Newark created the better chances throughout

Saturday Sept 30

Midlands Two East North

A topsy-turvy match ended in a Newark victory thanks to an injury-time try from Mikey Boyd in a hard fought contest at Nettleham.

Boyd forced his way over in the left corner in the tense closing stages to an excellent match which ended in Newark edging a success by four tries to three.

Newark created the better chances throughout yet wasted several which allowed a dangerous Lincoln team to lead 12-7 at half-time and 22-15 going into the final minutes.

A second try from Aloesi Waqalevu cut the deficit by five before Boyd finished off more Newark pressure to grab that winning score.

Waqalevu had a match to remember for all kinds of reasons. He was a constant threat and his try towards the end of the first half put Newark back into the match after Lincoln led 12-0 after 35 minutes.

However, the centre could easily have grabbed two more tries but for slipping over in one first-half attack and another sharp break in the second ended in him having the ball knocked out of his grasp in a tackle near the line.

Newark should have taken control in the early stages but a nervous afternoon began when scrum-half Matt Clark was stopped just short while a further break by Callum Slack failed to find support.

Lincoln built that lead of 12-0 through two tries and a conversion and it needed a typical break from Waqalevu to give Newark a lift before the break.

Max Chapple converted the try and added a penalty five minutes into the second half to cut the home lead to 12-10.

Newark dominated the next 15 minutes without finding a way through the Lincoln defence before Will Ellison, a substitute forward, finished off a prolonged attack to register his first league try.

That try put Newark 15-12 up only for Lincoln to play their best rugby of the match which earned a penalty and a converted try.

At 22-15, Lincoln looked to have clinched the contest but Newark’s all-round game proved too strong bringing tries for Waqalevu and Boyd.

Besides the running power of Waqalevu, Newark’s win was down to a team continuing to grow in confidence from a third straight win.

Newark host Stewart’s and Lloyds from Corby next Saturday (Oct 7) in the second round of the RFU’s Intermediate Cup. Kick off 2.15pm tbc.

Team v Lincoln: Callum Slack; Charles, Waqalevu, Jordan Slack, Hunter-Shaw; Chapple, Clark; Appleton, Tomlinson, Shiels, Primett, Bagga, Boyd, Spurr, Garland (capt).

Subs: Ellison, Crosby, Bartsch.

Tries: Waqalevu (2), Ellison, Boyd.

Conversion: Chapple.

Penalty goal: Chapple.

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