1st League Game of the Season!

Saturday Sept 9
Midlands Two East North

A try from an interception by wing Robbie Hunter-Shaw gave Newark brief hope of victory in this opening league game of the campaign.

Hunter-Shaw broke clear from his own half for a try which Dan Mackie converted for a Newark lead of 15-14 in the first period.

However, the advantage did not last long as Dronfield had responded in the run up to half-time through a converted try and a penalty goal.

Newark had scored earlier in the first half through centre Jordan Slack and one in the second half from Will Britten.

Overall, Newark defended very well for some periods but also gave away far too many penalties.

Here’s a blow-by-blow account from Director of rugby Pete Mitchell

Newark began by playing up the slope and slightly into the wind at a showery Dronfield.

An early Newark penalty failed to find touch and the counter led to a Dronfield penalty on the Newark 22 in front of the posts.

A let off for Newark as the kick was missed but another penalty to Dronfield gave them a line out on Newark’s 5 metre line. This led to a Dronfield pushover try in the corner followed by a successful conversion. 7 – 0.

From the restart, a series of penalties put Dronfield back on the Newark 5 metre line but after some spirited defence a penalty to Newark relieved the pressure. Dronfield were able to turn over and started a counter with a high kick towards the Newark 22.

The ball was taken by Aloesi Waqalevu who sliced through the Dronfield back line eventually allowing Jordan Slack to score in the corner after a Dronfield handling error. 7 – 5.

Both sides traded kicks after the restart until a Dronfield penalty gave them another lineout on the Newark five-metre line.

Although Newark drove them into touch, Dronfield were able to take the resulting lineout and score in the corner. A well taken conversion made the score 14 – 5 after 30 minutes play.

Straight from the restart a good Newark attack led to a penalty in front of the Dronfield posts which Mackie converted. 14 – 8.

Dronfield came back with another attack down the left but a great intercept by Robbie Hunter-Shaw, coupled with a sprint from the 10-metre line gave Newark a try under the posts. Mackie converted. 14 – 15.

Dronfield came straight back and a series of Newark lapses gave the opposition a series of penalties from which they were able to score a converted try and kick another to finish the first half 24 – 15.

The second half started with some good Newark defence but yet again sustained Dronfield pressure led to a kickable penalty in front of the Newark posts. 27 – 15. Callum Slack on for Mackie and Rogi on for Mason Coulam.

Some determined Newark pressure led to a couple of ‘nearly’ moments before a good passage of back played to a Will Britten try in the corner. Callum Slack was unfortunate with the kick hitting the upright. 27 – 20.

A period of scrappy play unfortunately saw the visitors reduced to 14 men after Rogi was shown a yellow card. Dronfield capitalised and a stretched Newark defence was unable to prevent 2 tries in quick succession. 39 – 20.

Good to see Newark, now back to full strength, fight back with sustained pressure near the Dronfield line. Unfortunately, a lapse of concentration allowed Dronfield to breakaway and seal the game with a final try.

Final score 44 – 20.

Team: Mackie; Hunter-Shaw, Waqalevu, Jordan Slack, Britten; Chapple, Clark; Shiels, Bartsch, Coulam, Primett, Bagga, Boyd, Hubbard, Garland (capt).

Subs : Callum Slack, Rogi Saini, Fotheringham.

Tries: Jordan Slack, Hunter-Shaw, Britten.

Penalty: Mackie,

Conversion: Mackie.