A 19-0 lead at half-time

Newark RUFC
Midlands Two East North

Notts Casuals 7 Newark 29

A fast start gave Newark the impetus to notch up win number 22 in an unbeaten league campaign.

Victory for Newark completes a successful league comeback after the disappointment of relegation from Midlands One East last April.

Newark finished the campaign 16 points clear of second-placed Market Bosworth who lost three games and drew another in the 22-game season.

A feature of Newark’s play this season has been the pace of their backs and this attribute was on display again at Casuals from the very start.

Centre Alex Moore touched down after intercepting a Casuals attack near halfway to set up victory by four tries to one at the Nottingham club.

Moore quickly added a second, following a break by flanker Lewis Cove, followed by a third from wing Will Britten. Fly half Matt Cox added two conversions for a 19-0 lead at half-time.

The bonus point try came in the second half when some excellent support play ended in wing Toby Edlin finishing off in the right corner. A determined Casuals team gained a consolation try late on which was converted.

Newark will attempt to complete a league and cup double next Sunday in the ‘double-header’ showdown against Mansfield. The match - designated the final for both the Notts Cup and the Three Counties title – is being staged at Mellish, kick off 4pm, as part of the county cup day.

Team: Tate (capt); Edlin, Waqalevu, Moore, Britten; Cox, Mark Byrom; May, Matt Cove, Gray, Evans, Price, Clark, Lewis Cove, Chris Coen.

Subs: Jackson, Webster, Bridges.

Tries: Moore (2), Britten, Edlin.

Conversions: Cox (3).
Penalty goals: Cox.

Rob Wildman