For once, Newark started well,

REPORT WRITTEN BY ROB WILDMAN

Newark Rugby Club

Midlands One East

Newark 10 Old Northamptonians 5

Newark edged their closest contest of the season so far thanks to a second-half try by full-back Chris Tate and the goal kicking of fly half James Offer.

A good crowd at Kelham Road enjoyed a very competitive match which saw Newark avenge two defeats last season when Old Northamptonians won by a point (30-29) on their trip here and the return game, 40-7.

Newark’s win lifts Matt Clark’s team to third place in the table two points behind the Northampton team, who have now lost their unbeaten tag, and seven behind leaders Peterborough Lions who remain unbeaten in seven games.

The teams turned round 0-0 after a first half when both should have converted chances. For once, Newark started well, straight from the kick off abrasive forward play gaining the momentum.

However, Newark missed two excellent try-scoring chances especially when centre Kent Birch was tackled short at the corner having taken Offer’s long pass.

Newark had to overcome injury to lock James Price in a first half which ended in the sin binning of Richard Primett after a series of infringements.

The Northampton team, who missed two penalty kicks, had an extended period of pressure but good defence and the half-time whistle kept the visitors out.

Newark started the second half in the same way as the first and this time the pressure paid off when Offer’s crossfield kick to the corner caused panic in the ON’s defence and Tate won the race to touchdown the rebound off a defender.
Offer landed the difficult conversion to put Newark 7-0 ahead five minutes into the half and he had a chance to put his team further ahead but missed a penalty attempt in the 60th minute.

Newark continued on the attack and an excellent counter attack, led by centre Matt Cox, triggered a fine attacking move which ended in a frustrating knock on.

A further score would have settled the game but Cox, again, was held up after another spell of good pressure.

Offer kicked a penalty in the 66th minute to put Newark 10-0 up and that seemed to be the match.

However, ON’s, despite the sin binning of two players, were helped by the match going to uncontested scrums because of the yellow cards and injuries.

A late try cut Newark’s lead and gained the Northampton team a losing bonus point but they could not force any more scores to rob the home team of another deserved victory.

Newark travel to Paviors next Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Newark v ONs: Tate; Dixon, Birch, Cox, Statham; Offer, Matt Clark; Dunning, Tomlinson, Shiels, Primett, Price, Webster, Lewis Cove, Brewer.

Subs: Tinsley, Tatham, Galinski.

Try: Tate.

Conversion: Offer.

Penalty: Offer.

Sin bin: Primett.

Scoring sequence: 0-0 ht. 5-0 Tate try, 7-0 Tate con, 10-0 Tate pen, 10-5 try ON.

Rob Wildman