A difficult trip to wet and windy Matlock

Saturday Oct 21
Midlands Two East North

Newark collected two bonus points from a difficult trip to wet and windy Matlock. A poor start allowed the home team to build up a 29-0 lead by half-time. However the second period was a different tale…

Andrew Fearn tells the story of a trip to Derbyshire.

Newark made five enforced changes in the wind and rain at Matlock to the side which beat Loughborough.

Despite these changes, Newark continued their impersonation of Jekyll and Hyde with a lacklustre first half but a sparkling second. Unfortunately they left themselves too much of a deficit to overturn.

No less than four knock ons put Newark on the back foot as Matlock took advantage and went up by two tries in nine minutes.

Newark looked out of sorts and their play lacked accuracy so it was no surprise when Matlock ran in another try to take the score to 17-0.

Matlock continued to press and Newark were unable to find an answer to the power of the opposition forwards in the loose. Yet another knock on allowed Matlock to set up a rolling maul and cross the line for a converted try; 24-0.

Just as Newark hoped to staunch the flow of points before half-time, Matlock were able to set up their right winger for yet another try to take the score to 29-0. Matlock conceded two late penalties but Newark were unable to capitalise. It has to be said that Newark looked down and out; a dispirited side.

Immediately after half time, Newark were able to exert pressure on Matlock and, suddenly, the balance of power shifted. Although a good attack prompted by Aloesi Waqalevu and Billy Charles petered out, Max Chapple made a promising break from stand off and Newark had an attacking scrum on the 22.

Dave Garland fed Matt Clarke on the blind side and Dan Mackie scampered over for a try before converting it himself.

This setback prompted Matlock to respond and, very quickly, they had set up their right winger to cross for another try. It was converted to restore the previous difference at 36-7.

Although Newark were now playing with more intensity and urgency, the task looked beyond them. At this stage, Mackie left the field and was replaced by Robbie Hunter-Shaw, with Will Britten slotting in at full back.

Fran Appleton ripped the ball from an opponent and Newark broke out from defence causing Matlock to give away two penalties in quick succession.

A cross kick into Newark’s right wing led to a try for skipper Garland and a yellow card for the Matlock 11. Newark continued to exert pressure and Matlock visibly wilted.

Excellent carrying in the middle of the park by Max Spurr and Appleton was followed by quick passing to Waqalevu on the left who cantered in for a well worked team try, converted by Chapple; 36-19.

The action was now frantic as Newark pressed for a bonus point for four tries. Within minutes, it came as Ian Tomlinson crossed the line and Chapple once again converted; 36-26.

The Matlock No 6 earned himself a yellow card in the process. Matlock were now hanging on desperately and it was no surprise when Britten broke down the left and after an exchange of passes, was put in for a try by Waqalevu which Chapple converted.

The action was breathless and the score an unlikely figure of 36-33. With minutes left, Newark searched desperately for the key to a further score which would bring them the most improbable of wins.

The rain poured down and Newark were unable to capitalise on some final half chances, before settling for two bonus points, both of which had seemed a very long way away at half time.

With a cup game next Saturday (Oct 28), the Newark players will be trying to work out why they have started so slowly in their last two games. The mountain they gave themselves to climb at Matlock was just too high.

Team v Matlock: Mackie; Stark, Waqalevu, Charles, Britten; Chapple, Clark; Dunning, Tomlinson, Appleton, Bagga, Primett, Spurr, Crosby, Garland (capt).

Subs: Hempstead, Hunter-Shaw, Fotheringham.

Tries: Mackie, Garland, Waqalevu, Tomlinson, Britten.

Conversions: Mackie, Chapple (3).

Next Saturday: Newark v Old Laurentian, RFU Intermediate Cup, ko 2-15 at Kelham Road.

All welcome. Free entry. £3 a programme.