Newark did score first

Report written by Rob Wildman

Newark Rugby Club

Saturday, Oct 12

Midlands One East

Peterborough Lions 58 Newark 30

Newark gained a try bonus point from a tough afternoon at Peterborough Lions whose win by eight tries to four keeps them unbeaten at the top.

Tries by Matt Cox, Johnny Statham, Ben Dixon and Lewis Cove rewarded Newark’s gutsy display against strong opponents.
James Offer kicked 10 points through two conversions and two penalty goals.

The match also marked the return to first team action of Matt Brewer, a member of the club’s back-to-back Three Counties’ Cup-winning team, who was a second-half substitute for No 8 Neil Clark.

Newark did score first when Offer kicked an early penalty goal which was quickly cancelled out by Lions.
After another penalty from each of the kickers, Lions took charge scoring four tries in a 20-minute period through a mixture of strong forward play and good running.

Lions led 34-6 when Newark started the fight-back, centre Cox racing clear of the home defence from near halfway to touchdown after ignoring wing Statham on the overlap to keep on running.

Though Lions scored a fifth try immediately after half-time, Newark had a much better half and showed they could attack as well.

Newark’s second try was another memorable individual effort this time from Statham who gathered Offer’s cross kick just inside his own half to outpace the defence on the left flank. Offer converted from the touchline.

Brewer announced his return by pulling off a cover tackle in the corner to stop another Lions attack though the home team regrouped to score a sixth try, this time from a rolling maul move.

Newark’s third try came on the right wing when Ben Dixon touched down another chip by Offer, but the fly half could not convert the score.

That left Lions 18-46 ahead going into the final 15 minutes. Another line-out drive set up Lions’ seventh try before Newark grabbed a fourth, Offer jinking clear to give the supporting Cove a try-scoring pass.

Offer converted to make the score 53-30 to Lions who finished off by collecting an eighth try, which was just about the softest of the lot, Newark fighting hard to win a turnover on their own line but then losing possession again.

Newark host Old Northamptonians at Kelham Road next Saturday, kick off 3pm. The match is sponsored by Vice President Tony Masding.

Team: Tate; Dixon, Cox, Birch, Statham; Offer, Matt Clark; Dunning, Tomlinson, Tinsley, James Price, Primett, Webster, Lewis Cove, Neil Clark. Subs: Shiels, Brewer, Dan Price.

Tries: Cox, Statham, Dixon, Cove.

Conversions: Offer (2).

Penalty goals: Offer (2).

Scoring sequence: 3-0 Newark Offer pen, 3-3 pen, 6-3 pen, 6-6 Offer pen, 6-11 try, 6-13 con, 6-18 try, 6-20 con, 6-25 try, 6-27 con, 6-32 try, 6-34 con, 11-34 Cox try. Half-time. 11-39 try, 11-41 con, 16-41 Statham try, 18-41 Offer con, 18-46 try, 23-46 Dixon try, 23-51 try, 23-53 con, 28-53 Cove try, 30-53 Offer con, 30-58 try.

Rob Wildman