Newark progress in National Cup
Newark produced some excellent rugby after a sticky start had seen the visitors lead 6-0 in this Intermediate Cup first-round match at Kelham Road.
Two early penalty goals rewarded Stewarts & Lloyds for an enterprising opening that caught a rejigged Newark team off guard on a hot afternoon.
However, fortunes changed very quickly and Newark’s stronger runners took control as the half progressed led by the confident counter-attacking of full-back Josh Watts.
Newark finished up winners by eight tries to nil to put the squad in good heart for the league challenges to come.
A much-changed team from the previous win at Ashfield brought recalls in the backline for centre Billy Charles, wing Toby Taylor and scrum-half Sam Booth.
Up front, lock George Woodman returned to partner Will Ellison with Will Seage teaming up in a back row alongside coach Adam Corcoran, once more starting at No 8 due to injuries.
It was a try outwide by Taylor, escaping down the left after good work by Booth, which started Newark’s dominance.
That was continued by a try upfront from prop Mason Coulam followed by Booth finishing off a dash down the left led by Taylor.
To finish the half, Rhys Overland showed his pace on the right by collecting his own chip ahead courtesy of an acrobatic tumble.
The four scores put Newark 24-6 up – fly half Alex O’Dell having kicked two conversions.
Newark enjoyed the bulk of possession in the second half and added four more tries. Substitute Fran Appleton crashed over for the fifth to be followed by another powerful charge from newcomer Josh Stamp.
To finish off, the referee awarded a penalty try to Newark while the final score went to Woodman. In all, O’Dell kicked six conversions.
Overall, the performance was encouraging and makes for plenty of competition in the squad to face Coalville in a league game at Kelham Road, next Saturday (Sept 28), kick off 3pm.
Newark team v S & L: Watts; Overland, Charles, Birch, Taylor; O’Dell, Booth; Coulam, Quinlan, Hempstead, Woodman, Ellison, Seage, Duncan, Corcoran.
Subs: Appleton, Matthysz, Stamp.
Tries: Taylor, Coulam, Booth, Overland, Appleton, Stamp, pen try, Woodman. Conversions: O’Dell (6).