Outlaws open with home win
NOTTINGHAM Outlaws returned to league action with a 28-14 home win against New Earswick All Blacks.
It was the Outlaws’ first league game at Lenton Lane since August 2019 and they produced some excellent attacking rugby to finish on top in this Yorkshire Premier Division fixture.
They opened the scoring when a free-flowing move from right to left eventually saw Charlie Clarke scorch over following some good footwork to make it 4-0 with less than five minutes played.
But with 10 minutes of the first half remaining, New Earswick came to life and winger Dean Smith went over to make it 4-4.
That drew an instant response from the Outlaws, who stormed back up the field.
A huge run down the middle by prop Mike Stewart split open the New Earswick defence and rookie player-coach Adam Cunliffe popped up on his shoulder to take the pass out of the tackle and put the Outlaws back in front within a minute of conceding.
Gaz Whitfield added the extras for a 10-4 lead.
New Earswick reduced that advantage with a Ben Husband try after the break and the Outlaws were rocked when second row Oliver Dale suffered a bad ankle injury, leading to a 15-minute stoppage.
The home side stretched their lead with another converted try by man of the match Clarke, before George Strachan went over for a converted try to establish a 22-8 lead.
Husband scored his second try for New Earswick but Outlaws clinched the win with a second Cunliffe try, which was converted.