Sat 2 Sep 2023
Newport 26-12 Luctonians
Newport welcomed Luctonians to the Old Showground for a bright spectacle of rugby with both sides alert to the other’s ability to exploit errors. Tense and tentative in parts, Newport claimed better territory but only one point advantage at the turnaround, but started the second half with greater energy. The cushion provided by Ed Udale’s long penalties settled Newport and although Luctonians threatened dangerously, Newport always looked as though they would score more.
Despite Udale grasping a shorter three-point lead in the opening minutes, Newport still seemed to rush their possession. Solid scrummaging was bolstered by dependable lineouts with Jake Goulson and Luc Barrat giving Newport a sound foundation to work from. When Richard Biggins snaffled Luctonians overthrow, he automatically instigated attack mode. Newport moved to the right wing but were closed down by Luctonians. Luke Kendall, Fergus Lamb and Neil Weston probed for openings, drawing Luctonians in, but the escape pass failed to hit its target. Next moving left, Will Roddy and Sam Jones kept the attack alive returning possession to Roddy for his debut try for the Legion.
Luctonians reacted and Newport needed to respond defending deep. Luctonians chip and run made it over the goalline but failed to ground the ball, providing Newport with a warning and reprieve. Newport remained resolute tackling hard, Biggins forcing Luctonians up and back, but Luctonians kept pressing and with a player advantage in the closing stages of the first half, squeezed into the corner.
With greater verve and added poise, Newport attacked convincingly from the restart. Matty Lake was unable to add to Newport’s tally after charging into the same ungrounded corner. Newport’s focus did not wane keeping Luctonians at bay whilst searching for points, though it wasn’t until Udale’s brace of 40-yard penalties midway through the half that then saw Newport kick on.
But first some defending as Luctonians threatened on Newport’s tryline. Newport blocked and repelled with renewed confidence, forcing Luctonians into reverse and conceding the penalty. Now Newport mauled forward, chipped and chased, recycled through the phases creating an unstoppable momentum, concluding with Rob Taylor’s inverted diagonal, dancing over Luctonians tackles beyond the tryline.
With six minutes remaining, a Newport knock-on, a lapse in concentration and Luctonians seized their opportunity. Newport tried to react, tackling valiantly but always a rearguard action and with penalty advantage, Luctonians exploited a swing in momentum to get their second try.
Newport, keen to finish on a positive note and demonstrate the momentum swing was only temporary, attacked the final moments with a flourish. Udale, initiating the breakthrough, caused mayhem amongst Luctonian’s defence and when Taylor accepted Lamb’s sublime pass at full pelt, he glided through on the left wing for his second and the final action of the day.
Once the understandable remnanants of early nervousness in first-game-syndrome were despatched, Newport provided a thoroughly solid and competent performance in defence, whilst their attack was laced with dashes of brilliance and progressive rugby against a very credible and dangerous opponent. An extremely promising start.
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