Derby deserved to win

The scoreline doesn't look great but it doesn't really tell the full story.

That Derby deserved to win isn't really in doubt. Whether the final score was a true reflection of this contest is more of a moot point.

With around five minutes of the match remaining, Newark were within a score of snatching victory and seemed to be finishing strongly. But two late tries from a well-drilled home side sealed the victory although we can take some comfort from a four try bonus point.

Derby's win was built around a rock-solid lineout. They also re-cycled the ball well and rarely gave it up in contact.

It was an unfortunate start for Newark, turning over possession after receiving the kick off. Determined defence frustrated Derby for the next few minutes - they were held up three times over our line - before a series of penalties ended with their opening try. Their second came moments later when they pushed Newark off their own scrum ball. Their scorer clearly knocked the ball on as he went to pick up but the referee was on the other side of the scrum and the try stood. The conversion made it 12-0. That powerful Derby scrum sounded alarm bells but that was really the only time they caused major problems in the set piece. Our own scrum had Derby going backwards at times - particularly in the second half.

This seemed to galvanise Newark with Hayden Godfrey and Jack Stickings in particular asking questions of the Derby defence. Godfrey then managed to wrestle possession at the breakdown and a sweet pass from centre Noah Catley created a try for scrum half Eliot Bratton - a good start for the number nine who had a fine all round game. He may not be the biggest but he never takes a backward step and is happy to stand his ground against the biggest of forwards.

Rhys Overland converted and then a penalty from the fly half reduced Derby's lead to 12-10. But a try from a line out and a series of drives followed by a breakout try gave them a more comfortable gap before Stickings once again used his power and balance to step through a number of despairing tackles to make it 26-15 at half time.

Soon after the restart winger Will Hickton made another of his trademark cover tackles to snuff out what seemed to be a certain try for Derby's right winger and Stickings sparked a nice counter attack with a sweet reverse pass out the back.

A line out on our five metre line led to a converted Derby try before Newark began another fight back. A quick tapped penalty from skipper Ben Wells was spun wide and winger Scott Edmed stepped through a couple of tackles to score his eighth try in just 11 games. Overland converted.

Then came the best try of the game. Bratton broke from a scrum on half way and raced around 40 metres before a lovely well-timed pass found Robbie Hunter-Shaw in support. The centre's power took him through two attempted tackles . Overland's conversion made it 33-29 and Newark seemed a decent bet for a win before Derby sealed it with those two late converted tries.

Once again, some of the defence from Newark was heroic. We lost two players to injury - Will Seage and Sam Bell - but replacements Alex Tuscher and Nathan Leeson both impressed with some hard running when they came on. It was also pleasing to note that 12 of the matchday squad are players who've all come up through Newark's youth system.

The bonus point leaves us five points clear of the drop zone.

Tries: Eliot Bratton, Jack Stickings, Scott Edmed, Robbie Hunter-Shaw
Conversions: Rhys Overland (3)
Penalties: Overland