ALWAYS, TONS OF EFFORT AND COMMITMENT.

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday December 10

Midlands Two East North

A strong second-half effort gained Newark a deserved win over gutsy Kesteven in a first league meeting between the teams.

The Grantham visitors made Newark work hard for a sixth win of the season and enjoyed good spells of pressure.

Victory puts Newark eight points behind leaders Melbourne and seven off second-placed Southwell who lost at home to Ashbourne, 10-15.

Newark led 10-6 at the interval and had the best of the next 30 to forge tries for wing Chaz Dixon and lock Johnny Statham in between one for Kesteven.

Dixon scored after a prolonged attack which had seen almost the entire Newark pack in a bundle attempting to score at the foot of the posts. In the end, the wing sliced over.

Kesteven quickly responded to cut Newark’s lead to 15-11 before the match-winning try came 14 minutes from time when Statham raced clear from the 22-metre line.

Newark continued to press and missed out on a fourth try and a bonus point before Kesteven grabbed the final momentum to almost collect a try themselves which would have brought a losing bonus point.

Big positives for Newark were the continued good defence and the willingness to attack despite the wet conditions. And, as always, tons of effort and commitment.

Matt Law had kicked Newark ahead in the first half through a penalty before Kesteven edged 6-3 clear following two penalties.

Law had truncated afternoon as he was forced off until the closing minutes due to a head knock. This gave Dan Mackie a chance at fly half from full-back and for substitute Alex Scott to have a lengthy stint.

Newark regained the lead through Aloesi Waqaleveu, who scored off a move from a line-out, on an afternoon when he was always a threat.
Mackie improved Waqalevu’s try to give Newark a 10-6 half-time lead. The second half was equally competitive in which the home team proved the stronger.

Newark fielded 11 of the team who had started at Coalville two weeks’ ago and included Matt Cove on the bench as front-row cover.

Mackie and Robbie Hunter-Shaw came into the backline while in the pack Jordan Hempstead and Statham started.

Next Saturday Newark head for third-placed Loughborough kick off 2.15pm.

Team: Mackie; Charles, Dixon, Waqalevu, Hunter-Shaw; Law, Clark; Dunning, Huddlestone, Hempstead, Statham, Boyd, Duncan, Coen (capt), Garland.

Subs: Cove, Webster, Scott.

Tries: Waqalevu, Dixon, Statham.

Conversion: Mackie.

Penalty: Law.

ANY ONE KNOW WHO THE SANTA IS IN THE PICTURE?