Newark endured a difficult afternoon

Up until the late surge – overturning a 16-5 deficit – Newark had endured a difficult afternoon compounding by conceding a wave of penalties in both halves.

However, Newark, driven on by a large group of vocal followers, found the form of the previous week when they swept aside Dronfield.
Inspired by the running of centres Aloesi Waqalevu and Kent Birch, Newark gave themselves hope when wing Robbie Hunter-Shaw finished off on the left four minutes from time.

That cut the deficit to 10-16 and a further midfield attack and some swift passing engineering a try for Will Britten also wide out on the left.
Britten managed to score nearer the posts which gave Hunter-Shaw the opportunity to land the conversion to put Newark ahead for the first time in the match.

Newark had looked sluggish from the opening stages which brought Casuals the first try after 10 minutes.

Though Newark levelled when hard-working forward Mason Coulam wrestled his way over, Casuals converted two penalty goals to make the half-time score 11-5.

Newark continued to infuriate the referee in the second half which handed Casuals easy opportunities to make ground leading to a second try in the 50th minute.

However, Newark, helped also by a powerful scrum, eventually started to make inroads to set up those match-winning attacks.

Team: Britten; Charles, Birch, Waqalevu, Hunter-Shaw; Scott, Max Chapple; Hempstead, Jed Chapple, Shiels, Boyd, Ellison, Tatham, Coulam, Garland.

Subs: Dunning, Mackie, Matthysz.

Tries: Coulam, Hunter-Shaw, Britten.

Con: Hunter-Shaw.