Sat 23 Sep 2023, 14:15
National 2 West
Newport Strike at the Death to Seal Vital First Win
Newport 22pts v Hinckley 21pts
This game bore a familiar resemblance to the Chester match in which Newport scored early to go 7 – 0 ahead but then conceded scores through their own mistakes leaving themselves with much to do in the second period coming down the slope to make up the deficit. Two weeks ago they ran out of time, this week they scored with the last play of the game to clinch victory amongst wild celebrations at Stade Bloor where a valuable five points kick-started their season.
Newport went uphill first half and had an early opportunity to put a penalty into the right-hand corner but failed to find touch. Hinckley countered and drew a couple of penalties themselves before being thwarted by some excellent home defence that eventually produced the turnover, Keifer Laxton leading the count in this department throughout the afternoon.
Hinckley hadn’t yet got their game together and another penalty conceded at the scrum took Newport to within fifteen metres of the visitor’s line. The line out was secured and Matt Hubbart made good ground before the ball was released down the left where Timoci Waqadau found enough space to cross in the corner and make ground infield to make George Castledine’s conversion that little bit easier and Newport led 7 – 0 after fourteen minutes.
As Newport then attacked on half-way a careless off-load was snapped up by Hinckley and a likely looking score was prevented when Newport infringed. Penalty into the corner, catch and drive try by Dale Bowyer, converted by Archie Heard, somewhat of a gift to get Hinckley on level terms at 7 – 7 after eighteen minutes.
Almost immediately, Newport fluffed their lines forty metres out from their own line and with the defence seemingly evaporated Reuben Logan danced through to score by the posts, Heard again converting to put the visitors ahead 7 – 14 with a quarter of the match gone.
Kieran Forbes, included in the side for the first time this season after his exploits with the Combined Services, was making some strong driving runs to get Newport over the gain-line and on the front foot and none benefitted more than Josh Kent who was always on his shoulder to carry the move on.
Kent won a turnover penalty some thirty metres out but Castledine’s penalty attempt drifted wide to the right of the posts
Hinckley then got themselves into Newport territory where Newport were called upon to soak up a period of pressure but busy Hinckley scrum-half Ben Pointon spotted a gap in the home defence and waltzed through to score by the posts, Heard adding the extras to extend their lead to 7 – 21.
It was important that Newport didn’t concede again before the break and actually managed to see out the half exerting some good periods of pressure themselves but they were unable to take advantage due to a run of errors, own line out lost, knock on in contact, spilled out wide when on the offensive, all of which meant they went into the sheds 7 – 21 down with time to consider how they would mount what would have to be yet another comeback.
Newport started the second half with the slope in their favour and a slight wind advantage but the errors continued with a forward pass from the kick-off but then a great kick out of defence by Connor Adams took Newport deep into Hinckley territory but after a strong period of phases they were penalised for holding on and the visitors were able to clear. Newport then had a lucky escape when Hinckley were undone by their own confusion failing to capitalise on a Newport knock forward with advantage being played.
With Newport not having been able to reduce the deficit thus far changes were rung from the bench and Tom Cowell in particular, clearly relishing the challenge after a long period of inactivity due to injury, was to make an immediate impact. Newport lost their own line out in the Hinckley twenty-two then somehow butchered a clear “3 on 1” by ploughing into the last man rather than making the simple pass. This just wasn’t going to be Newport’s day, or was it?
Charlie Gamble showed pace to burn on a couple of kick chases that just failed to produce a score but finally Newport got the impetus they were searching for when Cowell, carrying a pound or two extra from when he was in his pomp, orchestrated a well-controlled catch and drive that saw him cross and reduce the arrears to 12 – 21 after fifty-nine minutes.
Newport, with their tails up, were now dominating both possession and territory. Several chances were spurned before the athletic and agile Dan Green was able to score following another catch and drive led by the inimitable Cowell that had done the initial damage. The difficult conversion attempt was missed but Newport now smelt blood having got themselves to within one score at 17 – 21 with fifteen left to play.
Newport again produced chances, particularly when Gamble made another surge down the right flank, just failing to find the inside support as he was tackled but still Hinckley held firm.
As the seconds ticked down Newport destroyed the Hinckley scrum and the penalty to the right-hand touch line gave them one last chance. Hinckley were again penalised and Newport opted for the scrum ten out but in a great attacking position. With everyone expecting an attempted pushover, the ball was released quickly right and Castledine scythed through for the decisive score from what proved to be the last play of the game. The conversion was again missed but it mattered not one jot as Newport celebrated a magnificent comeback victory that gave them their first win of the new campaign and a valuable bonus point victory.
Having downed one of the League’s “big-hitters” Newport travel the short distance to Dudley Kingswinford next Saturday for a 2.00pm kick-off. DK are so far winless but are always up for a challenge especially against traditional local rivals. Newport will travel with confidence but “Beware the wounded tiger”
Written by: Chris Wilde
.JPG?v=638050476508783149){kind=link}
.JPG?v=638050476516421137){kind=link}
.JPG?v=638050476527323943){kind=link}