return in the backs for colt Toby Waller and Alex Scott. A new face on the subs bench was Tom Gray.

Next up is a crucial home match next Saturday (20 December), against ninth-placed Belgrave, kick off 2.15pm. All welcome…

Team: Hawkins; Scott, Joshie Waqalevu, Waller, Walton; Catley, Staniforth; Nicholson, Vinters, Godfrey, Robson, Bennett, Jackson, Denning, Brogden.
Subs: Byron Waqalevu, Gray.