Saturday 29 March 2026
Regional 2 Midlands North
Newark 40 Sutton Coldfield 17
Three tries in eight second-half minutes propelled Newark to a fifth win in six league matches to the delight of Kelham Road regulars.

Sutton Coldfield were delayed en-route to Newark and were always playing catch up against a buoyant home force who have grown in confidence in recent weeks.

A first-half try from wing Oli Brewer was Newark’s only reward in a competitive first half which left the home team 7-0 up, Sam Hawkins having added the conversion to the try down the left.

Newark started the second half well and a try by hard-working lock Jamie Robson, from a quickly taken penalty, looked to have settled the nerves, Hawkins adding the extras for a 14-0 lead.

However, Newark relaxed and Sutton Coldfield took full advantage by working a try and conversion on the right.

A close final quarter looked to be on the cards but that prediction was undone by Newark’s burst of pace from the 60th minute.

Centre Toby Waller triggered the giddy spell by wriggling clear on halfway and then having the pace to outrun the visiting defence for a memorable score. Hawkins kicked the extras.

Newark were now in top gear and two more tries followed in quick succession, James Tarbatt rounding off an attack set up by Brewer’s good chase.

The third try in the eight minutes came down the left when Waller finished off for a 33-7 lead, Hawkins having kicked a further conversion.
To the credit of the visitors they kept playing and gained two tries from good pressure in between a sixth for Newark, flanker Tom O’Leary pouncing on a loose ball at a line-out near to the away line. Hawkins kicked a fifth conversion to make the final score 40-17.

It was another very good all-round performance led by the halfback partnership of Sam Hawkins and scrum-half Elliott Paley.

The emerging Waller gained the man-of-the-match award for his two tries and confident display at centre.

Newark’s final scheduled league game comes on Saturday week (11 April) at second-placed West Bridgford.

It promises to be a tense afternoon as Newark, in 10th place, remain locked in a relegation tussle alongside Old Saltleians, Paviors and Matlock.

Bottom-placed Belgrave are already relegated while 11th-placed Old Salts are three behind Newark in 10th.

A new play-off system will see the 11th and 10th placed teams meet on 25 April where the losers will be relegated.

The match up will be decided on Saturday week with Paviors (ninth) and Matlock (eighth), who meet at Burntstump, firmly in the mix as well.

Team v Sutton Coldfield: Tarbatt; Allen, Walton (capt), Waller, Brewer; Hawkins, Paley; Godfrey, Vinters, Wilson, Poulson, Robson, Clayton, O’Leary, Brogden.
Subs: Budden, Nathan Leeson, Holmes.
Tries: Brewer, Robson, Waller (2), Tarbatt, O’Leary.
Conversions: Hawkins (5).

Further play off info…
play.pdf

Next Saturday – no game.

11 April: away to West Bridgford (3pm ko).