A dominant performance

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday February 11
Midlands Two East North

Newark bounced back from the disappointment of two away defeats to revive their league campaign in the mud and rain of Kelham Road.

A dominant performance brought victory by six tries to nil – four scores in the first half and two after the interval.
Newark now lie sixth in the league table three points behind next Saturday’s opponents Southwell who lost 14-6 at leaders Melbourne.

A much-changed team from the one who started out in defeat at West Bridgford had to cope with a pre-match scramble of trying to locate an eligible and fit front row.
After much debate, hooker Ian Tomlinson returned after a two-month break and Jordan Hempstead stepped up, putting injury troubles aside.

A second prop was then found in the shape of Tom Gilchrist who was ushered from the 4th team to make up the starting XV.
Regular prop Rob Dunning, who has yet to miss a game this season, took over towards the end of the first half having returned on Saturday morning from a ski trip.

By then Newark had the match under control, led by the opening efforts of flanker Arran Riley who was part of a strong back row effort of match-day captain Dave Garland, Ed Poulson and substitute Johnnie Webster.

Riley almost scored in the first minute, narrowly failing to touch down his own kick and chase. He made certain two minutes later when bursting clear to score under the posts. Matt Law converted the first of his three successful kicks.

After a Casuals penalty attempt went wide, Newark took over to engineer a second try, this time from line-out possession on the 22. Wing Robbie Hunter-Shaw scooted clear on the left.

Newark maintained the pressure right up to half-time and led 22-0 at the break, Tomlinson having smuggled a try from a rolling maul and Poulson, showing a good ‘nose’ for support, grabbing a fourth.

The second half brought a quick score from full-back Dan Mackie, following a break led by Aloesi Waqalevu and Billy Charles, before Newark lost two players to the sin bin in Garland and scrum-half Max Chapple.

Despite playing with 13 men for a short period, Newark kept firm control and scored a sixth try when Mikey Boyd caught a 22 drop out and promptly ran through the Casuals defence.
The burst capped another good performance from the consistent Boyd who partnered the hard-working Akaash Bagga at lock in the absence of regular second row Johnny Statham.

Next up for Newark is trip over Kelham Bridge to face Southwell next Saturday. The kick off is 3pm. Yes 3pm at Park Lane.

Team: Mackie; Charles, Waqalevu, Tate, Hunter-Shaw; Law, Chapple; Gilchrist, Tomlinson, Hempstead, Bagga, Boyd, Poulson, Riley, Garland.

Subs: Dunning, Webster, Clark.

Tries: Riley, Hunter-Shaw, Tomlinson, Poulson, Mackie, Boyd.

Conversions: Law (3).