Dronfield fell to an improving team

Newark produced another determined display to post a fourth successive league win adding to pre-Christmas wins over Casuals and Ashbourne and last week’s success at promotion-hunting Coalville.

This time it was fourth-placed Dronfield who fell to the improving team who drew away in the last quarter at Kelham Road.

The win makes up for Newark’s poor performance at Dronfield in October when a slow start ended in a 59-10 defeat.

This time Newark made a much better start and led 8-7 going into the final minutes. The match swung firmly in their favour thanks to a clearing kick by wing Rhys Overland which brought a line-out near the Dronfield line.
Overland’s 50-metre shunt cleared Dronfield pressure and set up Newark for a crucial spell camped on the visiting line.

Second row George Woodman nicked the Dronfield throw and Newark’s pressure eventually brought a try for full-back Robbie Hunter-Shaw. Alex O’Dell converted for a 15-7 lead.

Newark made sure of victory minutes later when captain Will Britten and prop Mason Coulam linked well to put Overland in the clear for a try in the right corner.

Overall, Newark showed all-round improvement including some good defence to cut down Dronfield’s chances.

The visitors knew they were in for a far harder match than the first league match when Newark’s new wing James Archdale broke free on the left to score in the corner.

After Newark’s early pressure, Dronfield took over and led 7-5 at half-time through a converted try.

They continued on the attack for the early stages of the second half but the match began to go in Newark’s favour when flanker Sean Denning, also on his home debut, led a charge into the Dronfield half.

The pressure earned a penalty which O’Dell kicked to put Newark 8-7 up. After that Newark’s greater zeal sealed the win helped by a noisy crowd.

Newark team (V Dronfield): Hunter-Shaw; Overland, Charles, Waqalevu, Archdale; Britten (capt), O’Dell; Coulam, Tomlinson, Hempstead, Ellison, Woodman, Denning, Duncan, Webster.

Subs: Chapple, Garland, Booth.

Tries: Archdale, Hunter-Shaw, Overland.
Conversions: O’Dell .
Penalty goal: O’Dell.