Newark lead Midlands Two North by eight points

Newark Rugby Club
Midlands Two East North

Ashbourne 0 Newark 18

Newark continued their winning ways at Ashbourne but failed to collect a bonus point for only the second time in eight games this season.

A stubborn Ashbourne team kept Newark in check for large parts of a physical contest which ended in victory by three tries to nil.

Newark lead Midlands Two North by eight points from Bakewell Mannerians who posted a 20-3 home win over Melton.

Wing Will Britten, following on from four tries against Belgrave last Saturday, collected two more, one in each half, to continue his excellent first season in senior rugby.

Britten struck first in only the third minute when he rounded off a sweeping move but the expected flow of tries never materialised.

A penalty from Danny Coen put Newark 8-0 up after 21 minutes only for Ashbourne to resolutely keep the visitors tied down.

The second try came five minutes after the interval through Britten before flanker Lewis Cove rounded the scoring off by going over from a catch and drive move in the 62nd minute.

A prolonged period of pressure towards the end failed to bring the fourth try which would have gained Newark an extra valuable point for scoring four or more tries.

Newark play at Matlock next Saturday in the first round of the NLD Cup. Kick off tbc. The scheduled Notts Cup game at home to Paviors has been postponed and is set to be played on Wednesday, Dec 7 at Kelham Road.

Team: Tate (capt); Buddha, Sibilski, Moore, Britten; Cox, D Coen; Gray, Tomlinson, J Barnsdale, Evans, Primett, Hodnett, L Cove, Webster.
Subs: May, Fisher, Bridges.
Tries: Britten (2), L Cove. Pen: D Coen. Sin bin: Webster.

Rob Wildman