Sat 30 Sep 2023, 14:00
It is now almost twelve months since Newport last won a fixture away from Stade Bloor and this most recent defeat sees their local rivals leap-frog them leaving the Shropshire outfit firmly rooted at the foot of the table.
It was a fair result and no more than the home side deserved as they displayed a higher degree of energy and intensity throughout, something that may have been as a result of a virus that hit the Newport camp earlier in the week.
The forecast rain managed to hold off and there was only a fairly stiff crosswind that the players would have to contend with.
Dudley started well and after some early pressure chose to take the points on offer when the impressive Fred Morgan slotted over the penalty to take a 3 – 0 lead after just three minutes. Newport then put a penalty to within five metres but were turned over at the breakdown and a raking clearance kick, followed by a good chase needed both Charlie Gamble and Timoci Waqadau to be at their defensive best to prevent DK adding to their tally.
The home side continued to look the more likely and after Newport had shown some more solid defence Morgan ghosted through a huge gap to score by the posts and in adding the simple conversion made it 10 – 0 after ten minutes.
DK spilled the restart in their own twenty-two giving Newport an immediate chance to strike back but a long cut-out pass went directly into touch allowing the hosts to clear but Waqadau countered with an excellent break, feeding on to the supporting George Castledine who did well to find Ethan Harley to cross in the left-hand corner and it was 10 – 5 after nineteen minutes.
The hosts were still well in command and after Morgan had scuffed a drop-goal attempt he immediately sliced through the Newport defence with ease and fed full-back Joe Heatley to cross and make it 15 – 5 after twenty-nine minutes
DK were to inflict further damage just before the break as the visiting defence was sucked in rather too easily and Heatley was again on the end of things to cross in the corner. Gamble charged down the conversion attempt but Newport found themselves in what is becoming an all too familiar position of having to clawback a significant deficit in the second period, 20 points to 5 down at the interval.
In truth, Newport had offered very little looking for the killer pass or off-load when going to ground and building phases would have been a better option and put their hosts under pressure. Sadly, these opportunities were few and far between and they continued to turnover possession in key areas.
Connor Adams took a quick tap and broke into DK territory, the move being carried on until being passed into the arms of an opposing player that launched a dangerous counter that Harley did well to defend. Adams was suffering from a shoulder injury picked up last week so was replaced by Jake Leonard – good to see him back in a Newport shirt after returning from a serious injury picked up at the back end of last season. Kaid O’Neill, Tom Cowell and Dan Green were also introduced from the bench.
Matt Hubbart then stole a line-out to set up an attack but as Forbes, so influential last week, drove through into the home twenty-two, again a careless off-load resulted in a loss of position and possession.
Gamble showed good pace down the right flank before Newport gave themselves a lifeline as DK kicked the ball dead from fifty metres out. From the resultant scrum Leonard broke right and fed Gamble who chipped behind the defence and Waqadau won the chase to touchdown. Castledine converted and it was 20 – 12 with twenty-one minutes left to play.
Harley was then rather harshly given a yellow card for an alleged high tackle. Down to fourteen the recovery task would be much more difficult but they won a penalty that was sent to touch twenty out, line out secured and driven on before Leonard chipped through delicately, Gamble winning the chase this time to touchdown, Castledine’s superb touchline effort bringing the score to 20 – 19 with fourteen minutes left on the clock.
Cue, self-destruct! Newport make a mess of the restart and concede possession in their own twenty-two. DK patiently go through the phases maintaining possession and territory, a salutary lesson to their visitors, before finding space for Callum Nicholls to cross in the right-hand corner. The conversion was missed so Newport were still within one score but chasing the game, a pass was intercepted fifty out and Mark Harrison sprinted clear and round under the posts, Morgan converting for 32 – 19.
Newport had one last chance to claim a possible two bonus points after putting a penalty into the home twenty-two where they set up a catch and drive but were penalised and Dudley put the ball out of play to secure their first victory of the season.
It goes without saying that Newport need to get themselves back on track, and quickly at that. They will attempt to do so this coming Saturday when Old Redcliffians are the visitors, a team that defeated Newport twice last season so yet another stiff assignment awaits.
Written by: Chris Wilde
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