This victory was earned on the back of some solid scrummaging allied to determined tackling in the face of a stubborn Cleethorpes side whose lowly league position belied their determination to play some attractive, running rugby.

In between, Newark showed we have our own dangerous runners able to mount their own breakouts when under pressure.

At one stage the "Meggies" fought back from a two score deficit to cut Newark's lead to just two points before running out of steam in the last quarter.

They began brightly after a turnover and break down the blind side before hooker Nathan Leeson reduced the pressure with a line-breaking run of his own. A pick and go by the ever powerful Dan Singer got Newark on the board before a Cleethorpes player was given a yellow card for a high tackle.

A Newark line out and rolling maul - an effective weapon throughout the game - ended with the ball being spun to Singer who crossed for his second. Centre Harry Waterhouse converted to give Newark a comfortable 12-0 lead.

The visitors cut that to nine points with a penalty in difficult kicking conditions before a well judged kick from Newark put them under pressure in their own 22. A poor attempted clearance was regained by Newark with the ball eventually reaching winger Tom Partridge who dived over for Newark's third try to make the half time score 17-3.

Cleethorpes started the second half as well as they started the first but this time they were able to turn pressure into points with two tries - one of them converted.

Newark's forward power was rewarded with a penalty try when Cleethorpes collapsed the scrum as they were being marched back towards their own line. Partridge then regathered a long Cleethorpes kick before sprinting infield. The ball reached Waterhouse who stepped inside and raced under the posts for a try he converted.

In the dying moments of the game Waterhouse intercercepted in midfield deep in his own half before outsprinting the chasing defence to touch down for his second.

This was ultimately a deserved victory in the mud against a team which never gave up. It should also be remembered that , despite their position in the league, Cleethorpes are actually the only side that has beaten the current 2nd placed team Market Rasen this season in Rasen's own backyard. With five games to go, Newark's aim must now be to finish in third place.