Newport (Salop) RUFC

Sat 4 Sep 2021

Newport (Salop)

38 - 33

(HT 7-13)

Nuneaton

Newport (Salop)

Nuneaton

Press Release – September 5, 2021 - No embargo

Newport 38 Nuneaton 33

Newport edge victory in nail-biter at the Old Showground

By Peter Maher

Newport went into Saturday’s Midlands Premier game against Nuneaton full of confidence following the previous Friday’s pre-season victory over Luctonians, currently sitting a division higher than the Port. Nuneaton however, something of a bogey team over the previous few seasons had other ideas. A heavyweight pack plus a claustrophobic defence saw the Nuns 10 to the good after 14 minutes. Enterprising interplay between Harry Mahoney and Joe Nixon saw the Port register their first points after 19 minutes. A Nuneaton penalty however left the half time score at 13 to 7 to the visitors.

Port came out in the second half looking for an early score to close the margin and exert their authority; quite the opposite was however to occur. Nuneaton scored a penalty try after 46 seconds followed by a further run in from their own 22 on 48 minutes to extend their lead to 20 points at 27 to 7. Facing a daunting deficit Port rang the changes bringing Reece Morgan in at number eight, moving Connor Adams to scrum half and introducing Jake Leonard at fly half. Sustained Port pressure then brough a penalty try at 50 minutes as a result of a collapsed maul on the Nuneaton goal line. Morgan then began to exert his influence. A barnstorming run from the halfway line plus a neat offload put Jack Price in at the corner. A Nuneaton penalty conversion followed by a pushover try by Port from ten yards out brought the score to Port 26, Nuneaton 30. Ricky Bailey then threaded a pass to Jack Price at halfway. Price committed the defence and put in Sam Evans to finish in the corner in his usual imperious fashion. Three minutes later Morgan gathered a Nuns kick at the halfway and after another wrecking ball run put in Harry Mahoney to score under the posts, Port 38, Nuns 30. Nuns managed one further penalty conversion to leave the final score at Port 38, Nuns 33.

Director of Rugby Bob Adams acknowledged that the game was a great spectacle but a heart-stopper for the home fans. He commented “It was great to see the lads come back from a significant deficit. They dug deep and showed heart and composure to ultimately come out on top”. Port’s next game at the Old Showground is on Saturday, September 14 against Paviors, kick off 3-00pm.

The Port Second XV had a more comfortable 38 – 24 victory over Sutton Coldfield. The team featuring several recent graduates from the Juniors and Colts included Max, Swan, Fin Barnes, Louis Davidson, Dillon Finnegan. Jack Ingram, James Morton, Chris Lindsay, Luc Barrat and Ryan Carter. Chairman Peter Maher commented “giving a pathway for local talent to progress from junior to first team rugby is a key priority for the club and one we will continue to focus on”. The Second XV will be next home against Stourbridge Lions on October 2nd, kick off 3-00pm,