Newport (Salop) RUFC

Faced with the huge incentive of leapfrogging table-toppers Bromyard, Newport resumed their momentum after the rest-week with a real statement of intent. Bromyard’s staunch defence only pregnable in the early stages to Newport’s opportunistic bright counter-attacking, became more susceptible as Newport built their game to full throttle.

With no score after three fast counter-attacking moves and being held-up twice, Newport reverted to safety and steadily mauled over the short distance from their lineout for Dan Green to score. Once the seal was broken, Newport rampaged at will; Luke Kendall and Fin Barnes blasting through the middle before Max Swan circled round from the left wing putting the ball behind the posts and shortly after Jack Wells combining with Barnes to give Richard Biggin the opportunity to pile over for Newport’s third.

Newport’s backs were now fully unshackled with slick passing and complex combinations but it was Green who secured the bonus point before the half-hour was up, charging through from Newport’s 5-yard penalty. Jon Hanson then snaffled a darting pass through a melee of players and charged through for Newport’s fifth.

Bromyard’s resurgence toward the end of the half looked to have been fended off after a plethora of Newport tackles stymied phase after phase eventually winning the knock-on. Unfortunately, Newport failed to clear from their 5-yard scrum; Bromyard ripping out possession and snatching points in the dying moments of the half.

With Sam Sergeant and Sam Clarke interchanging moves, Rob Taylor and Rhys Williams sweeping all from deep, Bromyard were unable to gain respite from Newport’s pressure resulting in Kendall first to reactivate the scoreboard in the second half, mauling in from another Newport short distance lineout.

Newport continued to dominate the game but Bromyard’s defence stiffened repelling Newport’s advances till midway through the half, Hanson’s short pass unlocked Bromyard and Wells was through. Newport’s onslaught had taken its toll on Bromyard who were duly reduced to fourteen. With the prospect of Newport running amok, Bromyard’s resilience was tested to the limit but Bromyard successfully navigated themselves back to fifteen without any further concession. Spurred on by that achievement, Bromyard hunted for points but met with tackles from Biggin, Wells, Hanson and Green, and Fergus Lamb’s timely steal seemed to have seen off Bromyard’s resurgence. However, despite further tackles from Billy Parry, Lewis Sturgess, Lamb and Clarke, Bromyard this time found space out to the left to again claim points at the death of the half.

Now themselves at the table summit, Newport will find themselves target for invigorated and avid opposition; the team to beat. However, on today’s performance and indeed throughout this season thus far, that should be a prospect to relish.

Match report by Matt Lamb.