Newark 80 Mellish 7: Regional Two Midlands North match report as Newark score 12 tries in biggest win of the season

Newark Rugby Club’s first team collected 12 tries in posting their biggest win of the season, overpowering Mellish 80-7 in Regional Two Midlands North at Kelham Road on Saturday.

The win means the team are certain to finish sixth before their final league match at Matlock on Saturday, April 5.

The best moment against Mellish came right at the start when debutant Elliott Paley scored a try off his first touch, the scrum-half racing away from a line-out ploy on the left wing.

Paley, a member of the triumphant colts squad who had won the Notts, Lincs & Derbys Cup the week before, followed that score up by gaining a second try 17 minutes later when he chipped and chased his own kick ahead.

Newark commanded the match from the start and played their most confident rugby in a first half which saw them lead 45-0 at the interval.

Besides Paley, who was joined from the colts squad by second-half substitute Nate Churchill, the tries came at more than a point a minute through Ovi Gilder, captain Olly Dodders, Tom O’Leary and Henry Allen.

Gilder sped in for two tries in the first half and two more in the second half for a four-try haul.

Mellish, to their credit, kept tackling and competing to grab a consolation score.

In addition for Newark, lock Will Ellison and James Tarbatt, at centre to accommodate Paley, also contributed in the second half alongside another for the dashing Allen out wide. Fly-half George Leeson kept the scoreboard ticking by converting 10 of the tries.

There is no first team match this Saturday as the club has withdrawn from the Notts, Lincs & Derbys Cup.

Newark 2nds are scheduled to be playing at home to Boston (3pm) at Kelham Road in the Notts, Lincs & Derbys Shield.

Newark women’s team claimed their sixth victory in a row, winning 36-10 at Market Harborough on Sunday.

Wing Daisy Luckett contributed three tries and Paige Hancox scored two. Prop Abigail Moorhouse also scored plus there were three conversions from Ella Turlukowsky and one by Katharine Robinson.