An all-round impressive display

An all-round impressive display earned a seventh league win of the season to lift the team into second place, 10 points behind leaders West Bridgford.

Captain Dave Garland led from the front to mark a comeback that ended in the disappointment of another leg injury late on. The No 8 was part of a hard-working back row alongside Tom Crosby and Mason Coulam.

The team continued to show the improvement of the last two months and produced some entertaining rugby for a celebratory festive crowd who had earlier toasted the opening of Phase Two of the clubhouse development.

Newark’s biggest success of recent weeks has been to eradicate the dreadful starts which have marred performances.

This time Newark never allowed Coalville to settle and an opening penalty from Alex Scott helped bring the early momentum.

Though Newark pressed they did not convert the pressure until the half hour when scrum-half Max Chapple wriggled over after good work by Scott and wing Josh Watts.

A further break by Chapple led to Newark’s second try five minutes from the break which stretched the lead to 13-0.

The busy Chapple was sin binned just before the interval but Newark still started the second half on the attack and scored a third straight from the start, wing Robbie Hunter-Shaw scoring at the corner flag after the home pack had grabbed the kick off.

Coalville responded to the 18-0 deficit by playing their best rugby and scoring a try which put them back into the match.

Newark, however, demonstrated their growing confidence by dominating the final quarter. Two tries in two minutes settled the issue and, again, some excellent attacking rugby brought tries for centre Will Britten and Scott who converted his own score from under the posts.

To finish off, Britten displayed his attacking talent by slicing through for his second and Newark’s sixth of a good afternoon. Coalville grabbed a late consolation but it was all too late.

Newark now have a two-week break from league action before travelling to Ilkeston on Saturday January 6.

The traditional Boxing Day Match provides an opportunity to keep active, kick off noon.

Team v Coalville: Callum Slack; Watts, Waqalevu, Britten, Hunter-Shaw; Scott, Max Chapple; Appleton, Jed Chapple, Shiels, Boyd, Fotheringham, Coulam, Crosby, Garland (capt).

Subs: Clark, Jordan Slack, Bagga.