Newark weathered the early pressure

Report Written by Rob Wildman

Newark Rugby Club

Midlands One East

Mansfield 10 Newark 38

Newark made it three wins in three league games by gaining a bonus point win at Nottinghamshire rivals Mansfield.

Three tries in five minutes towards the end of the second half settled this local derby and earned Newark a bonus point for scoring four tries in all.

Newark were guided to victory by the assured play of fly half James Offer who also kicked four penalty goals and three conversions.

The tries came from flanker George Seabrook, in the first half, to be followed during the late flurry by tries from hooker Ian Tomlinson, captain Matt Clark and flanker Lewis Cove.

The success leaves Newark in fourth place in Midlands One East, a point behind three other teams who are also unbeaten in Peterborough Lions, Old Northamptonians and Derby.

Mansfield, who had won the last meeting between the clubs in April 2012, did score first to lead 7-0 after a converted try after some powerful mauls.
However, Newark weathered the early pressure to cut the lead through Seabrook’s try at the corner which Offer failed to convert.
A scrappy first half brought only a penalty for both sides – Offer landing Newark’s kick – for Mansfield to lead 10-8 at the interval.

Offer continued to be at his most accurate in the opening to the second half. He kicked three penalty goals in succession as Mansfield had one player sent off while Newark lost prop Rob Dunning and Seabrook to the sin bin.

Newark , who led 17-10 thanks to Offer’s second-half kicks, settled the contest once they gained a full team of 15 men to Mansfield’s 14.

Some excellent support play brought a try for Tomlinson, who had started the move near the halfway line, to be followed by Matt Clark touching down after a good chase from wing Nick Galinski.

To finish the match Lewis Cove was marched over from a maul off a line-out. Offer kicked the three conversions to complete a good afternoon’s return of 18 points.

Newark host Market Rasen next Saturday (Sept 28) at Kelham Road, kick off 3pm.

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

Subs: Tinsley, Price, Dixon.

Tries: Seabrook, Tomlinson, Matt Clark, Lewis Cove.
Conversions: Offer (3).
Penalty goals: Offer (4).

Sin bins: Dunning, Seabrook.

Rob Wildman