Sat 23 Sep 2023
Away to Oswestry 23rd September 2023
Oswestry 11-43 Newport
Understandably with Newport’s superb early form this season, the Second XV should be expected to beat Oswestry with yet another strong squad on display. However, it was Oswestry who made the early running with Newport finding themselves deep in defence and a little too frantic in possession. Newport steadily forced themselves into the game to give themselves breathing space by the break. Despite taking the upper hand into the second period, a failure to add points allowed Oswestry to build themselves back into the game. Oswestry’s mid-point penalty points beckoned Newport into action and similar to the first-half, ran their tries in once the clock had ticked on considerably.
Oswestry’s quicker start was evident from the number of penalties Newport conceded and Newport fortunate when their deep kicked clearance, charged down by Oswestry, only ricocheted beyond the in-goal area. Although Newport had valiantly held out, inevitably Oswestry’s pressure told, winning another penalty and working out to the right wing to break the deadlock. Newport looked to move the ball quickly in attack to reverse the momentum of the game but it was reverting to basics that brought the break-through. Ed Udale’s tackle and drive sparked Newport’s reaction resulting in battering forward play. Mauling ten yards from their lineout on Oswestry’s 22, Alistair Heath, Rhys Morgan, Will Roddy and Fin Barnes took turns to drive at Oswestry’s tryline with Morgan completing the final steps to level.
Oswestry successfully kicked their penalty, but Newport were now in top gear. Driving through Oswestry’s scrum, Morgan picked up and drew three of Oswestry, leaving numbers to the right, Max Swan seesawing Newport back in front. Fluidity surged back into Newport’s play Sam Sergeant and Ed Udale both breaking through Oswestry’s line for Newport to dominate territory and Barnes, finding himself five yards out, towed Oswestry’s tackler with him over the line. And as Newport consistently trampled over Oswestry’s scrum, Newport’s backs found more room to exploit with Rob Taylor earning Newport their bonus point before the half-time whistle.
Newport remained inventive in attack but as the second-half progressed, failure to complete gave Oswestry hope as they worked themselves back into contention with a greater urgency in their play. Newport worked collectively to repel Oswestry and recover their own handling errors. As momentum began to threaten to tip toward Oswestry, Newport continued to hold on with a series of big tackles, so Oswestry elected to kick the points whilst they still had the opportunity.
If Oswestry were expecting that moment to create a watershed for them, they were mistaken. Newport recognised the danger and accelerated their game with the forwards imposing their character and Jack Neal re-awakening Newport’s scoreboard back into action. Tackles from Tom Craddock, Harry Bailey and Chris Tait ensured Oswestry remained under the cosh whilst Roddy’s line-break with Jake Goulson and Sergeant in support demonstrated Newport’s sustained attacking intent.
Swan stepped between Oswestry’s wide defenders to secure an easier conversion and when Newport’s maul necessarily drew Oswestry’s players, Udale supported Sergeant’s break to grasp Newport’s final points.
Newport certainly deserved a handsome victory, but importantly using their game-management to recognise Oswestry’s threat and deal with it, the greatest part of their play this weekend. Keeping Oswestry at bay whilst on the back foot from the start and gathering control and pace into the game and then dispelling Oswestry’s re-found urgency in the second-half the defining moments which gave Newport the platform upon which to build and impose their own expressive game.
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