Newark fought back to gain a deserved share of the spoils on the club’s first trip to Birmingham-based Old Saltleians.

The home side grabbed the lead in the second half but Newark finished stronger and gained a 19-19 draw thanks to tries from two ex-colts in centre Joshie Waqalevu and wing Henry Allen.

The team led 7-0 at half-time after a try from all-action back-rower Sean Denning which was converted by fly half George Leeson.

Here director of rugby Tim Barker reports on a first match between the clubs.

We were given a warm welcome to Old Saltleians and their two-year-old facilities. The pitch was in good condition and the weather stayed fine.

Our research had told us to expect a big pack and we weren’t wrong! However, the young side took it to the hosts and did most of the pressing without reward in the early stages.

George Leeson struck the outside of the posts with a penalty attempt and somewhat untypically for a Newark match the game was approaching half-time with a scoreline of 0 - 0.

And it was the visitors who broke the deadlock when scrum half James Tarbatt took the ball blind, fed Leeson who sold a nice dummy to buy himself a couple of metres to put Ed Clayton away to take us up to the 5 meter line.

The Newark pack were patient allowing Tarbatt to assess the options and put the prolific Sean Denning over near the posts to give Leeson a straightforward conversion to take Newark into a deserved 7-0 lead at half-time.

The second half started badly. They conceded a penalty on their 22 which OS duly converted and then mishandled good attacking ball on the home 10- metre line.

The OS centre gathered up the loose ball and showed a clean pair of heels to score under the points. The conversion took the home side to an improbable 10 - 7 lead.

Things got worse for Newark when a goal line drop went straight to the OS fly half who took aim and kicked a punishing drop goal to make it 13 - 7.

The visitors stuck to the task and worked their way back up the park. Tarbatt fed Clayton who again made valuable yards. Tarbatt then moved the ball left and captain Olly Dodders took the ball to 10 out before releasing Denning who made another couple of metres.

Tarbatt then sent a long pass out to full-back Noah Catley who moved the ball smartly through his hands to put centre Joshie Waqalevu in just enough space for him to crash over. Leeson couldn’t add the extras but Newark were back in the game at 13 - 12.

However, it was the home side who stretched their lead with two penalties in quick succession to open up a 7 point gap with 10 minutes to go.

To their credit, the young Newark side kept pushing and when Tarbatt trapped a loose clearance just inside the OS half it allowed Denning to make one his trade mark runs and set up a promising midfield position.

The ball moved right before Leeson missed out Catley to allow Matt Walton to put wing Henry Allen in a bit of space.

Allen still had a lot to do but his pace took him past five covering defenders and he got near enough to the posts to make the conversion a formality for Leeson.

That made it 19-19 with five minutes to go and Newark quickly got back on the attack. However, despite the scoreboard clock showing two minutes to go, the referee blew for time.

Without doubt it was a frustrating end to the game, but one which the Newark side should take a lot of heart from.

The intensity of Newark’s defence and tackle count was outstanding. There was certainly a period in the middle of the second half when things were a bit flat and not going our way but to their credit, the young side found a way and were fully deserving of two points for the draw.

It’s difficult to pick individuals, but special mention should go to Ted Coen who went for 80 minutes at hooker on his 1st XV start and man of the match Sean Denning, but really everyone involved should take great credit for coming through a tricky assignment.

The 1sts next match is on Saturday week (12 October) at home to Melbourne, kick off 3pm. All welcome. There is no match next weekend – it is a scheduled rest day in the league programme.

Team v Old Saltleians: Catley; Allen, Waqalevu, Walton, Holmes; Leeson, Tarbatt; White, Coen, Wright, Wilby, Jackson, Dodders (capt), Clayton, Denning. Subs: Turnock, O’Leary.

Tries: Denning, Waqalevu, Allen. Conversions: Leeson (2).