The last three tries all went to the backs

Midlands Two East South

Newark 54 Oakham 21

Newark returned to winning ways at Kelham Road after the previous week’s mauling by Peterborough Lions in the Intermediate Cup.

Plenty of pace and keen support were the hallmarks of Newark’s good performance which maintained the unbeaten league record after five games.

It was a fitting performance to honour the memory of life member and former president Jacki Hunter who had died suddenly at home the previous weekend, aged 69. All senior teams and spectators stood in silence for a minute beforehand.

Oakham, on their first visit for a competitive game, were always on the backfoot from the opening stages, refereed by American-based Nigel Platt on an exchange visit organised by NLD.

Newark’s good team work and speed around the park forced the early openings to build up a 22-0 lead by half-time.

Forwards Jon Webster and Shaun May rounded off early moves for touchdowns before a sweeping counter-attack led by Aloesi Waqalevu and Will Britten made a try for captain Chris Tate.

Two conversions and two penalty goals from Danny Coen made up the first-half scoresheet.

Newark made certain of victory immediately after half-time in claiming a bonus point for scoring four or more tries.

The honour went to Webster who emerged triumphant from a rolling maul off a line-out. Second row colleague Richard Primett followed up 10 minutes later as Newark pressed home their advantage.

The last three tries all went to the backs. Britten, again, produced a striking swerve and step to beat the Oakham cover to the corner before substitute wing Toby Edlin followed up quickly for the seventh try.

Newark’s final try went to centre Alex Moore before Oakham, who had already touched down once in the half, made the score more respectable by gaining two late tries.

A good afternoon was tarnished slightly by knocks for May and Britten, two of Newark’s key performers.

Next stop on the league trail is next Saturday at Bakewell Mannerians, kick off 3pm.

Team: Tate (capt); Waqalevu, Sibilski, Moore, Britten; D Coen, Clark; May, Tomlinson, J Barnsdale, Primett, Evans, Webster, L Cove, Fisher. Subs: Jackson, Naylor, Edlin.
Tries: Webster (2), May, Tate, Primett, Britten, Edlin, Moore.
Conversions: D Coen (4).
Penalties: D Coen (2).

Rob Wildman