In the end there was no argument that the Leicestershire team deserved their victory. But neither is there an argument that the score flattered the victors.

Down to 14 men twice in the match, Newark visibly began to tire in the last 15 minutes and Birstall were able to find the gaps as they flung the ball wide to run in three tries.

This marked the last game for a player who approaches legendary status at Newark. Chris Tate joined Newark 17 years ago and had a stint as a popular club captain. His experience and calm authority in the last game of last season helped Newark to avoid relegation and those qualities were once again on display in this match. He is moving to new pastures in the South West and he leaves with the very best wishes of this club.

Birstall may not be the most attractive side to watch but the difference was that they took their chances - not to say half chances - whereas Newark spurned most of theirs.

Our lineout was imperious throughout the game with hooker Jamie Vinters unerringly hitting his man and flanker Josh Codd taking his own and a fair bit of the opposition's ball. By contrast, Birstall's early line out play was frankly shambolic and it's a great shame we weren't able to capitalise more on their errors.

Newark were the better side for the first twenty minutes and could have , some might say should have, scored three or four tries. But it was Birstall who took the lead when a powerful scrum ended in a converted try. They went over again shortly afterwards when they fielded a loose kick and went through several phrases before crossing in the corner.

The visitors then went down to 14 men for the first time when fullback Johnny Marshall was yellow carded for lashing out in a tackle and a driving maul then led to Birstall's third try.

A maul in Birstall's own 22 ended with a penalty and quick thinking enabled scrum half Rhys Overland to force his way over. Fly half Matt Cox converted.

Unfortunately, with the last play of the half Birstall stretched their lead to 24-7 from a solid scrum .

Soon after the re-start , Overland was unlucky not to score another from short range. He was clearly tackled around the neck as he dived for the line but the offence went unpunished.

Nice handling by Newark from deep in their own 22 led to a breakout down the right. The ball eventually found its way to left winger Calum Holmes who was tap tackled just as he seemed to have earned a clear run to the line.

A Newark line out in Birstall's 22 was followed by a well worked driving maul of our own. When that came to a halt , Vinters found space on the blind side and dived in at the corner - just reward for an all action performance. His try made it a two score game and with flankers Jordan Cooling and Nathan Leeson punching a few holes, Newark were still in the game with 20 minutes to go.

But another Birstall try from a driving maul made it 29-12 and any remote chance of a comeback was effectively ended when young second row Finn Bennett was harshly shown a red card for what the referee judged was contact to the head when chasing his own kick through and making the follow up tackle.

With the clock ticking down , an increasingly voluble Birstall side - backed by their even more boisterous fans - were able to run in three more tries, accompanied by more whooping and hollering than was strictly necessary. In fact they could probably lay claim to being the noisiest team in this league.

And that takes some doing.

Tries: Rhys Overland, Jamie Vinters.
Conversion: Matt Cox