Regional 2 North Midlands: Newark 24 Melbourne 29 match report
Newark had another frustrating afternoon in narrowly losing 29-24 to Melbourne at Kelham Road in Regional 2 North Midlands on Saturday.
Late pressure might have brought a winning score but in the end the home team had to settle for two bonus points for losing by seven points or fewer and scoring four tries.
Each team scored four tries but Melbourne always had the edge and two tries before half-time proved crucial. Newark substitute George Bacon scored two second-half tries to help gain the bonus points.
On a bright day in front of a large crowd, it was the visitors who opened the scoring after 16 minutes with a converted try from a rolling maul to lead 7-0.
Newark were soon back in the game when, from a dominant scrum, the returning Alex Scott found himself in space and made enough ground to give wing Henry Allen just enough space to beat his man on the outside for a good try.
Two Melbourne tries right at the end of the half meant they went into half-time with a 19-5 lead.
Newark started the second half in determined fashion and, from another powerful scrum, No.8 Sean Denning broke open and fed scrum half James Tarbatt who found Matt Walton cutting back on a great line to go in under the posts.
Newark were back in the game at 19-12 but they again failed to stamp their authority and when a kick downfield was fed to the influential Melbourne scrum half he found his half back partner out wide. He should have been tackled into touch but instead found his way down the touchline to give the visitors their fourth try and a seemingly unassailable 26-12 lead.
To their credit, the young Newark side had different ideas. Man-of-the-match Walton seized on a loose ball and hacked forward to within a couple of metres, where he was able to pop the ball up to the supporting Bacon who went in under the posts, the conversion reducing the deficit to seven points.
Newark continued to press and opt for scrums from the litany of penalties that the visitors were conceding. Despite this overwhelming scrum dominance and the resulting penalties, the referee failed to go to his pocket and the visitors were allowed to continually infringe.
From another of those scrums, the ball found its way to centre Joshie Waqalevu who ran straight and found fly half George Leeson. He fed Scott who put out a long bouncing ball to Bacon, who forced his way over right in the corner. Leeson was unable to convert but Newark had fought back to 26-24.
The resulting re-start just about summed up Newark’s day, though, as the ball was allowed to bounce into touch on the home 22.
Although Newark secured the line-out, the ball was moved wide rather than being cleared downfield. After another chance to clear, a penalty was conceded which gifted Melbourne three points and a 29-24 win.
Newark, who are at home again this Saturday against Tamworth (kick-off 3pm), sit eighth in the table with one win from five games.
Newark 2nds endured a tough trip to Mosborough, losing 86-19, but the club’s colts team continued their winning ways by beating Melton 47-33 in the Notts, Lincs & Derbys Cup.
Mateusz Dogiel and Elliott Paley scored two ties each and one came from Nathan Churchill, Toby Marshall and Oliver Brewer. Robbie Scouler kicked six conversions.
