Midlands Two East North
Dronfield 59 Newark 10
A second-half try by lock Will Ellison was Newark’s only reward from a difficult trip to Dronfield.
Newark struggled from the start and paid for failing to match the home team’s greater commitment and physicality.
Dronfield, spurred on by playing down the slope as well, capitalised fully on Newark’s defensive hesitancy to build a winning lead very quickly.
By half-time Dronfield led 40-3, a penalty goal from Matt Cox bringing Newark some points from a very rare attack.
Newark’s best chance for a try had come from a break-out led by wing Rhys Overland and supported by centre Kent Birch.
A better start to the second half, helped by now playing down the slope, raised hopes of a revival.
However, when prop Mason Coulam received a second yellow card it made for a tough final 30 minutes as well.
Dronfield, who had scored six tries in the first half, added three more while Newark grabbed their score in the 65th minute – Ellison finishing off a forward drive.
Cox added the conversion to his first-half penalty.
Newark are away again next Saturday, against Melton in the RFU Intermediate Cup, kick off 3pm.
Team: Tate; Overland, Hunter-Shaw, Birch, Taylor; Cox, O’Dell; Coulam, Quinlan, Hempstead, Ellison, Woodman, Duncan, Stamp, Corcoran.
Subs: Appleton, Matthysz, Booth.
Try: Ellison.
Conversion: Cox.
Penalty: Cox.