Sat 16 Sep 2023
Home to Tenbury 16th September 2023
Newport 53-26 Tenbury
Yet another convincingly comprehensive performance from Newport’s strong Second XV, effectively had the tie complete at half-time. But Tenbury weren’t about to acquiesce and burst into life in the second half. Newport rallied their fightback to keep Tenbury at bay but were unable to prevent Tenbury from having the last word.
Newport started with electric speed both carrying and moving the ball, Rhys Morgan leading by example and then on-hand to turn inside to complete Newport’s first try after Sam Sergeant’s weave between Tenbury’s line created the space.
Full-back Max Swan continually joined Newport’s attacking line adding sharpness to Newport’s offensive and it was with rapid hands through the back-line where Newport added their next two. First from right wing to left, where James Bent the recipient and then the opposite direction culminating with Rhys Williams over the line.
Newport’s forwards then spearheaded Newport’s attack with Tom Cowell and Richard Biggins adding to Morgan’s yards providing Sergeant with a short distance to the tryline, once he’d stepped through Tenbury’s line. And Newport’s dominant scrum and mauling allowing Luke Kendall to clock thirty-one points without reply.
However, Tenbury then sought to break Newport’s dominance applying considerable pressure inside Newport’s 22. Driving tackles from Biggins and Jordan Grass kept Tenbury at bay and then the sucker-punch; rapid turnover and Rhys Williams full pitch gallop added yet another for Newport. Harry Bailey then drew Tenbury’s defence and offloading to Bent who turned inside at the left-wing corner to extend Newport to forty-one points.
Tenbury stole the momentum after the break and Newport struggled to wrest it back. Will Galbraith’s thumping tackle to take Tenbury out-of-play synonymous with Newport’s necessary toil to counter Tenbury’s efforts. Tenbury bought themselves a pair of tries moving much more quickly to find spaces in Newport’s defence.
Newport remained composed to stem the tide despite conceding another between their own pair of tries. Newport’s experienced forwards mauled ten yards and another 10 yards for Jake Goulson to add Newport’s eighth and driving the scrum for Kendall place Newport’s final score.
The job was done even though Tenbury ran through centrally to end the game, Newport’s consummate performance was beyond doubt. Solid forward play with Galbraith and Kendall jackling late on, the scrum bullying Tenbury throughout and the ball flying through the hands of the backs was all an incredible display. Newport’s tries split evenly between the forwards and backs using six different try-scorers tells its own story. Cracking stuff!
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