VICTORY BY SIX TRIES TO THREE

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Newark Rugby Club - Midlands One East – Saturday, Sept 14

At Kelham Road

Newark 40 Kettering 17

Newark maintained their excellent start to the season by overturning a heavy defeat last April to gain revenge on Kettering in this encounter at Kelham Road.

Victory by six tries to three made for good entertainment in Newark’s opening home league game of the season. Only four months ago, Kettering had travelled up the A1 to win 54-15.

Captain Matt Clark led by example in scoring two tries while former skipper Ian Tomlinson finished off matters by claiming the sixth.

In between, the match was a milestone in the careers of three young players – Ben Dixon, Nick Galinski and George Seabrook – who all grabbed a try as well.

The man of the match verdict from coach Nathan Smith went to lock Jon Webster.

Fly half James Offer kicked an opening penalty before handing the kicking duties to Matt Cox who landed a penalty and two conversions.

Offer had given Newark an early lead only for Kettering to score the first try which was converted for a 7-3 lead.

Newark eventually found their stride in the final stages of the half thanks to the pace of full-back Mark Byrom and wing Dixon.

Byrom made the initial break giving 17-year-old Dixon the chance to finish off in the corner.
In contrast, Newark’s second try, just before the interval, came from a series of pick and goes and ended in Matt Clark touching down.

Both Offer and Cox failed to land the conversions but Newark turned round 13-7 up and stretched their lead early in the second half through Matt Clark’s second try, the scrum-half breaking from a set piece.

Though Cox again failed to complete the conversion, the centre added a penalty soon afterwards to put Newark 21-7 ahead.

When Galinski struck for Newark’s fourth try, the wing scoring on the right after a sweeping move across the field, the home team looked set for a comfortable win.

However, Kettering fought back to score two tries in between a score for flanker Seabrook.

Newark left some of their best play until the final moments which ended in hooker Tomlinson supporting a break which saw Alex Moore cut open the Kettering defence before he was backed up by Clark and Tomlinson. Cox converted to finish the scoring.

Newark travel to Mansfield next Saturday for the third league game of the season, kick off 3pm at Eakring Road.

Team: Mark Byrom; Dixon, Tate, Cox, Galinski; Offer, Matt Clark (capt); Dunning, Tomlinson, Gray, Primett, Webster, Seabrook, Lewis Cove, Neil Clark.

Subs: Tinsley, Price, Moore.

Tries: Dixon, Matt Clark (2), Galinski, Seabrook, Tomlinson.
Conversions: Cox (2).
Penalty Goals: Offer, Cox.
Sin bin: Primett.

Rob Wildman