A good team performance

Newark Rugby
SSE Midlands One East
Ilkeston 24 Newark 12

Newark produced a much better performance to give promotion-chasing Ilkeston a thorough test in this re-arranged league game.

Determination and aggressive defence brought Newark to within touching distance of a losing bonus point after cutting back Ilkeston’s lead.

The team, including a recall for lock Mark Staines, had promising displays from two forwards in flanker-turned-hooker Will Naylor and flanker Max Spurr, who was making his first league start.

For Naylor, it was also his first league start in the No 2 jersey following his decision to move from the back-row.

The defensive effort was led by centre Ed Collishaw while No James Price showed increasing maturity on the back row.
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It took Ilkeston a full 35 minutes to breakdown Newark’s stubborn resistance and they turned round only leading 7-0 through a try and conversion.

The match swung towards Ilkeston straight after the kick off for the second half when they powered into the Newark half to set up a second try and conversion.

When Ilkeston scored a third try in the 59th minute, Newark spectators feared a long second half only to be encouraged by some excellent play which brought tries for scrum-half Matt Clark and his halfback partner Matt Cox.

Clark grabbed his try from some trademark sniping after a succession of pick and goes while Cox burst clear to touchdown under the posts.

Cox also converted his try to put Newark in sight of at least a losing bonus point at 12-19 down in the 68th minute.

But the revival was halted by Ilkeston’s dominating the final 10 minutes which brought a fourth try and left Newark without a point from a good team performance.

Scoring sequence: 35 mins: 0-7 Ilkeston try and con, 41 mins: 0-14 Ilkeston try and con, 59 mins: 0-19 Ilkeston try, 62 mins: 5-19 Matt Clark try, 68 mins: 10-19: Matt Cox try, 12-19 Cox con, 70 mins: 12-24: Ilkeston try.

Team: Tate; Statham, Badley, Collishaw, Edlin; Cox, Matt Clark; Dunning, Naylor, Priestley, Staines, Primett, Neil Clark, Spurr, Price.

Subs: Mark Byrom, Tinsley, May.

Tries: Clark. Cox. Conversion: Cox.

Rob Wildman