Newark did far better in the second half

Midlands East One

Bedford Athletic 41 Newark 7

Newark found third-placed Bedford Athletic far too strong as the home scored six tries to one by scrum-half Matt Clark late in the second half.

Athletic led from a fourth minute penalty but they were made to work hard in the opening quarter of the first half before an injury to full-back Mark Byrom disrupted Newark.
Mark needed treatment to an elbow injury and was replaced by his father, Richard, the club’s chairman of rugby, who had taken on the role of substitute following a late cry off by Jacob Andrews who had fallen ill.

Byrom senior should have been playing for the club’s second team but that game, like the previous one to Nottingham Medics, was cancelled after Nottingham Freshers cried off the intended Pennant match.

Bedford took control of the league match from the 26th minute when they scored the first of their six tries. Three more followed by half-time to give the home team a 29-0 lead.

Newark did far better in the second half and only conceded two more tries while Clark added another score to his tally this season by touching down in the 70th minute. Matt Cox converted.

Next up for Newark is a home date against Matlock next Saturday, kick off at Kelham Road 3pm.

Team: Mark Byrom; Tate, Badley, Collishaw, Edlin; Cox, Matt Clark; May, Tomlinson, Tinsley, Primett, Evans, Neil Clark, Spurr, Price.

Subs: Shiels, Staines, Richard Byrom.

Try: Matt Clark. Conversion: Cox.

Rob Wildman