Mellish 10 Newark 19: Regional Two North Midlands match report

Newark backed up their victory over Walsall last week by producing another resolute performance to win 19-10 at Nottinghamshire rivals Mellish in Regional Two North Midlands on Saturday.

Newark were 10-7 down at half-time and needed tries in the last 15 minutes from George Leeson and Matt Walton to swing the match. Wing Henry Allen continued his try-scoring spree by touching down in the first half.

The conditions were truly awful on Mapperley Plains with a biting wind blowing down the pitch which made the first half hard going for Newark, playing against the wind and up the slope.

It was Newark who got off to the best possible start when they moved the ball right and quick hands found Allen on the outside but still in his own half with an enormous amount to do.

He beat his man on the outside and outpaced the covering defence to go under the posts after four minutes. Alex Scott converted to give Newark an early seven-point lead.

Any thoughts of a rout were quickly dispelled by the home side whose basic game plan suited the appalling conditions. They scored their first try after 14 minutes from a couple of drives close to the Newark line which saw one of their sizeable props crash over from close range. The try was unconverted so Newark held onto a slender lead until just before half-time.

Mellish had a five-metre scrum, broke blind and the winger finished well in the corner. Again, it could not be converted and Newark went into the break 10-7 down but with the wind and slope to look forward to.

As is often the case, things are not quite so straightforward and Mellish stuck to their task to frustrate the visitors. The game entered the final 15 minutes with the home side holding on to their slender lead.

Newark were beginning to exert constant pressure and when Tom O’Leary went close the ball was recycled right to Leeson who, with a neat show and go, powered over from short range. He could not convert his own try but Newark had regained the lead at 12-10, but crucially any score from Mellish would give them the game.

Two minutes later the visitors killed off any chance Mellish had of producing a late twist in the tale. Leeson took the ball on his own 22 and effortlessly kicked it down the park. It came to rest in the Mellish dead ball area, but rather than settle for a goal line drop out the Mellish player ran it out but was brought down by the impressive Ed Clayton.

The ball went loose and was snapped up by a grateful Walton, who dotted down near the posts. Leeson converted to give the visitors a deserved 19-10 lead.

Victory keeps the team in sixth place ahead of another local derby this Saturday at home to Paviors, kick-off 2.15pm at Kelham Road.

Newark 2nds, who travel to Derby on Saturday, had a tough afternoon at home to Melton 1sts, losing 29-5 at Kelham Road.