Newark hold on for Vase victory

A second-half try by former captain Ed Collishaw helped Newark to a hard-earned win over Dronfield in the NLD Vase on Saturday.

Newark needed a second-half surge to overtake the stubborn Dronfield team who led 11-3 half an hour into the first half.

Dronfield took an early 3-0 lead, and scored the game’s first try to put Newark on the back foot after 20 minutes, but fly-half Matt Cox’s penalty reduced the deficit, only for the hosts to quickly kick another penalty.

Cox scored a crucial try under the posts and converted to leave Newark just a point behind at the break, with Dronfield leading 11-10.

A third penalty by the Dronfield fly-half stretched the lead to 14-10 early in the second-half, before Cox’s next penalty started to establish Newark’s control.

They went ahead when good work from the forwards was rewarded when Collishaw finished off a move midway into the second-half to put Newark ahead for the first time.

Cox added the extra points through a conversion from the touchline to put Newark 20-14 up, and, despite Dronfield pressing hard in the final minutes, Newark held on to record a narrow win.

Newark return to league action on Saturday, at home to local rivals Paviors, with kick-off at 2.15pm.

The Kelham Road pitch is expected to be playable after the recent flooding.

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