Newark Rugby Club claim last-gasp victory in derby game against Southwell
A topsy-turvy local derby ended in a second victory this season at the death for Will Britten’s team over their Southwell rivals.
Before Christmas, Newark won the local bragging rights thanks to a 28-27 win topped off by a late try from Sean Denning and Alex O’Dell’s conversion.
This time at Kelham Road, Newark’s first team again overcame Southwell thanks to a last-gasp try from prop Mattie Ashton and a conversion from Alex Scott to win 33-27.
Southwell, like they did at Park Lane in December, built a lead only to see Newark finish the stronger in a ten-try thriller — each team scoring five.
Newark’s director of rugby Tim Barker told the Advertiser he expected the biggest crowd of the season, and he got just that as hundreds flooded to Kelham Road.
“It was a breathtaking finish which left the huge, vocal home crowd jubilant,” he said.
“Overall, though, it was a good day for local rugby and both sides should take great credit from an excellent contest played in the best spirit.”
The big crowd, which included two watching former Lions in Southwell coach Andy Powell and Newark’s life member Dusty Hare, endured a scrappy as Southwell broke the deadlock after 15 minutes with a try in the corner.
Newark drew level mid-way through the half from a line-out five metres from the visiting line.
No 8 Jonathan Webster took the ball at two and his pack mates drove for the line and were rewarded when Sean Denning broke off and went over.
Newark then took the lead soon after following another line-out this time on half-way.
The ball was moved quickly by the half-backs to captain Will Britten who shaped to kick but instead fed full-back Alex Scott just inside his own half.
The Southwell defenders seemed to expect a pass to wing Josh Ashe, but Scott had other ideas and dummied and sprinted in from 50 metres for a try which he converted for a 12-5 lead.
Southwell thought they had regained the lead moving towards half-time as they looked set to go over near the posts, but the impressive Sam Dobson somehow made the tackle and held his opponent up for a goal line drop out to Newark.
It seemed as though that was to be the position heading for half-time, but the visitors had other ideas.
They put together seven or eight phases of sustained pressure to end up scoring in the right corner.
The hosts held a slender lead at half time of 12-10 but there was clearly more to come.
It was Southwell who started the second half the stronger and they leapt ahead, 15-12.
The Newark crowd were then treated to the try of the game in a move which started from a scrum on their own line.
Although under pressure, Neawrk’s Jonathan Webster picked up and made good ground before the ball was quickly recycled.
Tarbatt and Walton moved the ball quickly to full-back Scott, who, still in his own 22 drew his man and fed wing Josh Ashe.
The passing move finished with young wing Josh Ashe comfortably beating the Southwell full-back and, despite the covering winger doing his best to get to him before the corner, Ashe checked and stepped inside to go over near the posts.
Scott converted to give Newark a 19-15 lead with 20 minutes to go.
However, it never looked as though that was going to be the last score.
Southwell had a scrum five metres out and a simple switch from their fly-half to the centre cutting back saw him go over for a try, which was converted to make it 20-19 and a nail-biting last 15 minutes was assured.
And Southwell must have thought they’d secured the win when they went ahead with two quick-fire tries to give a 27-19 lead with less than ten to play.
Newark, however, had other ideas as centre Toby Taylor reduced the deficit before Scott converted to make it a one-point ball game at 27-26 to Southwell with five minutes left.
With time running out, Southwell conceded a series of penalties that allowed the home side to advance through their reliable line-out to a position in the visiting 22.
The ball was secured and driven on as the impressive Denning peeled off and drove for the line but was brought down with five metres to go.
However, Ashton picked up and drove over the line for a try which Scott converted with the last kick of the match to make it 33-27 to Newark.
Victory moved Newark to fourth, while Southwell remain eighth.
