A try-scoring bonus point from this narrow win

Report written by Rob Wildman

Saturday, Nov 2

Midlands One East

Newark 27 Peterborough 24

A late try by wing Nick Galinski rescued Newark from the embarrassment of losing to bottom-placed Peterborough at Kelham Road.

Galinski galloped clear from the final move of the game following a break led by hooker Ian Tomlinson who had earlier scored one of Newark’s four other tries.

Newark collected a try-scoring bonus point from this narrow win which was played in rain, wind and sun. It leaves the team in third place a point behind Derby and eight off leaders Peterborough Lions.

Galinski’s late try edged Newark in front again after Peterborough had rallied to take hold of the game at 24-22 thanks to a try and a penalty goal in close succession.
Those scores came in a calamitous period for Newark who had Joe Tinsley and Matt Brewer sin binned having built a lead of 22-16.

Newark began the match slowly and realised they were in for a close tussle when Peterborough opened the scoring through a converted try. And the visitors should have had more than a 7-0 lead from that early dominance.

Good play by flanker Lewis Cove paved the way for Newark’s first try from full-back Mark Byrom but further mistakes allowed Peterborough two penalty goals for a 13-5 lead.

Newark responded by putting together another good passage of play for Tomlinson, following a break by centre Kent Birch, to score a try which Offer converted.
Those points pulled the deficit back to 12-13 only for Peterborough to kick a third penalty goal in the lead up to half-time.

Newark, 12-16 down at half-time, made three changes at the break bringing on Aloesi Waqalevu at centre, prop Jason Barnsdale and back-rower Neil Clark.

With the elements behind them, Newark looked to have found some form through a penalty from Offer and the best try of the match when Waqalevu burst clear from halfway, having taken the ball on a sharp diagonal run.
Offer converted Waqalevu’s try which put Newark 22-16 up.

However, Peterborough were not finished and helped by those two sin bins charged back to regain the advantage through a try and penalty.

Newark looked to be heading for only a second defeat of the season until they overturned a line-out which ended in Tomlinson charging clear before linking to Galinski.

Relief all round at Kelham Road.

Next stop for Newark is a trip to Bugbrooke in Northants next Saturday, kick off 2.15pm.

Scoring sequence: 0-7 try & con Peterborough, 5-7 Mark Byrom try, 5-10 pen Peterborough, 5-13 pen Peterborough, 12-13 Tomlinson try, Offer con, 12-16 Peterborough pen. Half-time. 15-16 Offer pen, 22-16 Waqalevu try, Offer con, 22-21 Peterborough try, 22-24 Peterborough pen, 27-24 Galinski try.

Team: Mark Byrom; Tate, Birch, Cox, Galinski; Offer, Matt Clark (capt); Dunning, Tomlinson, Tinsley, Tatham, Primett, Webster, Lewis Cove, Brewer.

Subs: Jason Barnsdale, Neil Clark, Waqalevu.

Tries: Mark Byrom, Tomlinson, Waqalevu, Galinski.

Conversions: Offer (2).

Penalty goal: Offer.

Sin bins: Tinsley, Brewer.

Rob Wildman