The early try gave Newark confidence

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Saturday April 8

Midlands Two East North

Newark produced their best performances of the season to sweep aside Loughborough in the sun at Kelham Road.

Some excellent attacking rugby in the first half set up a victory by eight tries to five in the final home league game.

Newark led 36-14 at half-time to be followed by a more attritional second half in which Loughborough fought back to grab a try bonus point.

Wing Billy Charles had an afternoon to remember scoring three tries, two in the first half including a first when he scampered 60 meters to outfox the visiting defence on a mazy run to the line..

Aloesi Waqalevu (resplendent in bright new boots) contributed two tries to continue his powerful play in recent weeks.

The other try scorers were flanker Tom Crosby, wing Robbie Hunter-Shaw and prop Rob Dunning. Alex Scott contributed 18 points via six conversions and two penalty goals.

Crosby started the try feast for a good crowd in the 11th minute after an opening penalty from Scott.

The early try gave Newark confidence and the floodgates opened in the 25th minute when Charles dashed from his own half, following a turnover forced by a tackle from Mickey Boyd.

By the time Loughborough got their breath back, Newark had raced in for two more in five minutes from Hunter-Shaw and Waqalevu.

To the credit of Loughborough they forced two tries before half-time in between a second for Charles.

The pace of the game slowed after the interval with Newark leading 36-14. Again the scores came in quick succession with Newark putting the game beyond Loughborough by scoring twice in two minutes.

Waqalevu grabbed the sixth to be followed by a score straight from the kick off which ended up in Charles dashing down the right again to complete his treble.

A penalty from Scott brought up the half century before Loughborough dominated the last 20 minutes scoring three tries in between the final one for Newark from Dunning.

For Newark, this was the second successive five-point haul following last week’s win over Kesteven. The team are now sixth in the table with one match to play, at Market Bosworth on Saturday April 22. There is no game next Saturday because of the Easter break.

Team: Scott; Charles, Waqalevu, Dixon, Hunter-Shaw; Chapple, Clark; Dunning, Barnsdale, Hempstead, Boyd, Statham, Poulson, Crosby, Garland (capt).

Subs: Barton, Bagga, Mackie.

Tries: Crosby, Charles (3), Waqalevu (2), Hunter-Shaw, Dunning.

Conversions: Scott (6).

Penalty goals: Scott (2).