Bonus point in the mud
Saturday 19 Jan
Midlands Two East North
Ashbourne 13 Newark 7
Newark gained a deserved losing bonus point from a tough a trip to Ashbourne on Saturday.
Down 13-0, an injury-hit team responded to force a penalty try some 10 minutes from time.
The Newark team included newcomer Connor Bice on the wing and the return of two colts who were on duty for NLD last weekend in back-rowers James Brogden and Will Seage.
Alex Scott started at fly half for the injured Matt Cox while at No 8 Jaymie Duncan deputised for Dave Garland.
On a cold wet day which looked quite familiar to the hosts, a very heavy ground did not really suit Newark but nevertheless they competed well at the breakdown and tackled relentlessly with the returning Max Spurr showing up well. The weather made it difficult for either side to make any real inroads
It took until a yellow card for Robbie Hunter-Shaw for a team offence near the Newark line for the home side to go over on the wide left after 20 minutes.
Newark lost Jason Matthysz to a leg injury which saw a re-shuffle with Mason Coulam moving to No8, Jaymie Duncan moving to the second row and Franny Appleton coming on in the front row.
Newark seemed to be holding out well until just before half-time when the home side secured a line out 10 yards out and created an unstoppable driving line out and went 10-0 up at the break.
With conditions not improving Newark needed a boost but although their defence held up well they eventually conceded a penalty which was converted to make it 13-0.
It seemed a long way back, however Newark buckled down and despite losing Lewis Himsworth and Billy Charles to a leg and shoulder injuries respectively which emptied Newark’s bench with Haydn Godfrey joining the back row and Alex Henderson going onto the wing with Spurr moving in to the centre.
Despite the disruptions Newark continued to press and some determined runs took them to 5 meters out. A concerted drive forced the home side to illegally drop the maul and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try which put the visitors within a score with 10 minutes to go.
Neither side could add to the score line and so Newark left with a losing bonus point which keeps them 8th in the League, the same number as Lincoln, the visitors to Kelham Road next Saturday (Jan 28), kick off 3pm.
Newark team v Ashbourne: Hunter-Shaw; Spurr, Charles, Britten, Bice; Scott, Overland; Coulam, Chapple, Himsworth, Ellison, Mathysz, Brogden, Seage, Duncan.