Sat 30 Sep 2023
Newport II 20 - 7 Bridgnorth II
On Saturday afternoon, Newport II welcomed local rivals Bridgnorth to a drizzly and grey Old Showground for their fixture in Counties 2 Midlands West West. Newport arguably had the better of the opening exchanges, but an early line out opportunity on Bridgnorths 5m was unfortunately squandered, allowing Bridgnorth to clear their lines.
Undeterred, Newport continued to press the Bridgnorth defence. Phil Bradley took a quick tap penalty on Bridgnorths 22, Lewis Sturgess and Luke Kendall working the ball through the hands to Fin Barnes who carried hard against the grain of the defence. Jake Goulson carried next, with the ball quickly recycled through Sam Sergeant and onto Henry Vaka, who exploited a hole in the defence to score the first try of the afternoon, that Ed Udale duly converted.
Bridgnorth were next to seize the momentum, the scrum and line out were 50/50 for much of the first half due to their impressive set piece, and their counter-rucking caused headaches and slowed Newports attack. Eventually, Newport were able to apply further pressure and draw two penalties, the first of which on the Bridgnorth 22 and the second almost on the half way line, both converted by Udale who kicked well all game.
Before the half was up, Newport created another opportunity, from a line-out on the halfway line, Bradley fed the ball to Kendall and Barnes in midfield, who once more got over the gain line with a strong carry. Sturgess carried next, exploiting a dog leg in the defence. The ball was quickly recycled, and play swept right through the hands to Ethan Cole on the wing, who eased pass his opposite man and fed Matt Dingle inside to score his first try for Newport, with an impressive turn of pace for a man who plays all 3 positions in the front row, Udale again adding two from the Tee.
Newport went into half time leading 20-0, but Bridgnorth were the fastest out of the blocks for the second half. Newports defence stood up to the challenge through a sustained period of attack, until repetitive infringements turned Matt Dingle from hero to zero, as he was sin binned for too many team offences. Eventually Bridgnorths sustained pressure paid off, and they registered their first points of the match with a well worked try and conversion. As conditions worsened, both teams struggled to take a hold of the momentum. Both teams were guilty of ill discipline, with periods of sustained attack from both sides almost inevitably halted by the referees whistle.
Still down to 14, Newport were then further inhibited by a yellow card to Richard Biggin for a high tackle. Bridgnorth, smelling blood, attacked strongly while Newport were down to 13 men, throwing everything including the kitchen sink at the Newport defence. Big tackles from Will Roddy and Will Galbraith repelled the Bridgnorth attack, and when the men in black worked the ball wide Max Swan, Ethan Cole and Conn Mundie were assured in their defensive work. Eventually a turnover after some great pressure from the back of the scrum by Phil Bradley enabled Newport to clear their lines and ultimately secure a hard fought victory.
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