A ruthless performance from Newark

Since then , the Holme Pierrepont-based club has enjoyed something of a renaissance , and an unbeaten run of four games included last week's victory over Southwell 2nds who at the time were top of the league.

They may have turned the corner but at Kelham Road they ran smack into a Newark juggernaut which was determined to retain the league leadership for itself.

The last time wingers Ovi Gilder and Tom Partridge lined up in the same team they shared seven tries between them. This time it was only five - although 18-year-old Gilder's searing pace earned him his second hat trick in as many senior appearances.

As hard as Nottinghamians fought - they ended up with a try bonus point - things would undoubtedly have been worse if an injury to one of their props had not led to uncontested scrums after 20 minutes.

The very first scrum saw them shoved back at least 20 metres and the second ended with a try for the returning Alex O'Dell. Another short range scrum moments later led to a try for Rhys Overland.

Gilder opened his account following a long kick from Robbie Hunter-Shaw from deep in his own half. The dawdling Nottinghamhamian defenders were simply caught unawares by Gilder's speed.

A free flowing counter attack from Newark's 22 began with second row Alex Hales demanding the ball from a breakdown, a flowing move and well timed passes ended with Gilder again sprinting untouched for his second.

With Newark 24-0 up (O'Dell adding two conversions) things looked bleak for the visitors but their Centre found himself in space after a neat dummy and his own impressive turn of speed took him to the line for a converted try.

Nottinghamians' solid fly half had another decent game, never slow to run at the defence, but he made a terrible error in trying to kick to his winger in his own 22. Instead the towering kick was well taken by Aloesi Buds Waqalevu who went over after some nimble footwork wrong-footed the covering defence,

However another long range try from half way by Nottinghamians led to a converted try to make the score 31-14 at half time.

Gilder scored his hat trick try one minute after the restart with another gallop before temporarily going off with an ankle injury.

Olly Cooke chipped in with one for the forwards after Nottinghamians fumbled the ball while trying to counter attack from their own 22. Then Chris Tate broke free and a nicely timed pass to Partridge enabled the right winger to sprint in for his first.

A break and sniping run from O'Dell led to a try for Hunter-Shaw after nice link work from Rafa Ruiz. The visitors added a third before Ben Jackson crashed over from short range.
An interception try gave Nottinghamians their bonus point try before Hunter-Shaw broke loose to feed Gilder. This time the teeneager was caught before he could claim his fourth try but he was able to slip the ball away to Partridge who ended the try fest with his second.

Despite their recent run of good form, Nottinghamians turned up with only 16 players and were weakened by the non availability of key players.

Nevertheless this was [b]a ruthless performance from Newark[/b and the scoreline could have been much worse for the visitors. Once again it feels unfair to single out individuals over and above the try scorers but Ben Wells. Matt Christian and Alex Hales made the hard yards as usual - with Hales in particular proving to be a destructive force throughout the game. Rhys Overland also had another solid game at fly half, picking up a couple of passes off his toes and launching several swift attacks.

The victory leaves us four points clear on top with seven games to go.

Tries: Ovi Gilder (3), Tom Partridge (2), Rhys Overland, Alex O'Dell, Aloesi Waqalevu, Olly Cooke, Hunter-Shaw, Ben Jackson.