The win continues a good start

Newark Rugby Club

Saturday, Sept 7th

Midlands One East

Ilkeston 15 Newark 23

Newark recorded a heartening win on the opening day of the league campaign to avenge losing both games to Ilkeston last season.

Good defence and some sharp attacking play brought Newark a win by three tries to two. Fly half James Offer, who kicked a conversion and two penalty goals, made his league debut alongside substitute back Ben Dixon.

For Newark, who lost 38-3 and 24-12 to Ilkeston last season, the win continues a good start to the season following last week’s win over Southwell in the NLD Shield.

An excellent team performance was led by centre Matt Cox alongside the hard-working back rowers in Lewis Cove and Neil Clark.

Ilkeston did score first thanks to an early penalty only for Newark to quickly retake the lead through a three-pointer by Offer and the first try by centre Alex Moore after he supported Cox. Offer missed the conversion.

Newark dominated the next 20 minutes only to concede crucial ground to Ilkeston from a tap penalty move which ended in a home try and conversion.

Those points put Ilkeston 10-8 ahead and Newark had to reshuffle when Moore went off due to a hamstring problem.

However, the visitors finished the half in front at 13-10 thanks to an excellent move from Dixon, who had replaced Moore, and full-back Byrom. The pair nimbly exchanged passes before Byrom was able to finish off at the corner.

Play in the opening minutes of the second half was concentrated between the two 22-metre lines before Newark broke free to make the match safe.

Cox, who had made the first try for Moore, broke clear again, intercepting from near the halfway line to touchdown himself this time. Offer converted and later added another penalty to finish matters.

Newark play their first home league game, against Kettering, next Saturday (Sept 14). Kick off 3pm.

The match is sponsored by the club’s long-standing supporter Tony Rose of Newark Storage.

Team versus Ilkeston:
Mark Byrom; Galinski, Moore, Cox, Tate; Offer, Matt Clark; Dunning, Tomlinson, Shiels, Webster, Primett, Seabrook, Lewis Cove, Neil Clark.

Subs: Gray, Naylor, Dixon.

Tries: Moore, Mark Byrom, Cox.

Conversions: Offer.

Penalty goals: Offer (2).

Rob Wildman