Newark should have scored a fourth!

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Newark Rugby Club
Midlands One East
Newark 27 Market Rasen 17

Three first-half tries by 17-year-old wing Ben Dixon helped maintain Newark’s unbeaten league record in an excellent match at Kelham Road.

A frantic opening 40 minutes brought five tries as Newark turned round 21-14 ahead. The second half, in contrast, saw only three penalty goals though the home team held the balance of play and deservedly recorded a fourth victory of the season.
Victory keeps Newark in fourth place, two points behind Derby, Old Northamptonians and Peterborough Lions who also have unbeaten records.

Newark triumphed after a disastrous opening when they handed Rasen a lead in the first minute. The visitors converted the try for a 7-0 lead and should have made more following the sin binning of home hooker Ian Tomlinson.

However, Newark withstood the pressure – Rasen pressing hard from a line-out drive close to the home line – and equalized through the first of Dixon’s tries, the wing finishing off in the corner after centre Matt Cox had been held up close to the line.

James Offer converted the first try by Dixon to make up missing two opening penalty goal attempts.

Newark tried to play attacking rugby whenever they had the chance though the policy did lead to Rasen’s second try – following an interception - which was converted.

The crucial scores came in the final five minutes of the half. Dixon grabbed a second when bursting clear through midfield, following a Newark line-out, and finished off his hat-trick through some excellent support work which started near the home 22.

Dixon was put clear by the combined efforts of Cox and Aloesi Waqalevu, playing his first league game of the season, after some good interplay which thrilled the Kelham Road crowd.

Offer converted the try to give Newark a 21-14 lead at half-time. The second half did not produce such fireworks. Rasen cut the deficit before two penalties from Offer kept the home team ahead.

Newark should have scored a fourth to gain a try bonus point, but missed a good chance when they were held up at a forward drive following two line-outs close in.

Scoring sequence: 0-7 Rasen try & Con; 7-7 Dixon try, Offer con; 7-14 Rasen try & con, 14-14 Dixon try, Offer con; 21-14: Dixon try, Offer con, half-time. 21-17 Rasen pen, 24-17 Offer pen, 27-17 Offer pen.

Newark Team: Tate; Dixon, Waqalevu, Cox, Dixon; Offer, Matt Clark (capt); Gray, Tomlinson, Tinsley, Primett, Tatham, Webster, Lewis Cove, Neil Clark.

Subs: Dunning, Shiels, Statham.

Tries: Dixon (3).

Conversions: Offer (3).

Penalty goals: Offer (2).

Sin bin: Tomlinson.

Rob Wildman