Newark produced a solid all-round display

Firstly, thanks to all who made this match happen especially to all at the Magnus and pitch organisers David Duddles and Ian Gilchrist...

Two tries in the first 20 minutes put Newark on the way to a win by five tries to one against Loughborough on the Magnus School pitch.

Overall, Newark produced a solid all-round display to make all the effort in finding a temporary home ground due to the floods more than worthwhile.

Hopefully, 100 years on Rev Gorse and his gang, who founded the team at the Magnus, will have been applauding from above.

Lunchtime guests at the club were transported by a free bus and arrived in time to watch Alex Scott, starting at fly half, scoot over for the first try after 10 minutes.

And a second try quickly followed when a forward drive off a line-out led to score for hard-working lock Will Ellison.

The windy conditions made for difficult playing conditions and Loughborough proved resilient opposition by gaining a try to the cut the lead to 12-5, Alex O'Dell having converted Ellison’s try.

Newark finished the half strongly and gained a third try when flanker Sean Denning shot through some tiring cover to post a third try, O'Dell converting.

A good start to the second half chalked up a try bonus point when the best sustained play of the afternoon ended in a try for centre Toby Taylor which O'Dell converted.

That try left Loughborough facing a 26-5 deficit but visitors used the conditions to dominate a good spell of the second half and deserved some reward.

However, Newark met the pressure by defending stoutly to show how much the team has improved since mid-December.

Newark also had a little bit of luck to finish the afternoon when substitute centre Sam Dobson grabbed a loose ball off a Loughborough attack to race through for the fifth try of the afternoon. O'Dell added a fourth conversion.

The victory – Newark’s eighth of the campaign, lifts the team into sixth place with seven games to play.

Team v Loughborough: Hunter-Shaw; Overland, Taylor, Britten (capt), Charles; Scott, O’Dell; Coulam, Tomlinson, Hempstead, Ellison, Woodman, Duncan, Denning, Garland.

Subs: Wells, Leveni, Dobson.

Tries: Scott, Ellison, Denning, Taylor, Dobson.

Conversions: O'Dell (4).

Next match – Saturday at Market Rasen (Feb 29) 2.15ko

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