A competitive tussle at Coalville

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday November 26

Midlands Two North East

Newark played a full part in a competitive tussle at Coalville which ended in a narrow win for the home team.
A penalty goal from fly half Matt Law rewarded Newark’s effort in the second half to pull back a 7-0 deficit at half-time.

However, Newark failed to finish off some good opportunities to grab an away win in the second half.

Substitute hooker Ian Tomlinson and prop Rob Dunning almost forced their way over from one forward drive while Matt Clark and Aloesi Waqalevu led counter-attacks which had the Coalville defence at full stretch.

Clark’s break out ended up 10 metres from the Coalville line and led to a home sin binning which gave Newark a one-man advantage for 10 minutes.

Newark promptly landed the penalty from Law but could not force another score which might have brought victory.

A tight first half had seen Coalville take the lead through a try off a scrum close to the Newark line. The score was converted.
Newark played their best rugby in the second half and thoroughly deserved the losing bonus point which keeps them fifth in the table four points behind fourth-placed Coalville.

The biggest positive from the performance was some good defence which was a big improvement on recent weeks.

The first team now have a week off because they have no cup fixture and resume league games on Saturday Dec 10, at home to North Kesteven, kick off at Kelham Road 2.15pm.

Newark team v Coalville:
Mawer; Stark, Waqalevu, Dixon, Charles; Law, Clark; Dunning, Huddlestone, Pick, Poulson, Boyd, Duncan, Coen (capt), Garland.

Subs: Tomlinson, Webster, Hunter-Shaw.

Penalty goal: Law.