OLD LAURENTIANS missed a gilt edged opportunity to win their second game of the season and haul themselves off the bottom of the Midlands 1 East table after falling to a 27-15 defeat at Newark, reports Bill Wallis.
The visitors failed to capitalise on a brilliant start and in the end failed to come away with either of the two bonus points available.
A strong OLs side welcomed back Ben Wiles, James Orbinson and Glenn Todd to the starting line-up and although they were reduced to 14 men just five minutes it, they dominated possession in the opening 30 minutes.
They raced into a ten-point lead with strong scrum leading to the first try with Coleman getting away down the blindside at pace to score.
And a second try also came from an attacking scrum when fly half Grant Inch waltzed through the Newark defence to score a fine individual try.
But the warning signs flashed up just before the half-hour mark when Newark drove over from a lineout to score on what was their first visit to OL’s 22.
They pegged OLs back further with a penalty and then took the lead for the first time in added time at the end of the first half when after a series of phases they outflanked the OLs defence to score wide out.
The game was still there for the taking with the visitors just three points down but Newark came out in confidence and picked up where they left at the end of the first period.
Two more tries by the 65th minutes put Newark 27-10 in front which left OLs playing catch up rugby but they had lost all of the cohesion and purpose they had displayed in the first half.
Their cause was not helped by two further yellow cards although they did mount a late rally which saw James Orbinson drive over for a try, but they finished pointless in a game that promised so much more.
OLs now have two weeks to rest, recover and prepare for a huge test when they host rivals Newbold on November 7.
